• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Dualshock4 Thumbstick problems. Let´s gather info here.

I'm not at home so I can't get my controller number, but I have the exact same problem as pictured in the OP. Left stick as well.

I've probably put about 15-20 hours on it, and it's not my finger nails. I kind of want to return it but I'm not really sure how to go about it since it was packed in with the console. I definitely don't want to send it to Sony and be out a controller for a week or two.
 
Aesthet1c said:
I'm not at home so I can't get my controller number, but I have the exact same problem as pictured in the OP. Left stick as well.

I've probably put about 15-20 hours on it, and it's not my finger nails. I kind of want to return it but I'm not really sure how to go about it since it was packed in with the console. I definitely don't want to send it to Sony and be out a controller for a week or two.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess you could buy another one separately and then return the defective one to the store. I know that's not exactly honest but hell, it goes back to Sony anyway, I assume.
 
I've played over 20 hours across the past 4 days, and I've had no issues with either sticks on my controller.

Model CUH-ZCT1U
FCC ID: AK8CUHZCT1
IC: 409B-CUHZCT1
4-473-498-01 G
11201381128043
 
From the looks of it, it appears that the way the stick was manufactured was to produce the plastic part and then the rubber is actually coated on, as opposed to being a pre-manufactured part that is fused with the stick. If the surface it is being coated on is not completely clean, the coating could lift off because the bond is not entirely pure. You can also see this in something like floor epoxy - if the surface is not properly prepared, it will start to flake off.
 
Obviously people that have been using a flamethrower attached to a Thunderfury and a kitchen knife, to purposefully harm their (quite expensive) controller so that they could post here and tarnish the name of wonderful Sony.

Or not.

If even a few people have this problem, it is a problem. Doesn't matter how many else of you that have posted about this not being a problem for them; if it is a problem for some, then it most certainly is a problem. I bet those people didn't do anything different with the DS4 than they have done with any other controller ever.

So please, for the love of god stop with the "huh what it's fine for me lol"-posts and the silly "cut your nails"-posts.
 
daveo42 said:
The controller I've been using was from pre-launch purchased from Gamestop and it has some minor wear on it already. It's not nearly as bad as some of the ones I've seen in here, but it's noticeable. I've played mostly Knack, Killzone, and NFS since purchase with a short test on my PC after purchase. I'll post my info tonight when I get home.

I haven't even used the controller that came with the console.
Click to expand...

matty2Dfraud said:
The controller I'm having issues with was the one packed in with the console. I have an extra I could open and try, but I'm thinking of just returning it at this point.
Click to expand...
I see I thought we could try to narrow it down to a certain amount of defective controllers

Posting the numbers like what the OP said could help... I wonder if some of the controllers come from different facilities?

I also wonder if some future made controllers will have these issues as they aren't rushed into the market like the first few batches
------------------------------------------------
I have currently 3 controllers... One before launch, one that came with my console and one post launch

None of them have had issues yet, but I haven't had much time with them... Been mostly using the one that came with the console the most especially with KZ

OP is it okay to post non defective controllers numbers as well?
Since we could use this info as well to narrow down similarity and contrasts
 
Some of the pics I'm looking at are definitely normal wear and tear. The way the rubber is peeling, it looks like it's disintegrating rather than being picked off.
 
So far, so good for me....I haven't tried out the controller than came with system yet though

just the extra one I bought and had opened prior to getting my PS4

man really shitty to hear though some people may have faulty sticks/easily breakable rubber bits.
 
Sleeplessnights said:
Do Europe get different controllers? I'd imagine since the PS4 is releasing later there the controllers (and the console) would be newer.
Click to expand...

If its any help in anwering your question both controllers that were hooked up to the display unit in Argos (Uk based shop) showed the same issues. I'd say worse actually. Controller one was down the the plastic - all the rubber had gone. Controller two was not fairing much better to be honest.

Was tempted to take pics but there was a bit of a queue and i probably would have started getting funny looks.
 
I've seen that happen on DS2 and DS3 sticks in demo kiosks.

I think that some people just have some gnarly pH balance problems in their sweat excretions that cause erosion on the rubber.

I mean, look at some of the people who hang out in Gamestop.
 
FlyinJ said:
I've seen that happen on DS2 and DS3 sticks in demo kiosks.

I think that some people just have some gnarly pH balance problems in their sweat excretions that cause erosion on the rubber.

