Sony’s DualSense Edge PS5 pro controller offers great customized controls

The problem with game controllers having too many buttons is a topic that has been recurring in the gaming industry for decades. They confuse people who don’t play regularlyThis is the thought.These players are scared off. The theory was tested with the Wii by Nintendo for a decade. Apple developed a smartphone based on the same logic.

With its new DualSense Edge controller, Sony doesn’t seem particularly worried about any of that. There are over 30 different ways you can interact with your device. That doesn’t include alternate states like holding down buttons, or the extensive options you can tweak in PlayStation 5 menus.

Much like Xbox’s Elite series of pro controllers, Sony’s DualSense Edge was never meant to appeal to everyone. It is a very comprehensive controller that can be used to maximize every feature of your controller, and it has been incredibly well-received by those who have spent some time using it.

DualSense Edge gives you more control of various aspects of DualSense. That includes physical changes and add-ons: the grips feel more rubbery and less likely to slip out of your hands; you can swap out the analog sticks to replace them; you can swap out stick caps to choose your preferred length and style; you can swap in lever or half-dome buttons on the back of the controller for additional button inputs; you can slide a small switch to adjust the firmness of the triggers; you can hold either of two “function” buttons to change your controller settings on the fly; and you can lock a wired cord in place with a “connector housing” cap to prevent any chance of it being disconnected during a game.

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

You can also adjust the analog stick sensitivity, deadzones and other settings in the PS5’s software interface. These options allow you to customize stick speeds for different games. And those options are built around a custom profiles system, so you can quickly jump between different styles of play or across different games and keep your precise settings ready to go at a second’s notice.

All of it works well. It’s fun to tinker with the different settings and set games up as you like them, like making the triggers stiff for fighting games or making your turn speed quicker for shooters. It’s simple to change the settings in the menus and, in some cases, on the fly while you’re playing games.

Although I was able to disable many of the buttons, the buttons that cannot be disabled were the first time I used the controller. This became less problematic after I got used to it over the course of about an hour.

Many will have issues with the cost of the Xbox Elite and the DualSense Edge. Although the DualSense Edge is priced at $200 it’s still quite expensive considering the similarities between the Edge and the regular DualSense. You could argue that it feels like you’re paying for Sony’s R&D more than the specific plastic and metal that comes with the device, given how DualSense Edge costs almost three times what a DualSense regularly does.

One of the questions I’ve been thinking over since playing with it is whether DualSense Edge is a better controller for people who don’t want to customize every detail of their experience. Are you a PS5 owner who wants to just enjoy the games and not perfect your performance?

This isn’t a controller for everyone, even if you have the money and feel like you want “the best” of everything. There are a few features that make for a more enjoyable experience outside of competitive play, like using the lever back buttons to make racing games feel more realistic, and it’s convenient to be able to easily switch between preset profiles for different games. There’s also the bonus that, theoretically, the Edge should allow you to minimize the problem of analog stick drift, since you can widen the deadzone in the center of the sticks where drift occurs.

But for the most part, the appeal of DualSense Edge isn’t that it’s a better controller — it’s that you can customize it. Some players may find all of the customization options overwhelming. For those who compete at a high level, though — or those who like to think they do — it’s hard to imagine not wanting the toolbox that Sony’s put together.

DualSense Edge from Sony Interactive Entertainment will go on sale Jan. 26, 2023. Pre-orders are available from Sony’s PlayStation Direct website, with other major retailers selling the new controller on Feb. 23, 2023.