The DualShock 4 is one of the most fully featured controllers on any gaming platform. In addition to the standard controller layout. There's a built-in speaker, capacitive clickable touchpad, motion and gyro sensor, and a light bar that can be used in conjunction with the PlayStation Camera for position tracking, and gives visual feedback and player identification.
Despite being jam-packed with features, half of these tools go unutilized by most PS4 games, particularly those from third parties. One would assume it'd be to maintain feature parity with the Xbox One versions of these games, who's controller isn't nearly as decked out. But when the Nintendo Switch versions of Doom and Fortnite support gyro aiming, yet the PS4 versions don't. That's a problem. Sony's first party games are a bit better at this. But even then you have some baffling exceptions. Like why does Days Gone use gyro aiming, yet Horizon doesn't?
So that brings us to DualSense, the PlayStation 5's new controller. With the additions of Advanced haptics, Adaptive triggers, built-in mic. Along with improvements to the Touchpad, speaker, and lightbar. Do you think Sony should try and push developers to make better use of these features, at least in areas where they make sense? The touchpad for example, is actually a great addition to a controller, bringing smartphone like gestures to a console environment, which when done right, is very useful and intuitive. Yet even when it'd make sense, such as navigating a map, most devs don't bother doing anything with it outside of using it as a button. Same with the gyro sensor. It's 2020, and we're STILL forced to use dual analog sticks to aim in shooters, when gyro has long since been proven as the superior aiming option?
I get it, not everything needs gimmicks shoe-horned in where they aren't needed. But Sony needs to lead by example start encouraging the use of these features in practical and useful ways, at least for their first party titles. I always feel that each new gaming generation, should not only consider improvements to graphics, performance, design, etc. But also to controls and inputs. As great as the standard controller is, there's still always ways to make it better, and that includes new inputs and features.
And yes, I do think the lack of gyro is a weird case. It used to be explained by the fact that the PS4 and Xbox versions had to be similar, but when even Switch is offering it, I don't see why the PlayStation version can't have it either. Maybe it's because it's seen as a 'Nintendo thing'; both by gamers and developers. If the demand doesn't exist, developers won't bother with it. But in the end it can be offered as an alternate control scheme. This in itself can be seen as a boost in accessibility options; since some people may not be able to play using dual sticks, and the gyro could give them the option to play the game at all.
Seeing how the DualSense incorporates even more features, I think it only makes sense if Sony starts pressuring its developers to use it more. Why else even bother? Because I agree, when the touch pad is used, it's great, but most of the times it's just there; a big button. So introducing even more features certainly means they're going to be used, right? Horizon Zero Dawn 2 has to use the gyro I think. It's probably going to make use of the haptic triggers, but a lack of gyro would be a wasted opportunity IMO.
Also thanks for reminding me Days Gone has gyro control, I stopped playing it and I want to give it another go. I'll definitely try it with gyro controls this time.
Forums
Topic: Should Sony push developers to use their controller's features more?
Posts 1 to 3 of 3
This topic has been archived, no further posts can be added.