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Sony shows off PlayStation 4 controller, details the hardware inside

Sony shows off PlayStation 4 controller, details the hardware inside

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Gallery Photo: Sony DualShock 4 controller photos
Gallery Photo: Sony DualShock 4 controller photos

One of the lone pieces of hardware that Sony decided to reveal at its PlayStation 4 event last February was the new DualShock 4 controller, and now the company is showing it off in person at this year's Game Developers Conference. The controller looks quite nice in person — there's a nice matte finish to the hardware — and the light bar on the back gives it a real Tron vibe.

Seeing as it's presenting to an audience of developers, Sony also offered up more details on what's inside the DualShock 4. First off, the controller's buttons are now digital rather than analog, which means touch sensitivity is out. The touchpad on front recognizes two simultaneous touch points, with support for gestures including flick, pinch, and twist. Developers can tap into the touchpad in a variety of ways; it can control navigation UI, on-screen slider buttons, and even act as a cursor controller. The controller contains a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope.

The LED bar can be used to heighten your sense of immersion

As for that LED at the top of the DualShock, Sony says it's always on, with a color scheme that matches the controller's blue, red, pink, and green action buttons. Each player's controller will give off a different color recognized by the new PlayStation 4 eye, which Sony also showcased today. Developer's can manipulate the LED's color to coincide with gameplay action; it can shift colors when a gun fires or if a player has critically low health, for instance.

Sony DualShock 4 controller photos

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As for the PS4 Eye, it's basically a thin black bar — but the simplistic design should help it disappear once integrated in your home theater system. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get our hands on the controller just yet — Sony notes that these are simply "mock-ups" with the usual caveat that elements could change. We're hoping we'll be hearing some more news about the PlayStation 4 at E3 this June.

DualShock 4 controller and camera peripheral press images

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Chris Welch contributed to this report.