Will your PS4 controller work with a PS5? Is it worth keeping your DualShock 4 when you upgrade to PlayStation 5, or will the DualSense take over?


The PS5 is coming at the end of 2020 and with PS4 being the 2nd most popular console of all-time, there will be plenty of people wondering about forwards and backward compatibility.

Having the ability to use your old controllers when you get a new console is a good way of keeping players loyal to your platform by saving them a few pennies when it comes to playing with friends.

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Also, with wireless controllers now a regular thing, it always helps to have a couple of backups charged up.

So, if you're wondering whether you'll be able to link up your PS4 controllers to your PS5, read on...

PlayStation confirms DualShock will work with PS5

In a blog post somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of a State of Play, PlayStation has announced that the DualShock controller is compatible with the PS5, but only for PS4 games.

The FAQ clarifies that the PS4 controller will not, however, work with PlayStation 5 exclusive games, stating, "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."

This seems a pretty concrete statement that captures the PS5's design choices that emphasise the separation of the PS4 and PS5 eras, with the DualSense at the centre of this divide.

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Why the DualSense is essential for PS5 games

The PS5 console will come with a DualSense controller, so it seems likely that most players will use this for single-player sessions on the PlayStation 5.

The DualSense controller has haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and a Create button - all of which the DualShock 4 does NOT have. So you could argue that you will get the most out of your PS5 by using the DualSense controller instead of the DualShock 4.

The option to link up your DualShock 4 PS4 controller should come in handy for multiplayer PS5 sessions, though, or for times when you want to charge up your DualSense on the other side of the room or lend it to someone else.

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