Duly Shocked: Will The PS4 Controller Do Away With Thumbsticks In Favor Of Touch?

Forbes - I know I’ve said we should abandon all this next-gen rumor-mongering, but I simply must comment on this latest bit of possible information on the redesigned PS4 “SplitShock” controller, even if it is all rumor and speculation stemming from questionable leaks.

[NastyLeftHook0]

th sony wee talking about, they will cater to the hardcore no matter what. this i know. so no.

[jujubee88]

Dude, I would have groped the hell out of my controller!

[NastyLeftHook0]

i really really doubt it, people are used to psysical thumbsticks and removing them would really cause confusion in the general gaming market

[Nitrowolf2]

This is a bad idea, look at the Iphone/ipad game with the touch sticks. It's terrible to use in comparison with the physical ones. If Sony does this, there will be a ton of backlash

[jujubee88]

Yeah, I know. I was just being a jackass.

When the 20th rolls around, people will just shrug off most of the wildest of N4G rumors about next gen.

[darthv72]

keep in mind that the original PS controller didnt originate with the dual thumbstick design in the first place.

it may be hard for the newer users to imagine that but those who have played it both ways know that the controller was comfortable to use either way.

If they removed the physical analog with touch sensitive pads capable of reproducing the accuracy then it opens the possibility of more uses for the pads that the sticks could not provide.

[riverstars86]

If this is true, then I'm only getting Xbox, what is Sony thinking?

[superterabyte]

Use a dualshock 3 or use a usb controller. or use the xbox controller adapter.

[Bigpappy]

It looks to be the new Move controller. I think You will still be able to use the old dual shock, but the this new pad will be supported for games, with or without the camera.

[NameRemoved0017]

If they catered to the hardcore gamers the PS3 would feature full mouse + keyboard support.

[ufo8mycat]

I wouldn't call keyboard+mouse support hardcore. Mouse requires no skill to aim. My grandpa could aim and get headshots with a mouse.

How is that hardcore?

Stick to a gamepad - requires skill, not to mention provides better immersion, which is what hardcore gamers want.

[superterabyte]

@hdshatter no no no. One of my reasons for not playing PC is the keyboard/mouse controls. And don't give me the usual shit about plugging a controller into the PC.

First off that gives me a disadvantage in FPS games.

Secondly Most games don't have proper support and usually support is for the xbox controller which I don't have.

and lastly most games have more buttons than are available on a controller for example day z etc

[superterabyte]

Although I don't see why the PlayStation 4 can't have mouse/keyboard support alongside a proper o/s and software such as a word processor and Internet browser.

Edit *If the ps4 has as much ram as is rumored as well as dual display output could it be feasible for an internet browser to be open on a monitor whilst a game is playing on the TV? I don't know im just hypothesizing*

Here me out why (if you had a PS4 and it did as I say) would the average person need a computer? and why couldn't the ps4 have support for keyboard and mouse alongside traditionally Pc only games such as MMORPG's and strategy games.

A lot of developers have expressed a desire for their PC titles to be on console so if sony could provide a PC-like cheap platform they could be on to a very successful product indeed.

[Godchild1020]

If they show a controller without the analog sticks, they will have the same situation they had when they announced the PS3 with the boomerang controller.

Fans will speak and Sony will change the controller to the proper one with analog sticks. If anything, I hope they keep the PS3 controller compatible with the next PlayStation. I know it was rumored, but I want a conformation.

[Delive]

I agree with hoping the PS3 controller is compatible. The only downside is if the new controller has functionality not in the DS3, then devs will probably utilize the new functions and the DS3 won't help with those new games. But I'm sure that there will be plenty to do with just the DS3.

I can't wait.

[ginsunuva]

Yeah, because they spent the effort to place dual physical analog sticks on the Vita but now they'll put touch on a console??

[hennessey86]

To play fps games on the ipad, I can say with 100 percent certainty the controller will suck without analogue sticks. Touch screens, pads are not accurate enough for competitive FPS games like cod, halo, killzone etc.

[GribbleGrunger]

Not. A. Chance.

[Nyxus]

No way.

[Qrphe]

They came up with dual analog sticks first, they'd never do without them.

[riverstars86]

Looks like Microsoft has gained the most from this stunning announcement. Microsoft has already won the next generation console wars with this news.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Excuse me while I laugh my ass off st the worst comment in this thread XD

[riverstars86]

Get set match, Microsoft!!!!! Lol

[TheOneEyedHound]

Laaaawwwwl!!!

Someone give this guy more bubbles, that was funny.

[nevin1]

lol@ "splitshock"

anyway, no thanks if true.

[MasterCornholio]

Analog sticks are not going anywhere.

BYW theres another article which appears to have a legit picture of the PS4 controller hooked up to the dev kit. As you can imagine the PS4 controller will have analog sticks.

[modesign]

they just showed a ps4 controller with analog sticks, so its going to have them.

[Braid]

What are you talking about? They were the ones who put the SECOND analog stick to the Vita, are they going to abandon using them now? They know what customers want, we spoke, they added it to their next handheld. Besides being completely unresponsive, the touch analogues would also add to the cost, so why not stick to the regular ones? It's not reasonable from the financial standpoint at all. It's obivously not what customers want as well, so what's this new design with no sticks talk?

Zero chance, I'm telling you.

[DigitalRaptor]

There's absolutely no freaking way they will do away with analogue sticks of which fans begged for and received an extra one in PS Vita.

I'm surprised that people think this will be a mandatory PS4 control scheme. If anything, SplitShock will be a PS Move replacement for this upcoming gen, and be available to buy alongside DualShock 4 for PS4.

SplitShock, whilst a weird concept, is intriguing.

[DarkBlood]

would be interesting to to try if true

[WeAreLegion]

According to everyone who actually TRIED the boomerang controller for PS3, it was very comfortable. I wish I could try one.

[Xer0_SiN]

touch sensitive vs physical analog. i would take the physical iteration all day everyday. the apple touch software is probably the best, but even then its sucks for hardcore gaming.

[smashcrashbash]

Okay I am almost sure this isn't true but even if it is how about not freaking out and finding out the details or how responsive it really is.Seriously you are just doing exactly what everyone usually does and that is panic prematurely.WAIT for more information to see if it even exists or how well the controller functions THEN you can go all out.

[Reportillo4]

until we can control games with our mind(properly of course), nothing will beat physical buttons