Topic: Dualshock 4 - wear & tear

@KratosMD Haha could be time for a new one then, alas..

OK I played some FF15 and I cannot open the item menu using the L1 button. Moreover in some games where you shoot with R2 sometimes it shoots sometimes it is not. Also remote play works. Seems that my controller is for the trash... Is is some way to fix it? Are there are some cheap alternatives I can't justify spending 60 euros on this thing...

Edit: OK I am done... Sometimes it shoots with R3 instead of R2...

@KratosMD Tried it! It still doesn't work. R2 does not work at all or it is heavy delayed. I guess I will get a new one but remote play with the Vita till I afford one.

I didn't know there is a "second" DS4. The same that comes with the Pro I suppose? Do you know if it is eay to tell in the shop if a DS4 is the V2 one?

@KratosMD Thanks for the heads up. I will buy a V2 controller the sooner.

Finally broke down and bought a new PS4 controller, they were on sale for $40 at Target. So now I have 3 working non launch PS4 controllers.

My brand new 'replacement' V2 DS4 is already starting to play up with the Left thumbstick and I only got it 2 weeks ago to replace my Day 1 PS4 Pro DS4. I now have 4 (yes 4) DS4's ALL with the same issue with the left thumbstick!!!! Ridiculous!!!!!

@KratosMD Its ridiculous. I know it contains a lot more 'tech' than other controllers and the touchpad can't be cheap but I do feel they have compromised on the quality in other areas - most notably the thumbsticks. They have obviously switched the thumbsticks from the day 1 editions that the rubber would wear off but the issue I have is more related to the 'click' function - needed in virtually all FPS games to run.

When I click, the actual thumbstick drops a mm on the 'shaft' its attached to on the actual switch. This affects the ability to actually run and ends up not working properly. You can literally pull the Thumbstick back up and then running works - at least the first time put the stick drops back down again. To me it feels like the 'hole' of the thumbstick is a bit too deep or the shaft is too short. I bet if everyone tries to pull up their thumbsticks, they will easily come up. In the case of my 'Gold V1' controller. It hasn't had a 'negative' effect - at least not that much. Its still dropped but 99% of the time, it still works as expected. EVERY Black controller though is unusable!!

I don't know if it was a 'cost-cutting' exercise to enable Sony to sell controllers at a 'reasonable' cost - considering the parts - or a deliberate ploy to ensure a consistent income on peripherals. Most people aren't going to keep buying controllers every 2-3months unless they 'break' down.

Last gen, my DS3's lasted far longer - only needing to be replaced when the batteries essentially stopped holding their charge. Of course they could still be used wired but if you wanted 'wireless' then you had to replace. One reason I prefer the battery compartment of MS controllers and its not like you can't buy rechargeable packs. Its cheaper to replace a rechargeable pack than a controller too and these packs lasted longer as well than those in Sony's controllers - anyway that's another story.

Since I bought my Elite controller, I have not had a single issue with my XB1 controllers. Its coming upto 2years old now and still works and feels 'as new'. It may have cost 2x nearly 3x as much as my Sony controllers but its already lasted more than 3x as long as any Sony controller. I wish I could use the Elite on my PS4 Pro or Sony would make (or licence) an equivalent. I know the Razer and Nacon are available but both are 'wired' and I want at least the option to play wirelessly and not have cables traipsing across my floor. Its not 'necessary' to always save 'milliseconds' in latency in every game. I am not always looking for an 'eSports' type performance. The DS4 has the ability to be used wired if I really wanted...

It really annoys me as I only bought my new DS4 just before Horizon: Zero Dawn arrived because my Day 1 PS4 Pro DS4 wasn't working and stopped working properly after 2 months (sometime in January). It seems I have NO choice but to look at Scuf - at least they have the option to easily replace the thumbsticks without having to completely dismantle the controller...

Just throwing it out there: my launch controllers had stick problems. The blue one and the DS4 V2 I got with my Pro are all perfect.

Go me

@KratosMD Petitions never work. Companies will do what companies want to do.

@BAMozzy Sony has always had poor quality controllers at least for me anyway compared to say MS or Nintendo. To me they even feel cheaper and that I could snap them in half fairly easy. Both Xbox and the 360 controllers felt alot sturdier then the PS controllers and even the Gamecube felt sturdier too.

In all my years I had to only replace my NES controllers once, My SNES once, and one Gamecube controller when my roommate smashed it into a wall cause he go mad at Smash Bros. I never replaced any Xbox, N64, Xbox 360 or Genesis controllers either.

Playstation though, through normal wear and tear I have had to replace countless PS2 controllers (only one was a third party one) and so far 3 PS4 controllers and oddly enough it's cause of the analog sticks. I didn't have a PS one long enough to replace a controller so I can't comment on those. But yeah it seems controllers are not their strong suit.

