Topic: Official PS4 Accessories, Ranked

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Hello! I was looking for a list of the best PS4 officially licensed accessories online but came up with lists overrun with 3rd party inclusions. This wasn't quite what I was looking for so decided to make my own list based of my personal experience with each.

The extra accessories Sony puts out range from nearly essential to almost useless depending on your particular needs and play style, but here is my (highly subjective) ranked list of the best accessories for your buck.

Okay let's get this show on the road. Here are my rankings, from worst to best:

14. PS Move Controllers (MSRP: $99.99 USD):
Wow, who thought these things would stick around so long? Released in 2010 (!!!) for the PS3 to capture some of the motion control market the Wii was dominating, these things have had an interesting history. They have found new life as an accessory for the PSVR, but judging the Move Controllers as a standalone accessory for the PS4, they are objectively horrible. Very dodgy motion tracking overall, a very high $100 asking price considering the 10-year old tech, and a whopping 6 supported non-PSVR games on the PS4. All these factors place the PS Move Controllers dead last in the list.

13. PlayStation Camera (MSRP: $59.99):
Sort of a companion accessory to the PlayStation Move, the PS Camera finds itself in a similar position to the PS Move Controllers. Again, judged as a standalone accessory and irrespective of the fact it is required for PSVR, the value proposition of the PS Camera is in and of itself highly dubious and lies almost entirely in the fact it is required for VR. The Camera does win out slightly over the Move for a few reasons - the camera can be used to allow facial recognition login on your PS4 and has an integrated microphone which can be used to hilarious effect to attempt to control applications on your PS4 (PLAYSTATION START NETFLIX!!! -Hulu opens). Also can be used as a poor substitute for a microphone in online play and finds some use in the free - and actually quite fun - Playroom PSN title which showcases the gameplay possibilities of the camera. Add to this very few non-PSVR supported games, and you have another accessory which falls short.

12. PS4 Media Remotes (MSRP: $25 to $30 USD):
This entry actually encompasses all three PS4-branded PDP TV remotes licensed by Sony - the PDP Universal, Cloud, and Bluetooth remotes. I've used the Universal and Cloud remotes but ultimately it is a dubious proposition to spend the money when the Dualshock 4 works perfectly well for your multimedia needs. The Universal and Cloud remotes have nifty programmable options which can eliminate the need for a dedicated TV remote, reducing clutter. Servicable, but unnecessary unless you are a hardcore proponent of using your PS4 as a dedicated movie/TV machine. And no, you cannot use the remote for your Dark Souls speedruns! (missed opportunity, I know).

11. 3dRudder Foot Motion Controller (MSRP: $119.99 USD):
Probably the weirdest accessory in the whole lineup - I promise I'm not making this one up. It is a platform you place your feet on while playing PSVR games to serve as an alternate means to move your character by leaning it in different directions with your feet. Admittedly the only accessory on the list I personally have not used, it actually reviewed fairly well despite its high price and was lauded as a better alternative to the aging Move Controllers for movement input. This accessory is supported by roughly 40+ PSVR games but hasn't quite taken off since it's release. An odd one indeed...

10. PS4 Back Button Attachment (MSRP: $29.99 USD):
A curious little piece of kit, this has actually consistently been out of stock since it was released and has only recently returned onto shelves at the original $30 MSRP asking price. It was selling in excess of $100 on eBay for a good while! Overall, the ability to program buttons onto two paddles on the rear of the controller has a surprising amount of functionality and the applications are only limited by your own ingenuity. Build quality is exceptional, but a large complaint is the attachment obscures the charging port on the underside of the controller if you are using a charging dock, and removal of the attachment is difficult and inadvisable. Serves as a cheaper and serviceable alternative to pricey "pro" variants of controllers. Ultimately however, this is a niche product which only finds an audience among competitive gamers, as a curiosity, or as an accommodation for certain disabilities.

9. Playstation VITA (Discontinued, MSRP $199.99 USD):
Yes I am including the VITA as an accessory! Can you believe Sony marketed this thing as a companion piece to the PS4 before they unceremoniously drug it into a field and shot it? Now, the VITA has a strong cult following despite its untimely demise and was a fine gaming device on its own, but keeping to the spirit of this list I am only considering its functionality as a peripheral to the PS4, which is to say, we are talking about Remote Play. Remote Play allowed you to connect your VITA to your PS4 via Wi-Fi and stream supported PS4 games... straight to your VITA. Pretty nifty feature if your significant other wants to watch Netflix on the TV but you just want to catch up on Street Fighter V. This functionality also allowed the VITA to be used as a second PS4 controller in a pinch. Some latency issues existed depending on your internet quality, but overall this was negligible in my experience. A very cool feature, and a very good excuse to give the VITA a little more credit for what it got right.