I mean, look at some of the people who hang out in Gamestop.
Click to expand...

The ones in demo kiosks get used much more regularly than your controller at home and by a lot more people, so it's obvious you'll see more wear and tear. However, even as bad as people tend to treat the demo units, I've seen some hold up for a good bit of time.

As for home consoles, I have and old DS2 that is perfectly fine and still works with no wear whatsoever on the sticks. It looks like it's coming down to a bad batch of rubber used in for the sticks. It's not "gnarly PH balance", it's a manufacturing defect.
 
Pre launch controller:

CUH-ZCT1U
ANATEL No.: 2307-13-6223
IC:409B
4-473-498-11 F1

Launch controller:

CUH-ZCT1U
FCC ID: AKBCUHZT1
IC same as above
4-473-498-01 G

Sticks on both controllers looks fine to me so far.
 
Launch bundle controller.

CUH-ZCT1U
FCC ID: AK8CUHZCT1
IC: 409B-CUHZCT1
4-473-498-11 F1

Very slight wear on inside of left stick. Only noticeable when looked at very closely, but it's notable for somebody with OCD.
 
I played a total of almost 20 hours this weekend and there's zero appearance of wear on them. I seriously question how people are getting these results from theirs...
 
The rubber definitely has a different texture/feeling to it. It feels like after maybe a year if wear and tear, the lip is going to rub off.

I definitely don't see it holding up as well as the DS3. The texture on my analog sticks on those are still as good as new.
 
I wonder if there's a difference between bundled DS4s and stand-alone accessory controllers.

It would be good to note which you have when reporting problems here.
 
My experience was that the tacticle/rough rubber texture has worn off on my thumbsticks, but the rubber underneath is fine, it's just smooth.

I noticed little shavings of rubber all over my controller after long play sessions and then noticed the rough texture was mostly worn off. Rubber underneath seems fine. A little disappointing. :\
 
shinobi602 said:
I played a total of almost 20 hours this weekend and there's zero appearance of wear on them. I seriously question how people are getting these results from theirs...
Click to expand...

The problem doesnt exist in every controller or develops faster in some? Why is the first reaction to blame the people with the problems instead of blaming the company making money off of them?
 
Has anybody considered purchasing another controller and returning the one they are currently having problems with?

I know this is shady, but is it viable?
 
It's not happening but I think it would have been cool for Microsoft or Sony to have just a flat analog stick top and include a set of different grips/condoms for the sticks.

You could then decide what grip you like best for your analog and then everyone would be happy. Personally I'm in the minority of those that liked the texture of the DS3 sticks. My thumb never slipped off and you could grip it anywhere. On the DS3, unless you are gripping right in the center it feels bizarre. I find myself adjusting my thumb over and over to make sure it stays in the middle.
 
angrygnat said:
I have had 6 different people using the same two controllers since last Friday. We had pizza and wings. Chips. Soft drinks. Anything you can imagine. Grinding into these things. At one point for close to 48 hours straight. Battlefield 4 mostly but we got Ghosts too, so there's that. If ever there was a torture test that's it. So far our controllers are holding up fine. I had one controller on my PS3 had the left stick rubber peel off once so it's not something that is unheard of. If you sold a million consoles, I'd imagine some people got more than one for each console. So were talking possibly close to 1.5 to almost 2 million controllers out there. I'm not making excuses for Sony but come on people. It's not outside the realm of possibility that if you have that many controllers out there you're going to have a few crappy ones. We need to have a little perspective.
Click to expand...

It is, however, almost outside the realm of possibility to think that if I have 2 different controllers, one from inside the PS4 box, and one from a DS4 box that I bought 2 weeks before the PS4 was released, that both of them would be from the same bad batch. And yet magically that seems to have happened.

I will post the 2 serial numbers of my broken controllers tonight.

Quite frankly, if you're not affected by a problem, then you should not be in the thread, because you have absolutely nothing to contribute. You don't know anything about the problem, so please go away. Same goes for idiots telling us to cut our nails, or that we're using the controllers wrong. Go away.
 
shinobi602 said:
I played a total of almost 20 hours this weekend and there's zero appearance of wear on them. I seriously question how people are getting these results from theirs...
Click to expand...

I played two hours of Knack (just got the system last night). After 2 hours I had rubber flakes on my thumb from the left stick. I don't have any visible signs of wear and tear, but I would be surprised if I got to December with the sticks still looking fine.

