Shots have been fired in the next-gen cold war between the PS5 and Xbox, as a former Xbox executive has slammed Sony's decision to limit the use of the DualShock 4 on the PS5 on Twitter. Microsoft and Sony are taking very different tactics with their approach to cross-gen play, and the compatibility of the controllers is part of their strategy.
Sony recently revealed that the consumers can't use the DualShock 4 for PS5 games. The controllers will work for some games, as the PS5 will be backward compatible with some PS4 games. There are also some PS4 games that are receiving updated versions on the PS5, like Grand Theft Auto V, and it's likely that these will also work with the DualShock 4, but any brand new game won't be compatible with the old controllers. The reason for this is due to the new features of the DualSense controller used by the PS5, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
Microsoft recently mocked Sony on Twitter, by confirming that Xbox One controllers will be fully compatible with the Xbox Series X, and they will be compatible will all next-gen games on the system in the future. Former Microsoft marketing head Albert Penello commented on the issue on his Twitter page. According to Penello, Sony is being greedy with its approach to cross-gen controllers, as there are no good reasons why PS5 games shouldn't work with the DualShock 4.
The new features in the DualSense don't fundamentally change how games are played. The haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are more about immersive gameplay than changing how the player controls the game world. Penello argues that the DualShock 4 will need to be considered for a long time, as third-party developers will be making games for both the PS4 and PS5 for the foreseeable future. The same is also true of PS4 games that will receive updates on the PS5.
Sony's strategy going into the PS5 era involves separating the two generations clearly, while Microsoft is all about cross-gen support between the Xbox systems. Penello has a point about how the DualShock 4 should be able to work with PS5 games going forward, barring any more revelations about the DualSense that Sony has up its sleeve. The need to purchase additional DualSense controllers could be a sticking point when consumers come to decide which console they will purchase next, especially if they already have Xbox One controllers at home.
The PS5 and the Xbox Series X are both due to be released in Holiday 2020.
Source: Albert Penello