8. Thrustmaster T300 RS Racing Wheel (MSRP: $349.99 USD):
Admittedly, a pricy piece of kit designed only for the racing fanatics out there (you know who you are). Including a separate foot pedal mechanism and a racing wheel which simulates the force feedback of making a turn at those ridiculous speeds to which we are accustomed, this racing wheel has earned high marks among the racing faithful. If you want the most authentic racing experience, this is a great (albeit clunky) solution. Can be paired with PSVR for added effect. Now just to work out where to store the massive thing...

7. PSVR Aim Controller (MSRP: $79.99 USD):
Yes it looks like cobbled together PVC pipe, and yes it is actually a game changer for the games it supports. This is accessory Inception, as the Aim is itself a peripheral of another peripheral - the PSVR. While a cursory glance may discount the Aim as a cash-in accessory, it works very, very well for FPS VR titles. For example, playing Farpoint of Firewall Zero Hour with an Aim controller instead of a Dualshock improves those experiences tremendously as far as immersion goes. It has to be experienced firsthand to be truly appreciated and has a surprising amount of support among PSVR games; unfortunately, its status as an expensive optional peripheral to another very expensive optional peripheral relegates it to a very niche audience. Give the Aim a chance if you already own PSVR and you won't be disappointed.

6. Seagate Playstation 2TB Game Drive (MSRP: $89.99 USD):
This may be a rare scenario where there are third party alternatives that are both cheaper and superior. However, since we are limiting the scope of this list to officially licensed products, this external HDD makes it in. Setup is easy plug-and-play. Run a quick format and you have just a tick under 2 TB of extra harddrive space to play with. As we approach the end of this console generation, game downloads and installs are becoming absolutely massive and depending on your PS4's internal HDD, this can become an issue quickly. A huge quality of life upgrade that offers a little more convenience and ease of use over replacing the PS4's internal HDD outright.

5. PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset (MSRP: $99.99 USD):
One of my personal favorites, the Gold Wireless Headset is a Bluetooth wireless headset which supports virtual surround sound as well as Sony's propriety 3D audio for supported games. Overall the Gold headset received good marks as being a competitively priced entry point into the "premium" headset space. While this headset certainly is blown away by more expensive third party options, it's hard to find comparable sound quality in this price range. In my experience, the Gold even has better bass than its big brother the Platinum Headset but is marked down for being aesthetically clunky and having a break-prone hinge folding mechanism. Otherwise the build and sound quality are quite good and my pair is still going strong after 3 years. A great option for those of us who do not have expensive/cumbersome sound setups in our homes.

4. PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset (MSRP: $159.99 USD):
The "evolution" of the Gold Headset, this boasts the same basic feature set, i.e., virtual surround sound and 3D Audio but with a bit more polish. The main complaints leveled at the Gold Headset were addressed here with a more moderate/professional look, bigger drivers for the extra oomph in sound quality, and the hinge folding design was scrapped. Overall, this is undoubtedly better than the Gold Headset in most respects if you have the additional $60 to spare, but in my mind the advantages of the Platinum are mostly very negligible changes. If you are expecting a huge bump in performance or feature set you may come away disappointed.

3. PowerA Dual Charging Dock (MSRP: $25 - 30 USD):
This actually came in a few officially licensed variants over the years, but you will want one of the "dual" charging stations, not the single controller dock also released by PowerA. The most recent model ('PowerA Complete Charging Station') also comes witha headset stand and has the sleekest look for my money. As far as a money for value purchase, this would be my first get - great for those of you who don't want to blow money on a bunch of accessories you may or may not use, because you most certainly WILL get some use out of this. Let's be honest, the Dualshock 4 battery life left a lot to be desired and having this little cradle took a lot of the annoyance out of charging controllers over large play sessions. Best used with a second DS4 controller to allow two controllers to be charged simultaneously.

2. Playstation VR (MSRP: $349.99 USD):
For the sake of brevity, I'm just including the PSVR, the PS camera, and a set of PS Move Controllers under this single entry due to those all being required to get the most out of PSVR. The bundle retails at a eye-watering $350! I myself purchased the peripheral begrudgingly, thinking it of as more of a gimmick. Despite the high cost of entry, it is my firm belief you will get your money's worth from this. Many of you may be skeptical as to the merits of VR and all I can really say is you have to put one on your head and play it to understand - my words just can't do it justice by themselves. Low frame rates, jumbled cords, and possible motion sickness aside, playing in VR offers the most intense gaming experiences available on the PS4, or anywhere for that matter. Some of the better implemented games approach a level of immersion such that I often forget I'm even playing a game at points. Resident Evil 7, Wipeout Omega Collection, and Beat Sabre (to name a few) show you a glimpse of a new paradigm in gaming. Exaggerated statements aside, despite a slow adoption rate and high price, I am very excited for the future of VR and therefore it easily earns a top spot here.

1. Dualshock 4 Controller (MSRP: $59.99 USD):
Yes, a second controller takes top spot and is the most essential purchase in my book. Sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. A second controller offers obvious benefits, including allowing local cooperative play and also serves to mitigate the poor battery life of the Dualshock 4 itself - when one dies, easily switch it out and keep playing without messing with that deviously short USB cord.

Disagree with the list or have any additions? Add them in the comments!