Dual Shock 3 Won't Work With PS4

The new Dual Shock 4 controller is definitely an upgraded version, but if you'd still rather have the older iteration, you're out of luck.

Before Sony officially unveiled the PlayStation 4, there were rumors that the system would support the current Dual Shock 3. However, according to Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida, the PS4 will not be compatible with this generation's PlayStation controller.

Yoshida confirmed that the PS4 does support Move, but does not support the Dual Shock 3. We already knew it would be compatible with Move, because Media Molecule had an in-depth presentation during the PlayStation Meeting that focused on their new-found fascination with Sony's motion sensing accessory. And that Dual Shock 4 is awfully nifty; it has a front-facing touch pad, a new Share button (that should prove revolutionary), a built-in speaker, and upgraded rumble functionality.

Still, it would've been nice to be able to use our current gamepads.

Tags: ps4, playstation 4, dual shock 3, ps4 controller, ps3 controller

2/22/2013 9:53:53 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (66 posts)

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frostface
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:10:09 PM
Reply

If I'm going to have a new console I'm sticking with the new gamepad. DS3 is fine but I'm more than ready to retire it for the new model.

11 up, 0 down

ART359
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:13:01 PM

I agree. I have at least 5 Dualshock 3 remotes (one gold one, lol) and I love them, but I do think its more than appropriate to utilize the new remote model for the PS4.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:14:27 PM

No offense, but the chorus of whining that greeted the Vita's proprietary memory cards was deafening. But you're just fine with them jettisoning DS3 controllers so that gamers are forced to buy new ones?

6 up, 12 down

frostface
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:16:27 PM

No offense Highlander, totally respect your opinion and get where you're coming from but you're a bit grumpy these days. You alright mate?

Last edited by frostface on 2/22/2013 10:17:07 PM

6 up, 1 down

Highlander
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:17:40 PM

Totally fine, just feeling a little like Sony decided to jettison me along with the DS3.

Edit:

What I'm getting at is that I, like many, continued to support Sony through all the crap that that they faced. It's not, and never has been blind support, but I have always backed them as I felt they really were looking for the best for their customers. I don't feel that way right now. I feel like they are choosing the cheap way out, and it will cost them long term. This move with the controller is - IMHO - an example of the more nickle & dime mentality going on within certain parts of Sony, and is not something that I believe will serve them well. They're just not the same organization that they once were, and their vision right now seems lacking to me.

Last edited by Highlander on 2/22/2013 10:20:17 PM

9 up, 1 down

frostface
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:25:29 PM

Fair enough :)

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:30:06 PM

Indeed. I doubt that I will get a PS4 anytime soon, but since PS3 has lots of games I like already in my backlog, I will be playing PS3 and reading/commenting here for some time to come - whether or not a PS4 ever sneaks into my home.

4 up, 1 down

Cesar_ser_4
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:32:06 PM

Just wait till they hear how much they have to pay for an additional controller. The issue with the MS lied within the price, not the fact that it was made.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:11:05 PM

Those memory cards were just silly expensive, that was the problem.

6 up, 0 down

daus26
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 6:09:08 AM

World, what if the new controller cost silly expensive too, like $80 or something. Most likely not, but if that was the case, Highlander would have a point. Then again, these controllers will be shipped with the consoles, unlike those memory cards. For those that need multiples though, I can only imagine Sony is "forcing" them to buy these new ones. If not, please give me a legit reason.

0 up, 0 down

Simcoe
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 9:45:24 AM

Madcatz or some other company will probably come along and provide a lower cost controller option...now if only someone would do that with PS Vita memory!

Also, I never had to buy my DS3's at full price. Got them in one of those bundled game and controller deals...when it was on sale for $40. Then sold the (unused) games on ebay for $10 each!

0 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 11:39:12 AM

Highlander, I feel exactly as you do. Sony have changed; either it's because of key people leaving (Phil Harison comes to mind), or some new people that just don't understand the philosophy.

I really don't like how people are getting so hyped up for the PS4, other than for being Sony fanatics (in the nicest possible way). All we've really seen are some flashy tech demos. If I recall some people lament this generation's games, like Uncharted or God of War, because of being 'superficially pretty' or whatever. There's a word for people like that...

