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[Kacho]

It's disappointing hearing about the problems with the DS4. This is the first I've heard of the shoulder buttons sticking, but the analog stick peeling seems to be fairly common. I had the chance to use my friends DS4 controller and his sticks were showing some wear. I thought the controller in general felt cheap.

 

[kurbaan]

My biggest issue with it is the god damn shit battery life. I thought it was OK at first but the more I use it, the more i realize how shit it is. Especially compared to the PS3.

 

[hamchan]

I think playing Metal Gear Rising on PC using a DS4 today caused a lot of my analogue stick to start peeling off.

It's really unfortunate that the sticks are like this because it really is the best designed controlled I've ever used. I'm up for buying the next batch of DS4s after they fix this problem I guess.

 

[7DollarHagane]

I've been using mine since launch for ps4, ps3, and PC games. Played about 30 hours of AC:Brotherhood on PC in there and about 50 hours of battlefield 4 (using it on PC for helicopters and jets)

Zero problems. Sorry about your bad luck?

 

[Miker]

I think playing Metal Gear Rising on PC using a DS4 today caused a lot of my analogue stick to start peeling off.

It's really unfortunate that the sticks are like this because it really is the best designed controlled I've ever used. I'm up for buying the next batch of DS4s after they fix this problem I guess.

Been playing MGR on PC w/ my good ol' wired 360 controller (still going strong after 4 years) for this exact reason. I'm not sure if it'll happen with mine or not, but I'm not one to tempt fate.

 

[BigDug13]

I ended up using grip-it analog stick covers on both of my Ps4 controllers. Shame that it's come to that.

But they work perfectly and now the controller is also more comfortable because my thumbs no longer slip around.

 

[ironcreed]

I'm not buying a PS4 until they sort this stuff out. Hearing way too many problems, but I know it will be a great system in the long run.

 

[Jeronimo Jones]

I've had two DS4s since NA launch, no problem with either one, and I use one or the other almost daily. If I'm nitpicking I'd wish the battery life was better, and one is slightly creaky.

Sounds like you got yours from a defective batch.

 

[joshcam19]

I've probably played over 100 hours in less than 2 months and have had zero problems. The controller is damn near perfect IMO.

 

[Interfectum]

Amazon should replace it. I only had to go through Sony because the Tesco I bought it from were out of stock and told me they'd replace it when they got stock in, or to call Sony

Wow Amazon is awesome. I just did a live chat, they gave me $60 promotional credit and now I'm getting another DS4.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

My biggest issue with it is the god damn shit battery life. I thought it was OK at first but the more I use it, the more i realize how shit it is. Especially compared to the PS3.

pretty much how i feel. Design wise, it's the best controller I've ever used and the build quality is great from my experience. That battery life is just awful though.

 

[derExperte]

Agreed, I played as cautious as possible, didn't eat chips, washed my hands etc but still after about 20hrs noticed some rubber particles coming off. While the four year old DS3 is a little worn down but still fine I don't think this one would have survived a year (battery life is another issue, as is the stuck L1 trigger, also why the glossy plastic around the d-pad and buttons?). Doesn't matter now, together with a second BLOD while I'm still waiting for my 1st PS4 to get exchanged I'm so disappointed by the overall experience that I've had enough anyway for the forseeable future. Never had this much trouble with any console before.

 

[NeoGash]

Nah, that would be the Dualshock 3. I got to use a DS4 for about 5 minutes at the shops, and it was awesome. The d-pad on the DS3 IMO was shit and uncomfortable and felt like a poor man's Nintendo d-pad, but the DS4 d-pad is heavenly. It feels so soft and smooth, yet so damn precise. The triggers were amazing, the buttons felt much better and the analogs were pretty good, maybe a bit small. I think you might have got a bad controller, as it doesn't seem to affect everyone yet it is effecting a lot of people who have never had issues before, so we can only assume there was a bad batch.

My favourite controller would probably be the 360 pad, but I don't have a PS4 so I can't tell if it is better for me, though my short play with it was pretty damn excellent (though part of the enjoyment was probably from the surprise that it didn't completely blow like the DS3....one of the worst controllers ever made IMO), and I haven't even seen an XB1 controller in person. I do think the DS4 is more comfortable to hold than the 360 controller as well, but I'll make my final judgement when I get a PS4.