I honestly didn't do anything extreme with them. I just played Knack. Granted Knack on hard is a real bitch to play through, but a controller under any circumstance should not start falling apart within 2 hours of normal use. That's bullshit.

OP, I'll post my controller details when I get home.
 
It should be eligible for retail replacement? As far as I know controller stocks are better for the PS4 than the PS3? I recall I had trouble getting an additional PS3 controller for 2 weeks after launch.
 
Well I have two controllers here, both have at least 10 to 20 hours of play on them, and the sticks on both still look brand new. Got one a few weeks before launch and the other one came with the Ps4. I can't tell you which is which though.

Anyway all the numbers are the same op except the last two

One is
4-473-498-01 G
11201361311852

The other is
4-473-498-11 F1
21202391309123
 
All 3 of my Dualshock 4's are fine, and that's after completing Knack (and extra trophies, 12 hr+), and hours in Killzone and Assassin's Creed, Playroom, etc.

Will post my Controller info when I get home.
 
model cuh-zct1u
anatel no. 2307-13-6223
fcc id: ak8cuhzct1
ic: 4098-cuhzct1
4-473-498-11 F1
21202391503421

The controller is one I bought extra. I haven't tested out the one that comes with the system yet.
 
  • ANATEL No. 2307-13-6223
  • FCC ID: ak8cuhzct1
  • IC: 4098-cuhzct1
  • 4-473-498-11 F1
Click to expand...

Mine. The bolded is what seems to differ for most people.

My sticks are faulty. They're not as bad as the sticks in most pictures but there definitely is a problem. I posted about it in the original thread weeks ago:

TetraGenesis said:
I wanted to say this is nonsense (and I think that DS4 was clearly not handled right) but I've used my DS4 exclusively for a couple weeks now (racking up 32 hours in Kingdom Hearts 1.5 over the past few days in particular) and just noticed that their is some light peeling of the rubber on the left side of the left analogue stick, almost like a little piece of sunburn.
Click to expand...
(Picture in original post)

To update on that, I'm 60 hours into KH now and the left stick has stopped peeling, but only after wearing away a small but noticeable chunk of the rubber. My right stick has started peeling from the inner ring of the raised rim now.

EDIT: Reading more of thread, I don't think this is to do with a faulty batch. I'm more and more confident that the rubber used is too soft or porous or something and is just wearing away with the sweat and oils of people's hands.

And to those trying to say that people's hands, nails, or perspiration are at fault, please remember that this has never happened with the DS3, the 360 pad, the DS2, the Gamecube controller, the Duke, etc. The players are not at fault. The rubber is.
 
TetraGenesis said:
Mine. The bolded is what seems to differ for most people.

My sticks are faulty. They're not as bad as the sticks in most pictures but there definitely is a problem. I posted about it in the original thread weeks ago:


(Picture in original post)

To update on that, I'm 60 hours into KH now and the left stick has stopped peeling, but only after wearing away a small but noticeable chunk of the rubber. My right stick has started peeling from the inner ring of the raised rim now.

EDIT: Reading more of thread, I don't think this is to do with a faulty batch. I'm more and more confident that the rubber used is too soft or porous or something and is just wearing away with the sweat and oils of people's hands.

And to those trying to say that people's hands, nails, or perspiration are at fault, please remember that this has never happened with the DS3, the 360 pad, the DS2, the Gamecube controller, the Duke, etc. The players are not at fault. The rubber is.
Click to expand...

What? I've seen broken rubber on the 360's and Gamecube controllers all the time.
 
VGChampion said:
What? I've seen broken rubber on the 360's and Gamecube controllers all the time.
Click to expand...

cpp_is_king said:
After a few hours? Don't think so.
Click to expand...

Exactly. And it's not about rubber breaking from abuse, extensive use, general damage, it's about the rubber simply wearing away. Much like when you rub your hands together really fast and the friction breaks loose all the grime and dead skin and rolls them into little dark flakes, the friction of normal everyday use for some people is doing the same to the DS4 sticks. After just a couple weeks of use, in some cases.

I'm not attacking the DS4. It's my favorite controller of all time. And I'm clearly a PS4 fan, so I'm not trying to spread FUD. But this is a real issue (albeit a very minor one) with the controller and one Sony should set about trying to fix in further batches/controller revisions.
 
