Is this the PS4 controller?

NewsPublish Date 15/02/2013 - 9:47am GMT

Alleged image of prototype PlayStation 4 controller surfaces online - features touchpad, modified analogue sticks and... PlayStation Move?

An image alleged to be of the PlayStation 4 controller has leaked online.

The controller, posted by Destructoid last night, appears to resemble the PlayStation 3's current DualShock 3, but with major modifications made to its design and functionality, including modified analogue sticks, wider grips and what appears to be a touchpad in the centre.

An illuminated section on the top of the pad also resembles the PlayStation Move's orb, suggesting Sony's motion-sensing tech may have been integrated directly into the controller.

Furthermore, the silver piece of hardware behind the controller is rumoured to be a PlayStation 4 devkit.

If the controller is real, though, don't expect the final product to look exactly like it does in the image.

Destructoid claims that "multiple sources" have confirmed the photo is genuine, but that the controller featured in the image is an "early prototype".

Previous rumours have suggested that Sony's next-gen controller will feature a touchpad similar to the one included in the Vita.

Sony is expected to announce PlayStation 4 next Wednesday, February 20.

Source: Destructoid

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User Comments

SelfSuicide

I'm glad the touch screen is on the front as the rear touch screen on the vita can be a pain (and fairly redundant); I hope they keep it simple and use it along the lines of MGS to navigate the menus. [Or as the melee control as I've lost count how many times I've been shooting someone and accidentally tried to cut them in half from 50 yards away]

Posted 17:24 on 17 February 2013

EverTheOptimist

I wouldn't be disappointed if that was the final controller, it looks fine. It's the controller equivalent of the Tumbler in Batman, all chunky and beefy.

Posted 15:07 on 17 February 2013

clangod

Too much horrible. Take it back.

I'll start calling it the 'profile carrier' instead.

Posted 02:53 on 17 February 2013

Woffls

Why did they get Mad Catz to design the controller?

Posted 10:39 on 16 February 2013

kittykatswell

Dang it leaks ! Why can't they stay a surprise????

Posted 05:40 on 16 February 2013

Endless @ MJTH

I do now :)

I personally dont see any use whatsoever for that touch panel in the position it is. it's too small to be anything meaningful or useful. Should have simply replicated the Vita functionality which i really hope they ended up doing in a later version of the pad.

I still hate the sticks being at the bottom. Most unnatural placement ever, even the Dreamcast pad was more comfortable to use :P

Posted 19:13 on 15 February 2013

MJTH @ Endless

I'm sorry, I got the two words the wrong way round, but you know what I mean right? :)

Posted 16:25 on 15 February 2013

Endless @ MJTH

360 thumb sticks are concave :P PS3 sticks are convex atm arent they? These new ones just appear to have a ridge running round the edge....for some reason lol

Posted 13:42 on 15 February 2013

Mintyrebel

The controller will have those features, but won't look like that. My main concern is with all of the things they have put into it, think about the pricing...

Posted 13:38 on 15 February 2013

MJTH

I kind of like it for an early design. The speaker and start select button positioning, do need to be improved though (It's hard to see from the image but there is a button, at the top on each side of the touchpad). No sign of the share button on the prototype, but considering this a dev kit (and an early one at that) I wouldn't be surprised it if wasn't included.

It's a shame they've changed the analogue sticks to convex instead of concave. I personally prefer concave, but many 360 owners will probably disagree with me. The new D-pad is looking very nice, good improvement. I didn't like how far apart the buttons were in previous PS d pad designs.

Lastly the touch pad and motion light thing. Hopefully they give the touch pad a matt finish like the back of the Vita. It doesn't need the silly XO[]^ pattern like the vita but a matt finish instead of the gloss in this early verison would be nice. The intergration of the PS move motion could be cool, but potential uses, other then sixaxis kind of things, I'm not sure about.

Posted 13:27 on 15 February 2013

Chlandy

I'm guessing the final look wil get tweaked, because at the moment it looks like a third party version of a Playstation controller.

I kind of like the idea though - touch screen and motion could be useful for some basic immersion in gameplay. E.g. instead of QTEs events, you have some Heavy Rain style quick motions in the middle of an action scene. If used correctly and sparingly, could break gameplay up a bit.

Posted 10:11 on 15 February 2013