This should make jumping into a new console generation slightly less expensive
Sony released a breakdown of which PlayStation 4 peripherals will be able to come along with you to the PlayStation 5 whenever it launches sometime this holiday. Great news for arcade stick users, you will be able to take your current-gen collection with you. To keep the wording exact in order to ensure there is no confusion, we quoted the statement from the PlayStation Blog post below.
“Specialty peripherals, such as officially licensed racing wheels, arcade sticks, and flight sticks, will work with PS5 games and supported PS4 games.”
This is a really nice move especially considering the next bit of news we got from this PlayStation Blog. The DualShock 4 will NOT be compatible with PS5 games. You can use one when you play backward-compatible PlayStation 4 games, of which we have no confirmation which titles will be available at launch.
“The DualShock 4 wireless controller and PlayStation officially licensed third-party gamepad controllers will work with supported PS4 games.
Will DualShock 4 work with PS5 games?
No, we believe that PS5 games should take advantage of the new capabilities and features we’re bringing to the platform, including the features of DualSense wireless controller.”
All controllers nowadays connect via Bluetooth. Even though Xbox has its own proprietary connection hardware that was made for its first series of controllers on Xbox One, new controllers still have Bluetooth capability. The only features that the DualSense, the PlayStation 5 controller, have over the DualShock 4 is a built-in microphone and tension triggers that supposedly adjust to the action. Neither of these seems necessary whatsoever when it comes to actually playing a game. Also, let’s be honest, how many titles do you think will use the microphone? Probably the same amount that used the touchpad and light bar this gen, next to none.
Hopefully, the DualSense controller works well for fighters because if it doesn’t pad players are sure to be disappointed their favorite accessories won’t make the trip with them. Especially considering how many Pro styled controllers released on the PS4, this is quite the blow to their long-term value. Converters will more than likely be available in the future, but knowing there is no official support for current-gen controllers like there is on the Xbox Series X where every game and accessory comes along with you at no charge, is surely a disappointing move by PlayStation.
At least at the end of this, rest easy knowing your arcade sticks are safe. Especially those who just purchased the recently released Qanba Pearl. Your money on a new stick is well spent. So far the only confirmed fighting game for PlayStation 5 (to my knowledge) is Guilty Gear Strive which releases in Spring 2021, so hopefully, a good amount of fighters will be backwards compatible early on to make the PlayStation 5 more appealing for fighting game focused early adopters.
Source: PlayStation Blog