Faults with my PS4 Pro controller:
It will automatically switch off even on a full charge or connected to the USB cable.
The left analog stick will randomly become unresponsive for a few seconds and then again work.

So, it's hard for me to use the faulty controller. Anyone having the same problems, please share how to resolve it.

So yeah controller number 4 and 5 are now going bad. One controller will disconnect at random intervals and both of them the analog sticks will stop responding for a bit then start working again.

At this point I am done with the piece of junk that is the Dualshock 4 I simply cannot keep buying a new controller every 6 months or so especially at the $60 price tag.

So now I havery a question can I use any Bluetooth controller on my PS4? I refuse to buy the junk that is a DS 4. If not anyone know any good third party controllers that I can use?

Never had a DS4 fail on me. Issue with sticks on my first models but after changing the sticks on those all 4 have been fine.

Sounds like you have been incredibly unlucky!

I too am on my 5th or 6th DS4 and need to replace it. I am on my 2nd V2 DS4 since I bought my Pro on Day 1 - that's 2 controllers in less than a year! If I could use my Xbox Elite controller, I would. Mine has lasted 2yrs and still working perfectly!

@BAMozzy I wish I could use an Xbox controller on the PS4.

I did some googling and appearently there's nothing to do but keep buying the DS4. Iean yeah I could buy a Scuf controller (at this point I could have with the amount I have spent on DS4 controllers) but honestly I am afraid that after spending $150+ it's going to fail after 6 months and I will be back to square one again.

This is so aggravating Sony really needs to do something to improve the quality of their controllers. Either that or someone needs to make a third party one.

Mine still works fine. I wouldn't know what causes the difference in build quality. Aren't they covered by a warranty of sorts? Maybe send them in to Sony for repairs?

@Tasuki Scuf have made new PS4 controller that looks more like the Xbox one in shape but still has the symmetrical layout that maybe a bit 'stronger', better built etc but its still quite an expensive investment. I really hope Sony or a 3rd Party make a wireless 'Elite' style controller - that is certainly built to last!

@BAMozzy Yeah the design of the Xbox controller doesn't bother me nor does the PS. I know some people it matters where the sticks are but for me it's more about the durability.

As for an elite controller, if it were to happen it probably would have by now. I feel that Sony knows their controllers are flawed it just they want people to keep paying the $60.

The triggers on both of mine are failing a bit, especially L2.

Battery is getting progressively worse. Its hitting around 3 hours at most now on both.

Im surprised they havent gone the way of my DS3. Bluetooth died and batteries wont hold a charge, and technically they dont even work wired. Only one does now but ONLY wired. The rest are flat dead.

Honest to god at this time I am very happy I have my Pro Controller for my PC Gaming, as prior I had to use workariunds for my DS4 as my hands cant use Xbox controllers. £60 well spent honestly, given battery life and usability as well as quality.

I think Sony is still using the "Sony Warranty". I had 3 PS2s die as they left warranty, and these controllers do the same, if they even have warranty at all, I dont know. But its been 2 years and their death is approaching.

If it isn't memory cards, its something else swear to God. Controllers from Sony have NEVER lasted long and for £45-£55 per its simply not good enough.

Heck back in April I mentioned mine were doing about 4 hours on a charge. Now its down to 3 at best and I havent touched my PS4 since April.

If I buy a new one I'm dismantling it and taking that damn LED out. Its not used for anything and I HOPE its why the battery sucks. If not then Sony needs better batteries.

Sorry for the negativity but after 15+ years the straw has to break the back at some point.

@KratosMD V2 also has more light bars for literally no reason XD

But seriously this is normal for me. Sony controllers have universally been crap. PS3 was the ABSOLUTE worst. Triggers broke and or stuck, so they depressed and had to be pulled out, which also happened on PS2. And two of them died. Not wired. No charging. Deceased. Paperweights.

Analog triggers break a lot. More mechanisms to break. In fact if triggers arent digital for me they die first.

But seriously, if I get a new one that light bar is going. The battery has been my single biggest complaint (Behind the charging port breaking the pins on the cable, the triggers activating when i put the thing down, general quality).

Its alright to hold, but I have so many questions for Sony. How in all logic does a smaller controller with more going on inside with a battery half the size last over twice as long as this thing?

The DS4 will forever strike me as a controller that just...has a good premise but everything is done wrong. Battery, location and angle of the charging port, shape of the triggers so they dont activate if put down, sticks, that damn light bar. Hell I even avoid the touchpad.

The DS4 is fundamentally good to hold but everything else is bad.

Which honestly we should have seen coming.

I guess I'm one of those lucky few that hasn't had any issues. Still had the original controller with the Ps4 & it worked fine, that's now with my nephew as I upgraded to a Pro - the V2 controller does feel better than the original though. Hell I've still got my original PS1 Dualshock that still works to this day for the odd 2 player bout on the Ps2.