PlayStation DualShock 4

•       Triggers and bumpers have a more tactile feel than Xbox controllers
•      Great analog trigger feel
•      Sturdy construction

•      Some users report damaged analog sticks after prolonged use
•      Requires unofficial software tool to work on PC

It isn't intended for use on the PC, but the DualShock 4 is my favorite controller anyway. I've used each of its predecessors, the two current Logitech controllers, the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R., the Razer Sabertooth, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers, and just about every console controller from the NES to present day. The DualShock 4 isn't superior in every way to every one of these competitors, but it's the superior all-around choice.

It doesn't look as durable as the Xbox One controller, but it's durable. When I squeeze the handles with as much force as I can, I can barely hear the strain. I also pushed each of the buttons, triggers, bumpers, and analog sticks down with as much force as I could, and each sprang back as if untouched. Long term, I've heard reports of damaged rubber on the analog sticks and sticking triggers. The former can be fixed with GelTabs, and while the latter sounds bad, the only trigger wear I've personally experienced is a slight creaking after a lot of use. They still feel springy, and I've never had one stick.

The flat, matte face buttons, though not as pronounced as the Xbox 360's bulbous, glossy things, are easy to feel my way around. They feel firm and clicky, but their shape puts very little pressure on my thumb, which I appreciate. I find that extended sessions with the Xbox 360 controller's harder buttons are more likely to give me those calloused gamer-thumbs.

Unlike the 360's triggers, which better take after their name by being long and skinny, the DS4's triggers are short and fat. I haven't found that the design makes any difference to me when I play—both are equally easy to reach and pull. What I do prefer about the DS4's triggers is that completely pressing them down brings them to a clear halt with a click, while the Xbox 360's triggers softly recede into the housing. The same goes for the Xbox One triggers. It doesn't really affect their functionality, but it's a better tactile experience.

The DS4's bumpers also beat the 360 controller in that respect with a clear, firm action. The Xbox One bumpers are better, but I find that their placement requires me to hit them with the edge of my index fingers, which is slightly awkward, and they come down with a meek click to the outer side. The DS4 bumpers are much smaller, but move straight up and down with a more intuitive action.

The Xbox 360's wobbly circle is a functional but mediocre d-pad, and an immediate deduction. The Xbox One's d-pad is a great improvement—a clicky cross that responds well to rapid direction changes—but the DS4's is just as good with the only caveat being that I don't like how soft it is. There's very little feedback, but in practice, I've found that I don't need it. It's accurate, and when muscle memory took over I had no trouble spamming Cannon Spikes in USFIV.

After some getting used to, the DS4 is a nice fit for my hands, and I much prefer it to the smaller (and all-around awful) DS3. The triggers don't quite land on the pads of my index fingers, which I find slightly uncomfortable, but I hardly notice once I'm playing. The Share and Options buttons (Select and Start) are awkwardly placed and recede into the body a little too much, but those are the least important buttons, so that's barely a demerit.

This is a point of much debate, but I find the DS4's analog sticks to be slightly better than the Xbox One's. They're a little larger, which I like, and they have more resistance and spring back to center with more force. I only wish they were offset, as I don't find their close proximity to each other comfortable. I've found, though, that this comes down to personal preference, so it's hard to call it a design flaw.

Drivers and software

The biggest caveat, which doubles as a positive, is that the DS4 is not designed with Windows PCs in mind. Whereas it's very easy to get an Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller working, and most PC games will use their ABYX button prompts, there won't be any official drivers for the DS4 until Sony releases the recently announced wireless USB adapter, due in September. In the meantime, the unofficial DS4Windows is excellent. The software essentially tricks Windows into treating the DS4 like an Xbox 360 controller, so just about any game which supports an Xbox 360 controller (basically any game with controller support) should work with the default profile. It also allows for a ton of customization (I love messing with the LED settings).

I had to fiddle with the Bluetooth pairing for about 15 minutes before it worked, but once it worked I had no issues. DS4Windows did its job perfectly, and even let me use the controller's central trackpad as a mouse. (Not a very good mouse, but still, it's cool.) If you're willing to do a little bit of setup work, the DS4 is a fantastic wireless PC controller with all the customization you could want. Yes, it's a console controller, but controllers are the domain of consoles, after all, and taking the DS4 for ourselves despite its lack of official support just feels like a very PC gaming thing to do, doesn't it?