PlayStation 5's new DualShock 5 may be usable on PS4

The PS5's next-gen DualShock 5 controller is cross-gen, and can apparently be used on PS4 consoles.

@DeekeTweak

Published Jan 17, 2020 11:16 AM CST
Updated Nov 3, 2020 11:45 AM CST

11 minutes & 49 seconds read time

The PS5's DualShock 5 controller may be compatible with current-gen PS4 consoles, ushering in a new era of forward- and backward-compatibility.

PlayStation 5's new DualShock 5 may be usable on PS4 56

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Sony has already confirmed the PS5 will support PS4 accessories like the DualShock 4, but now it looks like the reverse is true: The DualShock 5 could be usuable on the PS4 and PS4 Pro. The news comes from a spec comparison sheet on PlayStation France that lists something quite interesting: DS5/DS4 controllers are both compatible on PlayStation 4 consoles.

PlayStation 5's new DualShock 5 may be usable on PS4 64

This isn't entirely surprising news. In a recent interview with Business Insider Japan, Sony Interactive Entertainment President Jim Ryan strongly hinted the DualShock 5 was compatible with the PS4.

"3D audio and the haptic feedback support of the controller are also things that, when you try them, you will be surprised at how big a change they are. Even just playing the racing game Gran Turismo Sport with a PlayStation 5 controller is a completely different experience. While it runs well with the previous controller, there is no going back after you experience the detailed road surface via haptic control and play using the adaptive triggers," Ryan said.

Gran Turismo Sport is a PlayStation 4 game, not a PS5 game. This highlights one of two possible scenarios: Ryan was playing Gran Turismo Sport on a PS4 using a DualShock 5, or he was playing the PS4 game on a PlayStation 5 using the DualShock 5.

Both scenarios illustrate some of the PS5's strongest points: Native backward compatibility with existing PS4 games, as well as full support of current-gen accessories like controllers and the PSVR headset.

This also underlines what we've been saying about next-gen consoles all along. The PlayStation 5 isn't a true next-gen successor, but an extension of the current generation. Yes it'll be more powerful and reflect a full-gen leap in terms of hardware capabilities, but it'll still maintain and carry forward the iterative cycle approach (backward compatibility, extensive cross-gen support, accessories, etc.) without disrupting the ecosystem.

Here's what we know about the DualShock 5 so far:

Sony is expected to reveal the PS5 in a special event in February 2020. The console will release in Holiday 2020, and it may cost $499.

Check below for more info:

PlayStation 5 specs and details:

Custom SoC with second-gen Navi GPU, Zen 2 CPU
8-Core, 16-thread Zen 2 CPU at 3.2GHz
Navi GPU at 2.0GHz with 36 Compute Units
Navi, Zen SoC uses new AMD RDNA 2.0 architecture
Ultra-fast SSD
Support for 4K 120 Hz TVs
Ray-tracing enabled
8K output support (for gaming)
Plays all PS4 games
Separate games that ship on BD-XL Blu-ray discs
New controller with extensive haptic and tactile feedback

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PlayStation 5's new DualShock 5 may be usable on PS4

The PS5's next-gen DualShock 5 controller is cross-gen, and can apparently be used on PS4 consoles.

PlayStation 5 specs and details:

PlayStation 5 Coverage:

PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Console (3003346)