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 2:07:18 PM

I won't care because one will come with the console.

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:08:27 AM

I feel like Sony have (at least in part) surrendered and let Microsoft set the agenda for the next generation. I hope I don't have to explain why that would be disastrous for the hobby/industry we all love.

Why should we care if Sony wins/prospers if they have become Microsoft? One cancer is not a favorable alternative to another.

Note please that I said "if".

p.s. Another item from my short checklist that Sony have failed to check.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 2/24/2013 7:11:47 AM

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:12:27 PM
Reply

That's bloody stupid. They're both bluetooth, the only reason to do that is to force people to pay for a new one. The more I hear from Sony about this, the less and less I like it. Locking out the DS3 controller is a really petty and dumb move.

9 up, 5 down

Xbox_Killer
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:30:26 PM

I agree. You can use the DS3 controller on the pc and the ps4 is basically a closed box pc.

1 up, 2 down

Cesar_ser_4
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:36:19 PM

Don't know about you highlander but to me all this talk about the ps4 screams jailbreak. No more proprietary technology to make it more difficult to find a way to jailbreak it. Just wait, someone somewhere will get the old DS3 controller working as well as an emulator for PS2 and PS1 games.

6 up, 2 down

touchyourtoes
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 2:23:20 AM

The other point to remember is that the controllers from the PS1 worked on the PS2, and the controllers from PS1 & PS2 worked on the PS3 with an adapter. It is stupid that they decided now to stop the ongoing compatibility. The DS3 already costs what, $55 new in store, how much will this new fangled DS4 set us back!?

8 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 3:40:25 AM

I don't now why either, PS4 is going to have USB 3.0 to, and that will be used to charge the PS4 controller and why not the PS3, 3.0 is backswards compatiable to usb 2.0.

0 up, 0 down

Huey
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 7:09:34 AM

I have to agree with Highlander on this. I have 4 DS3s and that is one thing I would have liked to have seen incorporated into the PS4. Make me wonder if the Pulse headsets will still work.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 1:35:22 PM

How could you possibly expect a DS3 to be usable on a system with a controller that is equipped with a touch pad. It's not a question about "locking out" but the simple fact that technically they are just far too different.

3 up, 1 down

MartyRules
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 9:34:36 PM

I agree with beamboom, it's just an upgrade in the tech that's to great. If there was a small change then maybe I'd feel different

3 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:13:18 AM

The DS2 worked without Sixaxis.

0 up, 0 down

Cesar_ser_4
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:30:44 PM
Reply

Doesn't make sense though. This confuses and infuriates me. But, but, but, it just doesn't. I hope they had to mod the machine in some way to block out the DS3 rather than just leave something out.

0 up, 1 down

Highlander
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:35:02 PM

Hey, I know, perhaps (and Beamboom will beam with pride if this is true) they have made the system so that users can mod it and we'll get a custom firmware to restore DS3 compatibility?

Yeah, OK, not really... ;P

3 up, 0 down

Cesar_ser_4
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:38:14 PM

That's not what I meant. What I meant is that they had to change something somewhere in the machine to disable the DS3 functionality rather than just not adding it to the spec. If that makes sense.

0 up, 0 down

daus26
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 5:53:24 AM

I can only doubt that it has something to do with the console. They're both blutooth, and are both charged through USBs. In the least, we should at least be able to do it wired. There are lots of PC emulators that can make DS3s work with PCs, and Sony is telling us that they can't make it work?

1 up, 0 down

Warrior Poet
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:37:40 PM
Reply

...The dualshock was as close to perfect as it got for 3D gaming. The segmented D-pad is not great, but the new one looks nearly useless. And no select button? How...is it an upgrade?

1 up, 3 down

Cesar_ser_4
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 10:39:00 PM

Because now you can "select" to "share" whatever it is you're doing.

0 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:03:09 PM

The segmented D-pad is not great? What? It's far superior to the D-pad that is the Xbox controller. And the select and start button are the same function now, soo....?

