Sony May Be Dropping The Dualshock For PlayStation 4

According to two sources close to CVG, Sony will be ending the 16 year reign of the iconic Dualshock controller in favour of a new design for their next console.

The source, who is working on a yet unannounced Sony title says that Sony’s R&D department has gone to extensive lengths to produce a new controller with the current design of the Dualshock having “undergone numerous iterations, few of which resemble the DualShock build that has become synonymous with PlayStation.” The report from CVG also mentions that Sony are looking to take ideas from the PlayStation Vita with an LCD touchscreen and biometric sensors on the grips of the controller.

CVG adds a second source that is not working on a Sony game but instead has information on the process of codename Orbis says that Sony is ”trying to emulate the same user interface philosophies as the PS Vita”. This would fit with the first source saying that new controllers use a LCD touchscreen. This also suggests that Sony is trying to bring their portable and consoles closer together.

The report also adds yet another rumour saying that the Orbis will be announced within a matter of weeks and not months.

Players may also remember that the PlayStation 3 was initially going to have a different controller that eventually was ditched in favour of keeping the classic Dualshock. With the report that Sony is looking to replace the Dualshock, it may not necessarily mean that the historic controller is going anywhere. After all, Nintendo consoles support the use of past controllers on their consoles with the Wii being able to use Gamecube controllers and how Wii Remotes operate with the Wii U.

Source: CVG.

George Sinclair is an editor for Analog Addiction, the home of the latest news, reviews and previews. You can follow George on Twitter and his blog on IGN. Don’t forget to follow the OFFICIAL Analog Addiction Twitter!