Posting on the Playstation Blog, Sony showcased two new controllers by Razer and Nancon that will be released sometime this year.
The first is the Razer Raiju. Razer’s done some console stuff before. Notably, they have a controller for the Xbox that our own Mike Fahey enjoyed. The Raiju is designed for “conquering professional eSports tournaments” which sounds pretty hardcore for a controller. There’s a few features that will add to your experience:
- Two extra bumpers and two extra detachable triggers
- Built-in control panel on the front of the controller
- Trigger-stop switches and hair trigger mode for ultra-fast trigger responses
- Two custom profiles which you can instantly switch between and modify
- 3.5mm headset jack and dedicated headset volume and mic mute controls
- Detachable analog stick rubber caps which provide extra grip during intense gaming sessions
- Compatibility with all PS4 systems via the braided 3m-long USB cable – detachable for easy storage.
Extra triggers are one of my favorite things about the phenomenal Xbox One Elite controller and I definitely like having volume control built right into the controller. Unfortunately, the controller itself is pretty ugly. Look at this thing:
The triggers seem pretty big and that mic control panel gives it this weird little controller butt that doesn’t seem to great. Those analog caps seem pretty snug though.
If you’re looking for something a bit more aesthetically pleasing but still customizable, there’s also the Nacon Revolution Pro controller. It has the following features:
- 46° amplitude dual analogue sticks, enhanced with innovative firmware for advanced eSports accuracy and reach
- Four extra shortcut buttons
- Eight-way directional pad
- Four custom profiles – all configurable via the companion PC application, enabling players to: re-map buttons, assign macros to the four shortcut controls and adjust analog and trigger sensitivity
- Two internal compartments with six additional weights – for a tailored balance and feel
- Compatibility with all PS4 systems via the 3m-long secure connection USB cable – detachable for easy storage.
Having multiple profiles and settings seems pretty swell if you’re really into some diverse games and I’m really digging the adjustable weights. Having a controller that feels balanced in your hands makes a major difference. And as stated before, it just looks nicer too.
The analog placement isn’t as tight at the Raiju or the Dualshock 4 but making the D-Pad eight way compared to the standard four gives some better control to folks who don’t always prefer analog controls. It’s also shaped a bit like a boomerang, which means you can throw it at the wall in frustration and it will come right back to you.
You can check out the Nacon Revolution in more detail here. You can sign up for notifications about the Raiju’s availability here.
I’m a huge fan of the Dualshock 4 but the lack of a first party version with the customizability of the Xbox Elite has been an ongoing disappointment for me. The Raiju and Revolution seem like pretty good options for players looking for a little more from their Playstation controllers.