2 up, 0 down

rogers71
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:05:35 PM

Warrior,
You will still have the select button. It is called 'options' now. It integrates the functionality of the start button and the select button from previous controllers. Just read up a bit before you flame the design buddy.

4 up, 1 down

Warrior Poet
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 11:52:40 PM

I did read it. I always do. That share button will have only one function and the game developer won't be able to use it for anything else.

The new D-Pad has me confused because it looks so much worse than the current one. Let's not kid ourselves about the PlayStation D-Pad, either. It's better than Microsoft's, but it doesn't doesn't compare to the ones on the Madcatz fightpads, the Saturn, or even the Wii classic controller.

0 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:01:37 PM
Reply

Oh no...because my ps2 controller worked for my ps3. Oh wait

Who cares. You're getting a controller when you buy the console. You only need another if you have friends coming over and if they're any friends of yours they'll have one as well. Heh.

5 up, 2 down

Highlander
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:26:26 PM

Actually, PS2 (and PS1) controllers did work with the PS3 using a cheap USB adapter (an official Sony adapter BTW) - I know, because I had one.

Last edited by Highlander on 2/22/2013 11:26:37 PM

4 up, 0 down

Cesar_ser_4
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:57:37 PM

Ah the memories. I can only wish we could post links to gifs on this site so I could post that part from I, Robot. "Then I guess we'll miss the old days" "What old days?" "When people killed people". Except in this case it would be. When not too different hardware worked with new hardware. I think Sony is taking cues from Apple.

2 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 9:59:12 AM

Ok? I can't just take my ps2 controller and try to make it work with my ps3 without buying external devices so it's the same thing.

Besides as people obviously note is that if all games require the format the ps4 controller buttons are then I don't see people being able to use the ps3 controller.

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:19:38 AM

Wolfeh,

If they can get games built for the DualShock to run using the PSP and PSV, they could make games built for the DS4 to run using the DS3.

0 up, 0 down

Hand_of_Sorrow
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:10:58 PM
Reply

no big deal imo,

but maby sony could/could have added an option for those
who want to use the ds3?

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:14:00 PM
Reply

What would it do emulate the new features? Of course you need the new controller, you always need the new controller in a new console.

8 up, 1 down

daus26
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 6:27:34 AM

What new features exactly? Light sensor? Touchpad? Are you saying the Vita, which can be used to play PS4 games through remote, can emulate all of the DS4's buttons and features? Did it require the PS2 controller to have sixaxis for it to work with the PS3? Heck, the Vita doesn't even have L2/R2 buttons and a lot games require and use them.

It's simple, like the sixaxis missing from the PS2 controller, and absence of L2/R2 buttons that's missing from the Vita/PSP, then you simply can't use it for games that "require" those features/inputs. For games that just requires basic inputs, why not be able to use it?

1 up, 0 down

MartyRules
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 9:42:15 PM

Well the Vita allows you to use the back for l2 and r2. The fact the new controller interacts with a camera is reason enough to just move on

1 up, 1 down

Kiryu
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:24:23 PM
Reply

DUAL SHOCK 4 the next evolution in Controller

2 up, 0 down

Killa Tequilla
Friday, February 22, 2013 @ 11:56:25 PM

Dualshock 5 takes the crown

1 up, 0 down

Lord carlos
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 12:56:09 AM

Nah i prefer the DS6

1 up, 0 down

Draguss
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 12:25:54 AM
Reply

Curious. It doesn't really bug me much, but I can't see any reason for it.

0 up, 0 down

huh1678
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 1:39:21 AM

I kinda figured this was going to be happening, new console, new controller simple as that. New Features require new inputs since we aren't playing on a PS4 anymore. I don't know what the new features are yet but Sony have about 8 months to shed light on this. We've only seen the initial reveal so.

Last edited by huh1678 on 2/23/2013 1:41:55 AM

0 up, 0 down

daus26
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 6:13:17 AM

New features and inputs are a mute arguments. The DS3 had sixaxis features, which is something PS2 controllers don't have, and yet we can use them through adapters. Plus, if you can use the Vita to play PS4 games, which doesn't have as many inputs like R2/L2/R3/L3, why not DS3?