Is the controller under a seperate warranty? Can you specifically take the controller to a Sony store to have it replaced?
Not that I've noticed any issues after me and my brother put in 20+ hours, just curious.
 
cpp_is_king said:
It is, however, almost outside the realm of possibility to think that if I have 2 different controllers, one from inside the PS4 box, and one from a DS4 box that I bought 2 weeks before the PS4 was released, that both of them would be from the same bad batch. And yet magically that seems to have happened.
Click to expand...
Magically? Or geographically?
 
Samyy said:
Is the controller under a seperate warranty? Can you specifically take the controller to a Sony store to have it replaced?
Not that I've noticed any issues after me and my brother put in 20+ hours, just curious.
Click to expand...

I called a Sony store and the guy told me controller isn't covered under warranty. But if you read the text of the warranty, the guy is clearly wrong. I think he just didn't have a canned response ready and didn't know what to say.

Nevertheless, since there are multiple reports (including my own) of it happening to the same people on multiple controllers, I don't think returning it and getting a replacement will do any good.

Live Free or Die said:
what are you guys doing with your controllers? lol
Click to expand...

Aside from using them the way they're intended to be used? Nothing.
 
Live Free or Die said:
what are you guys doing with your controllers? lol
Click to expand...
Using them. I will take pics of mine when I get home later as well as the only DS3 Ive owned week 1 of its release as a comparison. I've clocked just shy of 20 hours on my DS4 and the left analog is wearing a lot faster than my right.
 
I'm convinced it's definitely a widespread problem. Luckily I think I got a good batch. I've played on my two DS4s for about 50 hours each (PS3 version of FFXIV) and the sticks look brand new still.
 
cpp_is_king said:
I called a Sony store and the guy told me controller isn't covered under warranty. But if you read the text of the warranty, the guy is clearly wrong. I think he just didn't have a canned response ready and didn't know what to say.

Nevertheless, since there are multiple reports (including my own) of it happening to the same people on multiple controllers, I don't think returning it and getting a replacement will do any good.



Aside from using them the way they're intended to be used? Nothing.
Click to expand...

Jack_AG said:
Using them. I will take pics of mine when I get home later as well as the only DS3 Ive owned week 1 of its release as a comparison. I've clocked just shy of 20 hours on my DS4 and the left analog is wearing a lot faster than my right.
Click to expand...

Thats weird people are having that problem. No problems with mine so far.
 
Zyae said:
The problem doesnt exist in every controller or develops faster in some? Why is the first reaction to blame the people with the problems instead of blaming the company making money off of them?
Click to expand...
I can't even understand how they're happening. The pictures look like someone takes a bite out of the stick or pushes their nail really hard into it. I just don't see how the softness of the bottom of your thumb creates a chunk taken out of the rubber like that.
 
shinobi602 said:
I can't even understand how they're happening. The pictures look like someone takes a bite out of the stick or pushes their nail really hard into it. I just don't see how the softness of the bottom of your thumb creates a chunk taken out of the rubber like that.
Click to expand...
Too much aeration, bad virgin materials and problems with injection molding can easily cause solid materials to flake, chip, etc.
 
just a question, are people using the edge to shift the sticks around because I don't understand how it happened, might get some replacements
 
TGO said:
just a question, are people using the edge to shift the sticks around because I don't understand how it happened, might get some replacements
Click to expand...
If you work the sticks from your farthest knuckle out, pushing forward exposes the left rear of the analog edge to more contact with the meat of your thumb. When resting, my thumbs are over the center of the analog, pushing forward increases pressure on the rear of the stick with my thumb. Click in to RUN and now we get even more pressure with forward+click.
 
Jack_AG said:
If you work the sticks from your farthest knuckle out, pushing forward exposes the left rear of the analog edge to more contact with the meat of your thumb.
Click to expand...
bad design then?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mazebound: Hunt, Gather, Run! - Official Release Date Trailer
Trailer Indie 
0
78
IbizaPocholo replied
Animal Crossing PC Port is here
23
578
Quasicat replied
Horizon: Hunters Gathering Closed Beta
2 3 4
169
2K
Cancer replied
Let It Die : Inferno
26
2K
Revolutionary replied
AM I HERE? - Official Announcement Trailer
Trailer Indie 
0
95
IbizaPocholo replied
Top Bottom