The DualSense controller for PlayStation 5 is an excellent pad used in conjunction with the current gen console, but it's supported on PC as well. You'll obviously get the best experience using the pad with its staple hardware, but if you play a lot on your computer, the DualSense is a solid option. The only trouble is that, to update the controller's firmware, you need to hook it up to a PS5 first. Fortunately that's no longer the case, as Sony has just released a Windows application that lets you forego the need for a PS5 and update the controller via your PC.
Available to download through the official PlayStation website, you can install the app and then use it to get your DualSense up to date without needing to plug it into a PS5. Obviously, if you primarily play on a PS5, this won't be of much use to you, but those who play games partly or wholly on PC will appreciate this little shortcut.
To use the app, you'll need to be operating on Windows 10 (64 bit) or Windows 11, have a measly 10MB of free space, and a free USB port in which to hook up the DualSense.
Do you use the DualSense controller to play games on PC? Will this little firmware updater app come in handy for you? Defragment your thoughts in the comments section below.
[source controller.dl.playstation.net, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 15
Slow week this week. Great news for those it works for but not enjoying this slump.
I bet this means we'll be seeing streaming PS5 games in PS+ Premium at some point.
@itsfoz Hopefully the calm before the storm. Off work with covid, so when I'm not gaming/watching t.v./reading I'm on here and articles like these although helpful are like tumbleweed!
Useful for those that want to use the Dual Sense with PC or mobile. I've used it on both and it's excellent. Not least that some PC ports like Death Stranding even include haptic feedback and other Dual Sense features.
@itsfoz I guess I'm addicted, but I do feel like I could do with a big news drop. I'm dying to hear what Sony's next acquisition will be and I wouldn't mind seeing a new PlayStation showcase.
I would just be happy playing games, but I can check the news while working.
Now just get every PC developer to have native Dualsense controller support by default and now we're talking. It's annoying how many games on PC only have xbox buttons, doesn't really matter to me though as my dualsense started getting stick drift so I just play with my Elite Series 2 controller instead, goes to say the quality of the dualsense isn't really the best as I've seen alot more complaints about defects more so than the dualshock 4 ever did. I've owned 5 Dualshock 4's and not a single one had an issue. Anyone else had an issue with the ps5 controller charging cable that came with it, literally have to wiggle it around for 2 minutes just to get it to charge and even then I can't so much as touch the controller or it won't charge? I hope quality for this controller improves and more games get the dualsense rumble features as I'd prefer to use a playstation controller for HZD or God of War, I shudder at the thought of seeing the B button prompt when Kratos is opening a chest, O the barbarity😱
That's great news! I do use a Dualsense for PC gaming even though I don't have a PS5 yet. Especially surprising to see this coming officially from Sony.
@MightyDemon82 @itsfoz Just a slow period for the industry in general really, unfortunately. It has been quite a hectic first three months to the year, though!
@get2sammyb Nintendo has been busy, just moved UP a big release 2 months. Wonder when the next time Squenix will do that? 😂
Was going to mock this but then I remembered I had a PS5 controller for about 5 months before I had a PS5, was using it for Game pass on PC as I don't own an Xbox. My kid uses our PS5 controller on PC all the time, either streaming from PS5 when my wife and I are using the tv or Game pass o Steam games. He has a couple of other controllers for PC but seems to prefer the DS. Had been using the Switch Pro for a long time until the PS5.
So ok, yeah, it's good thing.
@lolwhatno I think they're trying to sell the controller to PC players as well, which makes sense.
I've been using my spare Dualsense for my PC endeavors for the past month or so.
Glad I did since the spare Dualshock 4 I was using is starting to give me problems. Need to open it up and find out the problem.
This is wonderful. The worst part about controller updates was having to unpair the DualSense controller I use exclusively with my PC, pair it to my PS5, update it, then unpair it from the PS5, and re-pair it with my PC. It was not a good process.
Edit: I have had so many issues caused by not unpairing the controller from my PC first. Just pairing the controller to a second device causes Windows to no longer recognize my controller, so I always showed having multiple paired controllers and it was incredibly difficult to fix.
(Without official PC drivers, using a DualSense on PC requires a little extra work, but it's worth it. No other controller under $100 gets close.)
The Dualsense is definitely my go to pad for PC now. I hate to say it, but the Xbox controllers are terrible now. Rofl. Almost all major games support the controller natively and have matching prompts, and since haptic works on PC. The Dualsense is definitely the way to go for a next-gen pc gaming experience.
Deadzone settings would be pretty cool
You don't need a PS5 for a Dualsense eh?
I wonder if Sony will attempt to dominate the VR world by doing the same thing with PSVR2? I know that a lot of PCVR people are sure hoping it's going to work on their computers. I doubt it, but they sure would blow the competition out of the water.
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