Spoiler

I still think that having the left stick above the d-pad is a better design decision, as having to take you finger off the movement stick to change weapons in just say Uncharted is annoying. If the sticks were offset like on the 360, you can quickly use your right hand to change weapons/use the d-pad without coming to a stand still. Gears of War and Uncharted are two of my most played games on either system, and the weapon changing is so much more convenient with the 360 pad. Having to take your thumb off the movement stick is a death sentence online if you need to use the d-pad for whatever function. One of my main gripes.

 

[maquiladora]

Haven't had a single problem. DS3 feels cheap and creaky in comparison.

 

[7DollarHagane]

I've probably played over 100 hours in less than 2 months and have had zero problems. The controller is damn near perfect IMO.

There are enough reports of this kind of thing happening that I believe the issue does not affect all controllers the same and there were possibly a large amount of them where the rubber or plastic used for the sticks wasn't mixed properly or manufactured properly. Hopefully they have identified and eliminated that manufacturing issue.

I'm just saying I hope it is a manufacturing issue and not an overall design problem.

 

[Pachimari]

If I got a controller with a L1 button that gets stuck every time I use it, can I repair it myself somehow?

It's impossible playing FIFA 14 with it.

 

[Insane Metal]

I disagree completely. It´s probably the best controller I've used and the build quality, for me, SO FAR, is perfect.

 

[BibiMaghoo]

The battery life and the stick head size are the only issues i have with it, and they are minor.

No problems with pealing stick etc, and we have two here, played for 80+ hours on each. No damage.

The controller is the best I have ever used.

 

[R_thanatos]

Because some people just don't want to have their console see in any kind of bad light. Its pretty ridiculous. OP says he loves the controller, says it's comfortable, one of the best he's used but the build quality has been poor. Many posters respond, I love it, it's the best ever, no issues, perhaps it's you.

I wonder if they were on an auto forum, and some guy writes, man this year's model has a faulty transmission or something, had to replace it twice, whether they'd write "oh I think this year's model is perfect, my transmission is fine, maybe you're doing something wrong".

I can't speak for the build quality myself, all I've seen at my friends and from people I talk to, is that there R1 trigger or something sticks sometimes, that and the sticks get really dirty. Will have to see if they also develop this rubber problem.

It's not a problem of bad light ..

If someone post "i have a problem" 2 answers are possible .

1- Me too i have the same problem
2- i don't have this problem , didn't you something special to be in this situation.

Both answer are equally acceptable. It actually helps to see if a problem is mainstream or localised

I have been using mine and i have no problems, telling this as an answer is perfectly fine behavior.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

The battery life and the stick head size are the only issues i have with it, and they are minor.

No problems with pealing stick etc, and we have two here, played for 80+ hours on each. No damage.

The controller is the best I have ever used.

what's wrong with the stick head size? If you think it's too small, wonder what you think of the X1 controller.

 

[Raoh]

No issues so far here. I have two, one I bought pre PS4 release and one that came with my PS4. No issues with either one.

 

[gemoran4]

I mean the 360 controllers always had wear and tear fairly quickly as well. I know one of my brother's PS4 controllers he got at launch inexplicably stopped working completely, but he got it replaced for free and ever since there's been no issues. Overall it's a nice controller, far from the worse built. Especially if we start including 3rd party controllers into the discussion

 

[derExperte]

Haven't had a single problem. DS3 feels cheap and creaky in comparison.

There aren't a lot of things I like about the DS3s ergonomics and I agree that it feels cheap but the thing has, at least for me, stood the test of time in terms of durability.

If I got a controller with a L1 button that gets stuck every time I use it, can I repair it myself somehow?

It's impossible playing FIFA 14 with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRu3qKcUECk

 

[turnbuckle]

I agree. It's too bad because the controller feels wonderful and handles every game I've played with it wonderfully. But it's just downright flimsy. My left stick is getting ground up, my L1 button is sticking, and the battery life isn't even giving me the 8 hours or so that Polygon said.

