Heads up for those who want a game controller that works well on Linux: Target.com has the DualSense for $50 USD right now.
Bluetooth, USB, motion controls, and rumble all work. The driver is from Sony and is part of the mainline kernel, so most desktop distros should have it already.
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As a ps5 owner, I strongly suggest otherwise solely based on durability. All four of my dualsense controller have BOTH sticks drift to a point they are unuseable. Very cool concept but extremely unreliable. There has to be a better option, forget all of the features these are bad.
Counterpoint: I’m using my original PS5 controller right now and have had no drift in nearly three years.
Not saying it doesn’t happen, but I also don’t think the controllers are fragile.
I think all the major controllers use Alps sticks, which (sadly) are susceptible to stick drift. I wonder if you got a bad batch, though. My 5-year-old DualShock sticks are steady unless I turn the dead zones down to almost zero. And I haven’t even bothered calibrating them.
As an Xbox owner since the OG in the early 2000s, I’d almost suggest against an Xbox One / Series controller too. I know the Xbox One is fairly old now, but it’s the first one I had to get a new controller for due to stick drift. Original controller that came with it has the right stick set to full sky mode, completely unusable. The replacement has right stick drift as well, only slightly to the left at the moment. Manageable, but annoying. I would almost suggest a wired 360 controller (if you can find one these days). I’m an adult gamer, only user, and not hard on controllers, but maybe I’ve just had bad luck with my controllers.
I think after a certain model number they fixed most of the stick drift issues or at least made the controllers more reliable. I think it was around when the horizon forbidden West bundle came out, they had a new model number and then they released the colored versions of the controllers. I have two dualsense controllers that have been beaten to shit by children and they don’t have stick drift, one of which is a camo controller and the other is a white controller from a horizon bundle. I also have an edge controller for myself, but I bought that for the peace of mind mostly.
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There are 3rd party options with hall effect sensor sticks so on paper would outlast all of the dualsense controllers.
Unfortunately, they’re only made by companies that I don’t want to support.
I’m hopeful that Hall effect sensors will be common in the next generation of controllers. In the meantime, My Sony controllers are still working well.
Why do you want to support Sony over third parties?
Most third parties are fine. I’m divesting from companies that answer to or directly support China’s government.
I think a certain controller model was more susceptible to stick drift than others. I think it was after the horizon forbidden West bundle where they started selling newer controller models with more reliable sticks. Both of my ps5 controllers have been dropped, thrown, played after and while eating by children and they’re still fine. I have also have a dualsense edge controller for myself though so I don’t really care what the kids do to their controllers. Grand total of 3 controllers and none of them have drift.
I will also counter and say I have played well over a thousand hours between trackmania and rocket league at fairly high levels since 2020 when I got the controller and it is still doing great. Those games beat controllers up
The dual sense is a great controller, but you’re right. It is not immune to stick drift. Have you considered replacing your sticks with hall effect sticks? When my current black one starts to drift, I’ll probably just replace my sticks and maybe drop a new battery in it. Otherwise, it’s been my favorite controller.
Dualsense controllers currently dont have any solderable hall effect sensor sticks yet. DS4 very recently (i think likr a month or two ago) had just received theirs.
Yep, I was looking into it earlier. I got ahead of myself.
been using dual sense for a long time now, I love using it, but the battery life leads some to be desired. also the gyro scope isn’t nearly as good as the dualshock 4
The early ones had a battery life problem, but I believe they fixed that a year or two ago. Upgrading your firmware might help, if you haven’t already.
Is there input lag on these Bluetooth controllers? Is it appropriate for a game like Rocket League?
I think it depends on your computer’s Bluetooth module. I haven’t noticed an input lag problem with my DualShock on either of two computers, but some people with different hardware have reported lag until they switched to a different Bluetooth dongle.
YMMV, though. I have no experience with Rocket League.
I don’t like playing with Bluetooth controllers. It’s not necessarily the amount of input latency but the inconsistency of it.
For having fun with friends Bluetooth is fine, but if possible go for a cable instead.
That said, there’s the XBox Wireless Dongle which uses the same protocol as an XBox. The latency is minimal like a cable, and it does support up to 8 XBox Wireless Controller.
Sadly the Linux support isn’t perfect but the xone kernel driver sees regular development.
