Have you wondered why the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller doesn't have the usual blue, red, green, and pink colours on its face buttons? The X, Circle, Triangle, and Square buttons are synonymous with the PlayStation brand, having appeared on every one of Sony's controllers since the very beginning. As well as those famous shapes, the buttons have always had that colour code — until PS5, of course.
So, why are they all greyed out on the new controller? PlayStation's senior art director, Yujin Morisawa, gives a simple explanation in an interview with Washington Post.
"Yes, except for special editions, we’ve always used those colors," he tells the publication. "For the PlayStation 5, we tried to eliminate what was already there. I wanted to simplify it and make it universal," Morisawa says.
He adds that the shapes themselves "already [show] what the button is going to be", and that colours aren't really necessary, hence the one-note solution on PS5.
While we love the coloured buttons, we've also gotten used to seeing the simple grey versions at this point. On the PS5 pad, itself mostly white, it looks like the best fit aesthetically. Who knows, though; perhaps Sony will bring the coloured shapes back when it introduces alternative coloured controllers in the future. Do you like the monochromatic face buttons, or would you prefer they kept their colours? Tell us in the comments section below.
[source washingtonpost.com]
Comments 54
They weren't coloured on the PSP or Vita either, so no big deal.
I hope they produce a classic, “PS1 gray” DualSense controller with the colored buttons.
I’m not sure I get it. Make it universal?
I really like the new controller and don’t have any issues with the presentation. I think it’s their best and I can’t wait to try the features. No complaints.
An explanation of “we thought this looked cool and give it a premium aesthetic” would have made more sense however.
Look better with the colors.
Those simbols were iconic, now they are bland.
Why xbox buttons represent letters and ps buttons shapes? Because ps players can’t read
On the white controller grey looks better, but if they could have glowed their respective colours when pressed that would have been awesome.
I prefer the colours to be honest. It’s a shame if they’re a goner.
I prefer the monochromatic design - looks more classy, more adult to me...
It would be cool for another ‘anniversary’ console like they did for the PS4. And bring back some iconic color schemes
The colors helped identify the buttons during QTE's. You can identify them just by shape, or just by color (or direction, like some games did), but the more information you have, the faster you can process it and and choose the right button. I will miss these, and will be on the look out for after market mods.
"I wanted to simplify it and make it universal"
If that was the case you would have made the buttons X,Y,B,A like on Xbox/Switch/PC so it could be universal..oh and you should have made the sticks asymmetrical like everyone else.
I personally prefer the color buttons but I'm just pointing out his excuse is nonsense. The controller would have looked more amazing if the shapes were to light up when the controller is turned on.
Luckily the buttons are identical to the DS4, so they can be swapped out fairly easily.
he's absolutely wrong because if you're pressing buttons correlating to on screen prompts your brain will definitely recognise a colour before a shape, assuming of course you are not colour blind, step backwards
I'm more worried about stick drifting. Are the controller's sticks going to ever be more reliable? It's like people actually buy new controllers all because of stupid stick drifting and nothing else. No matter the amount of mashing, buttons still work. But no, sticks have to start drifting after a few months. It's time we talk about this problem.
They sure love to kill what has become iconic from their brand
What was the point of having an article on X being a cross a few month back if you keep calling this button "X"?
It's as much an X as the circle is a chubby O
@TheArt I know right. It's been my main excitement for new hardware, the hope that they might have fixed that problem. I own 5 DS4s and all of them have some level of stick drift. One even started after 2 months, brand new.
Like others have said, we'll probably get a "legacy" Dualsense design in the future that will have that iconic PS1-PS4 colored buttons that everyone loves.
@TheArt I have only ever had stick drift on one Xbox 360 pad. That is including every PS pad, every Xbox pad and every Nintendo pad since N64. Seems like a lottery as to whether you get it. I have been pretty lucky I guess.
As for the colours on the pad, it is disappointing but not sure I will hold out for a future pad with the coloured buttons.
Now my coloured cross circle square triangle socks won't match my controller for when I'm feeling all gamey and socky at the same time. Damn.
I want a black controller with properly colored buttons. When they make that they’ve sold me another controller.
Some often ask who's Playstation's mascot? Tbh it's probably the buttons. They have appeared in many marketing materials since day one, their instantly recognisable as Playstation and are obviously in every game.
@Juanalf Hey friend! Since Sony is a Japanese company, they probably won't be using English letters any time soon. xD
@saemir That has nothing to do with the reason for the shapes. They originally meant for the transition from 2D to 3D games. X and Circle were meant for yes and no choices, Square wasn't to be for menus and triangle was to switch view points.
