PS5 controller teardown reveals how its most interesting feature works

A teardown of the PS5’s controller has revealed exactly how its most interesting feature works.

The DualSense controller that comes with the PlayStation 5 includes a host of technology: a built-in microphone, new lights that can be triggered by events in the game, a redesign to make it bigger and more ergonomic, and vibrations that can make it feel like it is tapping its player.

But probably most discussed are the “adaptive” triggers on the shoulders of the controller. Unlike previous buttons, they do not feel the same every time, but rather can change according to what is happening in-game.

When Sony revealed the controller in summer, it described how the buttons could change to make pushing them harder or easier. They would be able to alter so that “you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow”, said Hideaki Nishino, senior vice president of platform planning and management at Sony Interactive Entertainment in a blog post announcing the new controller.

The first hardware reviews have suggested that is the case, with users suggesting that the controller could be the most “next-gen” thing about the PS5. Much attention has focused on that haptic feedback, and how it is incorporated into the games.

Developers have also revealed how the feature will be used. It could become harder to press the button when a player tires out in NBA 2K21, for instance, or when a weapon jams in Deathloop.

Now some early players have managed to get their hands on the controller and take it to bits, revealing just how that feature works.

The triggers use two gears, which push a little piece of plastic back and forth so that more or less resistance can be put onto the trigger. That is controlled by electronics within the controller, so that games can adjust the resistance quickly.

The design also means that despite the complicated nature of the system, it can be replaced fairly easily. The whole unit can be swapped out, and specific components within it can be swapped out without damaging the whole thing, TronicsFix said.

A full review was posted on YouTube, with the relevant part beginning around 9 minutes.