The PlayStation 5’s Haptic Feedback technology is so advanced that players might be able to feel a raindrop on their hands, at least according to one developer earlier this week. This groundbreaking tech stimulates a person’s sense of touch through different types of vibrations in order to emulate various in-game environmental conditions - sort of like the rumble-style motors already present in current generation gaming controllers, but on a whole new level.
This Haptic Feedback function was revealed alongside the significantly redesigned PS5 DualSense Controller last month, with Sony promising that the new controller would be able to simulate the sensation of driving through mud or walking on ice in a game. Other competing consoles are offering this type of technology in their controllers, such as the Nintendo Switch’s “HD Rumble” feature, but it seems that Sony’s take on this new feedback feature is the one gaining buzz from developers recently due to how far they’re promising to take it.
Over at IGN, John Wick Hex developer Mike Bithell praised the DualSense’s Haptic Feedback capabilities during a recent podcast a couple of days ago. Having tried out the new controller firsthand in the past, he says that players are “going to love what they're doing with the controller on PS5 as well, with the DualSense stuff. Haptic... the raindrops thing; I've had some demos, they're very good [...] you're gonna have some fun and games with that,” which is the closest he can get to discussing the subject without violating a non-disclosure agreement.
While many of the PlayStation 5’s new features are supposedly still being kept under wraps - in keeping with Sony’s slower-paced approach to unveiling the console in comparison to the Xbox Series X - the console’s new DualSense controller has garnered much discussion from industry insiders since its unveiling. Bethesda Softworks head Pete Hines previously claimed the DualSense will make the PS4’s DualShock “immediately forgettable,” and Dying Light 2 lead game designer Tymon Smektala has declared it to be one of the best controllers ever designed. Fans have also warmed up to the new controller, giving it clever custom designs based on upcoming games like Cyberpunk 2077 or even superheroes like Batman.
Much talked-about features like the PS5 DualSense’s impressive-sounding Haptic Feedback technology have contributed to this optimism for Sony’s new console, which has already shown itself to be a graphical powerhouse thanks to the recent Unreal Engine 5 tech demo earlier this month. Games are set to become even more sophisticated than ever in this upcoming console generation, as developers will be able to use the PlayStation 5’s Haptic Feedback to immerse players in vividly-captured new worlds and experiences like never before.
Source: IGN