Bet you didn’t think your DualShock 4 controller needed any more buttons, yet here we are.
It feels strange to be announcing some new PlayStation hardware, this close to the release of the next-generation consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. To be fair, this isn’t a big hardware announcement, and weird controller mods are ten-a-penny.
But for Sony itself to release an entirely official weird controller mod is more noteworthy.
It’s called the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment – snappy title – and clips onto the back of your existing PS4 controller. That’s a good start; it means you don’t need to buy a whole new controller if you want the extra buttons.
It adds two additional buttons, like the flappy paddle gear shifters on a sports car, to the rear of the controller. These buttons are customisable. You can scroll between different presets for different functions. Maybe you want to switch the triggers down there for a shooter or a racing game; perhaps you want to switch the build buttons in Fortnite. The choice is yours, friend.
Selections are made via a small OLED screen, which gives you a visual representation of which buttons are assigned. (That’s a little weird. The screen makes sense, but having it on the back of the controller isn’t exactly a quick visual reference. Don’t expect to make any quick changes mid-game without flipping your DualShock 4 over. Or doing it in a mirror.)
The DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment also features an audio jack port so you can still plug in your headset. That’s handy, as the extra button attachment will cover up the PS4 controller’s native port.
The add-on launches on January 23, 2020 in the US and Canada, priced at $29.99 US/$39.99 Canadian. A European release – priced at €29.99 – follows on February 14. (Happy Valentine’s Day!)
It’s not a cheap add-on, sure, but it’s still cheaper to add one of these than to buy a whole new pro controller.