 

[Waylon Drums]

Hello, already created and still relevant thread.

People take such joy in being the forum police. It's weird.

 

[shandy706]

Backed over my DS4 while helping my wife in the carport yesterday.

Left joystick and touch-pad don't work worth anything now. Sony needs to step up their quality or go back to the drawing board.

 

[RoboPlato]

I have two DS4s and have used both extensively since the console launched and haven't had a single issue. Both look the same as when I got them. Build quality seems great.

 

[flatearthpandas]

I haven't had any issues with my DS4, but admittedly I haven't used mine all that much.

As for comfort, I find it on the same level as the DS3...but then, I never had issues with the DS3. I prefer the Gamepad but they both have shit battery. Tried a friend's Xbone controller for a bit and it seemed okay too.

 

[Darksol]

I'm not buying a PS4 until they sort this stuff out. Hearing way too many problems, but I know it will be a great system in the long run.

Including some of the members of GAF, how many people have you heard having problems with their PS4 and/or DS4? 100? 200? 500? Whatever it is, it's a tiny fraction. 4.2 million units sold and counting. People with faulty DS4s aren't numerous, they're just statistically unlucky.

 

[Wickerbasket]

I have two DS4s and have used both extensively since the console launched and haven't had a single issue. Both look the same as when I got them. Build quality seems great.

Same here, none of my friends have had issues either.

It obviously sucks for those that are having issues but I'm having a hard time understanding how the issues arose. Maybe it's a bad batch of controller like people are saying, but who knows.

 

[Loakum]

I bought 2 dual shock 4 controllers since launch. Both are still performing flawlessly. I even have my nephews (ages 6-8) repeatedly play with them, and still no complaints. The DS4 controller is godly!

 

[Concept17]

I see these threads often.
I disagree wholeheartedly.
God tier controller, beaten only by keyboard & mouse.

.

 

[Kssio_Aug]

Mine is perfect until now, I got my PS4 at 29th november, and played it a lot already. And it doesnt feel fragile to me.

 

[plagiarize]

It's a great controller but it does seem like there's some build quality issues. I've had a R1 buttons start sticking on both of my controllers (which was easily resolved), and now the L1 button has started sticking on one of them (which again, I will easily resolve)... but such things should be taken care of in the factory.

as for the rubber wearing away, I'd imagine, given that so many have zero issues, that the quality of rubber or plastic that they're buying occasionally dips. again, quality control can and should catch such things.

I'm sure these issues will iron out, but it's definitely stuff they need to be made aware of, to hold their feet to the fire and make sure the right thing happens.

 

[LittleJohnny]

No need to say it twice, your OP was pretty clear. If people don't want to read, they're not going to read.

Many people have these problems; rubber peeling of and buttons sticking, where the DS3 didn't really have many complaints, yet people still think it's a user problem. Sony fucked up with some of these controllers, why is that so hard to admit.

I don't think that question is even necessary

Since the console hasn't been out long enough, this issue probably hasn't revealed itself to most gamers. Give it a few months or a year when the peeling sticks start to reveal it's ugly face

 

[Captain Tuttle]

Get back to me when Sony extends the warranty on the PS4 to cover everyone's controllers that are breaking because they are so poorly built.

Sony would never do that, they didn't with the PS2's issues.

This is a problem, probably limited to one big batch but a problem nonetheless. I can't think of any reason why people would dismiss someone having an issue with line like "things break".

Well, I can think of one.

 

[DJ Lushious]

People take such joy in being the forum police. It's weird.

Are you saying we should have 4 or more OTs for the same game, then? That is what is happening here. This is the second thread in 24 hours that is trying to discuss something that has been, and currently is, discussed long before.

I refuse to apologize for not wanting to have to sift through multiple threads over the same topic to get to the content on this forum.

 

[Ora]

Yup, build quality is pathetic on them. Sticky bumpers and peeling sticks on both my DS4 controllers when I had my PS4. So frustrating...

