DualSense vs Xbox controllers: Which is the one for you?

You’ve probably noticed that Sony’s fantastic game catalogue is steadily making its way to PC. Not only are these games – Spiderman, Horizon series, God of War, Helldivers, and more – some of the best games available on PC today, they also come with support for Sony’s fantastic DualSense controller. 

If you already have a PlayStation 5, using the DualSense controller to play these games is a no-brainer. But what if you don’t have a PS5? As a PC gamer, is it worth spending money on a DualSense controller just for PC games?

DualSense vs Xbox controllers: Key differences

On paper, Sony’s DualSense is superior to the Xbox controller. While the Xbox controller is a great controller, it’s a standard controller with great haptic feedback and a joystick layout that some might find more ergonomic. The Sony DualSense controller, on the other hand, has a built-in 6-axis motion sensor, clickable capacitive touchpad, superior haptic feedback, and a built-in speaker for certain in-game sounds. It even has two mics built into it. On top of that, the batteries are built in and don’t need to be bought separately.

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The Xbox controller, however, has replaceable batteries, which we feel are a better option in the long run. If the Sony controller’s battery fails, you’ll have to partake in a lengthy service process or buy a new controller.

Secondly, the Xbox controller’s biggest advantage is that it works natively on Windows. All games that support controllers will detect an Xbox controller and its features by default, and such games usually have proper profiles that map controls nicely to the Xbox controller.

The Sony DualSense has great support in select games, but to use it with other games requires third-party software or emulation tools. Games available on Steam can be played easily with a DualSense controller, but setting up the controller for games on other platforms is trickier.

Another issue with the DualSense controller on PC is connectivity. The Xbox controller can be connected to a PC via a USB-C cable, Bluetooth, or via a USB dongle. The DualSense controller can only connect via Bluetooth and USB-C, but not all features are available over Bluetooth, forcing gamers to play with a long USB-C cable attached to their PCs. Support is improving, however.

For a complete list of DualSense-supported games and features, head here.

How do you choose?

Assuming you don’t already have a PS5, we’d recommend sticking with the Xbox controller simply for the fact that it’s convenient to use and works out of the box. Sure, the feedback is a little less and you won’t be able to get the full gameplay experience when trying out Sony’s titles on PC, but that limitation isn’t as serious as you think. 

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If you’re keen on playing every single Sony game on PC, and if you want the full experience, it’s worth spending money on the DualSense controller. Just don’t forget that you will primarily have to use it in a wired configuration and that game support is more limited.