Ever since I got a hold of my PS5 on launch day back in late 2020, I have been enamored with the DualSense controller. Among all the various boosts to teraflops and increased SSD speeds touted by the PS5, the evolution from the DualShock 4 to the DualSense is, in my opinion, the single most impactful aspect of Sony’s current-gen console. The addition of brand new precise haptics alongside Adaptive Triggers (in combination with all the prior innovations seen with older PlayStation controllers) makes for an in-hand feeling which can only be had on PlayStation…sort of. Those wanting to truly unlock the potential of the DualSense – even far beyond the capabilities of the PS5 itself – can do so on PC thanks to the Steam application DSX.
Unlocking Potential Beyond PS5
Before diving into all that, I want to first briefly touch on the capabilities of the DualSense when connected to the PS5. Of course, the extent of its application is limited by the developers themselves. The hardware doesn’t change from game to game, but the way the hardware’s used does. Most of Sony’s first-party releases make maximal use of the DualSense, with carefully considered haptics and immersive implementations of the adaptive triggers, with some even managing to give the triggers multiple functions. All this is done seamlessly and helps not only to immerse players further into the world but can even allow for an increased level of awareness – especially useful in fast-paced titles.
Many third-party developers have also made pretty good use of the DualSense, with the likes of the Call of Duty series in particular using the controller’s unique features to make each weapon feel different in use. That said, for many games it remains a gamble as to whether the DualSense will be utilized as intended. Some make use of the triggers but not the haptics; others do the opposite. Some even barely utilize any of the functions at all – making for a much more static-feeling experience.
DSX: A Game Changer for PC Gamers
Using the DualSense on PC is an even bigger gamble. While every PS5 game on the console supports the DualSense to at least some degree, a large majority of PC titles don’t even recognize the controller at all, leading to players necessarily downloading some type of middleware software, emulating a DualShock 4 or even an Xbox 360 controller in order for the game to recognize the peripheral. One of the most popular programs for this is DS4Windows. I myself used this program for quite some time – with very few complaints – however, everything changed when I discovered DSX.
Developed by Paliverse, this Steam application is much newer compared to the likes of DS4Windows but is arguably much more powerful when used correctly. The primary selling point of DSX is that unlike DS4Windows, it has been developed specifically with the DualSense and all its features in mind.
Using DSX allows you to pretty much unlock all the features of the DualSense for use however you please. Of course, you can simply connect to the software to run the controller natively, or you can emulate an Xbox 360 controller, Dualshock 4, or a DualSense (for games that refuse to recognize the controller in its native mode).
Regardless of which mode you select, all the DualSense features remain available for you to use and tweak as you please. So, what are these features? Well, looking at the triggers first, there is of course the option to allow for passthrough – meaning if the game uses the adaptive triggers, you’ll experience it as intended. As mentioned, however, most PC games do not, and even then, some that do have in my opinion missed the mark. As such, whenever I am playing a game on PC, with very few exceptions, there’s a high chance that I have the GameCube triggers activated.
Yes, DSX includes a ton of different trigger profiles – almost two dozen in fact – all of which can be customized further to your liking. You’ve got...