The monochromatic buttons is more classy I think, I didn't think of it's colour when playing with playstation gamepad, I'm more accustomed to it's symbol, or rather that 4 symbol is carved in to my mind since I played parappa the rapper ages ago lol 😂
@Cheems do Xbox players suffer similarly from the inability to construct functioning sentences, or is that just a PS thing?
@Pleasance that blows. I’ve owned at least 12 controllers across my 3 machines but none of them have drifted. My biggest problem has been d-pad ceasing to work or L3 failing
Totally agree with him.
It looks better and more stylish now.
Definitely not a fan of the colorless buttons. The PS face buttons have an identity, and I feel they're being robbed of it.
Current tendency to simplify the colors, depth and shape of everything is a very controversial decision. They call it 'modern look', but that doesn't mean it's likeable for all people.
I appreciate that they made the PS5 the way it looks (in contrary to the XSX, which looks very strict = "modern", but kinda boring), but the controller buttons and the PS logo should have had the iconic coloring.
Just another break with tradition since Jim Ryan took over that I really don't care for.
If there are colorless fast smash sequences in games too, than good luck to you others, but I'm out.... unless it has tripled or quadrupled timer...
If there are still colored fast smash sequences, than good luck to newbies.
If there are still colored fast smash sequences, but in different colors, than hell has opened and we are all doomed.
@Pleasance maybe its dirt getting under the sticks from your hands ,wash your hands more you filthy beggar,have you not been listening to boris.
Fully expect they'll be back in a special edition one day, looking forward to seeing what they come up with.
@djlard "its telling me to hit the green triangle ,where is it,there is no green triangle ,damn you Sony,you've ruined my life ,ill just go on the Internet to find the solution,nooooooooooo"
Gotta say, as a father with young children telling them “press the green button” or “green triangle” was easier for them to understand in the heat of the moment.
It was actually much easier for them than “A” and “B” etc on the Wii U/Switch as they had no colour association and didn’t know letters at that time.
Thankfully they are older now so this wont be an issue, but in future I will be buying a controller that has the colours.
@Cheems
Apparently Xbox fans can't write
@Pleasance My black DS4 that came with the console started awfully stick drifting after 3 years, then I got this new deep blue one that's not even a year old and already stick drifting. It's a shame.
@Enigk Wow you've only had one case...then it's sad it has to be like lottery but even so a lot people go through many controllers because of this so I'm not sure. Maybe you don't play stick-intensive-use games like say fighting games(I use both the dpad and stick depending) or FIFA.
When I look at the DualSense it just feels wrong without them. The iconic coloured buttons have been laid to rest along with the beautiful coloured logo of yesteryear.
A small thing to some but a big thing to me. My soul is screaming, while PlayStation's soul is dying.
I prefer the colours.
As long as I've been an PlayStation gamer, the colored A,B,X,Y on the Xbox is still more convenient for me - it shows everytime in quicktime events.
Should have kept the colors,it was iconic and would still look tasteful since its only a sign that is colored and not the whole button.For second gamepad im waiting for colored version
I'm not bothered about the colours after all when I'm playing i can't see them anyway after all my chubby fingers r covering them all I no is roll on 19th when I can try that sexy beast out
@Cheems Can you write that again but with pictures, as I don't understand.
@Juanalf Sony's has been symmetrical since the original Playstation. When he says universal, he's talking about Playstation tradition. Why would they copy what competitors are doing when millions of people prefer Sony's button/stick layout. I do think colors would look bad on white, but I'm sure we'll get some colored controllers and have the icons colored again. Grey/Black controllers would look amazing the buttons colored in for example.
I like the buttons without the colours, I remember on the Ps1 when playing games with quick time events, Rather than focusing on the shapes....... I was matching the button by the colour ? Meaning I was looking away from the screen at my controller........ Which caused me to fail horribly. I have had the Playstation buttons memorized since Ps2, so for me......... The shapes dont need colour
Meh, how often do you actually look at your controller when playing a game? Esp after having it for awhile. I won't miss the colors.
It could be worse. Imagine if they arbitrarily swapped the buttons around.
@Deadcow I think the majority of players only think of the symbols. What if this site was called Push Pink? Wouldn't that suggest a meaning slightly different from video games
@StevieJ_UK1 The Dualsense is bit more complicated than DS3/DS4 but, like the console itself, it looks surprisingly straightforward to disassemble.
@TheArt I bought brandnew ps4 and two weeks later drift... I thought that was exclusive joycon problem
@andjahiam It's a horrible shame! It's even more annoying the rubber on the thumbsticks still look brand new yet it's drifting like a beat up 10 year old controller.
I want the colours back. On PlayStation and Switch.
I love the new PS5 controller and console the look very elegant to me. I feel it would be cool if Sony changed to colors in January and made this controller a exclusive launch controller.
They will probably make a more expensive special edition with colored buttons!!
Tap here to load 54 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...