 

[Always-honest]

I hope the peeling happens within warrenty time and i hope they replace it with an improved controller. Otherwise, it's the greatest dual analog controller i have ever used. I could do without the blue light though.

 

[Radec]

The rubber on the sticks could use some re-work and improvement on the Battery.

Aside from that, its fucking perfect to hold and use. Its pretty ridiculously how comfortable it is than the DS3.

 

[Gxgear]

Quality not built.

Can we stop indulging every single Dualshock 4 complaint? There's a master thread.

 

[Teletraan1]

I notice that mine has the same issue that the DS3 had. The way the controller is put together with a top and a bottom piece it feels like they are slightly loose and if I applied enough torque while holding it it would break apart. The seams shift ever so slightly. No issues with the thumb sticks that others have had but I have only started playing my PS4 hardcore over the last few days when Don't Starve came out. I would hardly call it the worst built controller I have ever used though. That just sounds like hyperbole so of course you got a bunch of shit post responses to your baiting title. Perhaps a more measured thread title would have elicited better conversation.

 

[angrygnat]

The hyperbole is strong with this one.

 

[angrygnat]

I notice that mine has the same issue that the DS3 had. The way the controller is put together with a top and a bottom piece it feels like they are slightly loose and if I applied enough torque while holding it it would break apart. The seams shift ever so slightly. No issues with the thumb sticks that others have had but I have only started playing my PS4 hardcore over the last few days when Don't Starve came out. I would hardly call it the worst built controller I have ever used though. That just sounds like hyperbole so of course you got a bunch of shit post responses to your baiting title. Perhaps a more measured thread title would have elicited better conversation.

I noticed with mine if I beat it hard enough against the floor, eventually it would come apart! What gives Sony!?

 

[Mister Negative]

My biggest issue with it is the god damn shit battery life. I thought it was OK at first but the more I use it, the more i realize how shit it is. Especially compared to the PS3.

Yeah, it's awful. Part of the problem is that the controller doesn't have an automatic shut-off after a certain amount of time. If you're just watching Netflix or something the controller will sit there with its LED on draining battery.

 

[7DollarHagane]

I notice that mine has the same issue that the DS3 had. The way the controller is put together with a top and a bottom piece it feels like they are slightly loose and if I applied enough torque while holding it it would break apart. The seams shift ever so slightly. No issues with the thumb sticks that others have had but I have only started playing my PS4 hardcore over the last few days when Don't Starve came out. I would hardly call it the worst built controller I have ever used though. That just sounds like hyperbole so of course you got a bunch of shit post responses to your baiting title. Perhaps a more measured thread title would have elicited better conversation.

And why would you be twisting the controller apart when playing a game? Pretty sure the same thing applies to genesis and SNES controllers, because they are flatter and less curved.

 

[DC R1D3R]

Now as I said earlier I'm not even really playing on the PS4 at the moment. It's more my brothers since I've got several PS3 games I want to play for now. At most I'll play the occasional game of FIFA with them. But despite being one of the most comfortable pads that I've ever used, simply using the DS4 has almost become an excercise in paranoia where I'm second guessing if I'm holding it correctly, or if I may be pressing buttons to hard or at an incorrect angle which may lead to damage. And that is simply a major flaw in what Sony have done in creating a pad that just isn't built as well as those that have come before. Well either that or I'm just unlucky in getting two defect controllers in a row

It's called "cut-backs" bro. Just like school dinners!

 

[InfiniteUnrest]

Defects happen. Some people have this issue. Most do not. Thankfully that's what warranties and customer support are for. At least it's the controller and not the console itself.

Being a launch console, higher defects in craftsmanship are to be expected. In time this will become a non-issue.

 

[Beer Monkey]

Any other Pinball Arcade fans having problems with shitty sticking shoulder buttons?

 

[Timeaisis]

I don't understand how people are "disagreeing" with the fact that OP is experiencing issues with his DS4s. He's not saying the controller is bad, he clearly states he really likes the feel and comfort of the controller. He's clearly talking about the build quality of it and the fact that the rubber on both of his DS4s have started wearing of.

Read the OP, guys. Seriously.

The design is great, they just need to use better materials.