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:24:03 AM

@daus

For future reference, it's a "moot" argument/point.

0 up, 0 down

Lord carlos
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 12:57:49 AM
Reply

kinda disappointing but what the hell.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 1:39:42 AM
Reply

I bet the old controller works on the PS4 just like any PC controller work on the PS3, in that they do work however they miss some buttons, making them incompatible.

When they add new buttons and control surfaces on the new controller, how can anyone then expect the old controller to work. Even if what's the same did work (and I bet it does), noone want to use a controller that is missing features.

0 up, 0 down

daus26
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 6:35:30 AM

You don't think the Vita is missing some buttons?

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 8:21:43 AM

No no - they've already said it'll work.

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:28:55 AM

Share button...tiny touchpad...light that allows kinect--sorry the Eye--to track me...

Those are features I can do without.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 2/24/2013 7:29:36 AM

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 2:08:02 AM
Reply

You know what, Quantic Dream's PS4 game whatever it shall be can probably benefit a lot from that little touch pad that actually makes me a bit nervous (I don't want it taking over my button pressing tasks too much) but at least the whole "It's a QTE game!" thing can be amended. Think how handy it would've been with Heavy Rain.

3 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 2:11:57 AM

Now that is a very interesting point.

2 up, 0 down

bigrailer19
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 12:04:03 PM

HR was far better with move than the DS3 anyways. Gotta try it if ya havnt.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 2:10:41 PM

I never got Move because it never had any good games made for especially for it.

0 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:32:04 AM

Dude, WTF...Grease Dance!!!!!!

1 up, 0 down

Karosso
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 10:54:25 AM

Yes, HR with the move feels like a whole new experience! That's got to be the one and only good example of a full legit game that benefits from Move like no other.

0 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 10:16:54 AM
Reply

I'm not surprised by this. But I do wonder how much the controller will be at retail.

0 up, 0 down

gumbi
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 11:03:30 AM
Reply

Well, that boosts the PS4 launch price by at least $50 (or whatever they're gonna cost).

Any one of my 5 DS3's should have been able to do the job... Oh well, c'est la vie.

2 up, 0 down

oONewcloudOo
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 12:35:36 PM
Reply

Well if ps3 games don't work with it its obvious the control won't work, ps4 games will need the new controller.... If people are getting upset about this then sorry your stupid

0 up, 2 down

Fane1024
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 7:34:11 AM

...says the person who can't spell "you're" correctly.

Glass houses, bro.

1 up, 0 down

JohnnyKey
Saturday, February 23, 2013 @ 12:59:17 PM
Reply

Didn't expect to be able to use my DS3 controller with the ps4. New console, new controller. Makes sense to me.

5 up, 0 down

Ultima
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 12:40:39 PM
Reply

Not compatible with the DS3 is one thing. What about -other- PS3 controllers? Will my $150 Street Fighter IV Tournament Edition stick still work? I'd rather not have to shell out for a new one (only to get an additional one, not because my old one is obsolete).

0 up, 0 down

RobN
Sunday, February 24, 2013 @ 6:40:00 PM
Reply

It makes sense that a DS3 controller on a PS4 would be lacking in some functionality - and it also makes sense that Sony would really push developers to utilize the new functionality as much as possible as early as possible. Otherwise, there's little reason for people to upgrade.

But I sure hope they rethink the idea. The economy still sucks, our budget won't have room for the PS4 for...at least two years, from the looks of things. New controllers will be $50 each, minimum, on sale - let's be honest, these things aren't going to cost LESS than a DS3, which you can grab for $30 on a really good sale or $50-60 any time. So to add two-to-four controllers for family play, we're talking $100-200, easy, on top of whatever it costs and before we pick up any games. Sheesh. The ability to play with existing DS3 controllers, even in a diminished capacity, would help cover some costs.

Will they allow ANY third-party controllers? Even if those controllers don't fully duplicate 100% of the DS4 functionality? If so, why not allow the DS3? Or are the days of less expensive (and less capable) third-party controllers coming to an end, as well? That would be bad, and probably unlikely.

0 up, 0 down

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