If you're one of the lucky few who managed to snag a PS5 from the limited inventory, then it's worth making sure you've got the best gear to go alongside your new platform. To make the most out of the new system's capabilities, you've hopefully got a 4K TV or monitor with support for HDMI 2.1 and a 120Hz refresh rate, especially as the latter feature delivers a whole new experience compared to previous console generations. But, video is only part of the experience, so you'll want to be sure your hands are on the best controllers, your ears are tuned in to the best headphones, and all your accessories work well with the PS5.
We've rounded up the best options for you to deck out your PS5 for a compelling and convenient experience. Whether you need a controller, a fight stick, a gaming headset, or an external storage drive for more games, you'll be able to find a high-quality accessory among our picks.
The Sony DualSense controller features game-changing technology tuned and ready to go for the latest generation of games. While you’ll be getting a familiar design from past controller generations, at least in terms of the shape, it’s what’s inside that makes all the difference. It’s not just a simple rumble motor sitting inside the DualSense but rather advanced haptics that have enough nuance to take what’s happening in the game and give your hands some stimulation to match.
Then there are the adaptive triggers. Some pro controllers have an option to tune how far you depress a trigger, but Sony’s DualSense controller can actually increase the resistance of the triggers on the fly, making it harder to pull the trigger if you’re wielding a heavy bow or even locking up the trigger if your gun jams, as developers have toyed with in the upcoming Deathloop. The DualSense takes the controller and makes it more than just an input method but more a part of the actual gameplay experience.
Sony hasn't provided many options for restyling your PS5 nor your DualSense controller. While the sheer number of re-skinned DualShock 4 controllers should be a good indication of what we'll eventually see for the DualSense, you don't have to wait around for that. Aim Controllers allows for extensive – and we mean extensive! – customization of nearly every facet of the DualSense controller.
With Aim Controllers' customizations, you can change the colors of various sections of the controller individually. The color palette on offer isn't too big, but Aim Controllers provides a decent range as well as a few multi-color options. When it comes to buttons and controls, Aim Controllers' customization goes beyond color. You can swap out the type of analog sticks, turn the action buttons into little bullet casings, shorten the travel of the triggers, and even remove the vibration motors to trim weight (though that might ruin some games). Aim Controllers also provides the option to add on a Spider Action paddle button set on the rear of the controller. The customizations don't come cheap, but you'll be able to make a controller that's truly your own.
The DualSense controller is great, but it's made even better with the HexGaming Rival. This is basically a highly customized version of the controller, letting you not only take control of the look of your DualSense controller but also how it feels and behaves.
The HexGaming Rival replaces tons of elements of the DualSense, giving some an aesthetic reskin and some a competitive upgrade. You’ll get multiple thumbstick options with different heights and concave or convex tops. You can also get hair triggers, so you’ll be more likely to shoot first. The HexGaming Rival even includes a pair of customizable rear buttons you can assign any other standard control to, giving you easy access to whichever button you need without needing to move your thumbs off the analog sticks. This controller comes at a serious premium, but you’re getting a bunch of extra style and capability on top of the price of the standard DualSense.
Sony has promised the PS5 will deliver 3D audio for enhanced surround sound to make games more realistic. While that sounds great for those of us who have multichannel speaker systems, others using just their television speakers probably won’t be able to get the same effect. If you’re not ready to throw down the money for multiple speakers or a fancy soundbar and AV receiver, the PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset might be just what you need.
The PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is an official PlayStation headset designed specifically to deliver 3D Audio from the PS5. The headset comes with connects to Sony’s console with a wireless USB adapter so you’ll also be able to use this headset with your computer. You can also expect to get up to 12 hours of wireless play and it comes with integrated rechargeable batteries.
If you want the best SSD for your PS5, you’re going to want the best SSD for gaming. That happens to be the WD Black SN850. Heck, Mark Cerny himself got the WD Black SN850 for his PS5 and he was lead system architect on the console. This drive is a speed demon. It can hit a sequential read speed of 7,000MB/s thanks in part to the bandwidth provided by its PCIe 4.0 x4 connections. So, when you want to build out a sizable library of PS5 games, this is the drive to let you do so without slowing down your loading times.
The drive is ready to go in your PS5, and the version we’ve picked includes its own heatsink to help it maintain maximum performance even when under load. All this performance will come at a pretty high premium, but you can opt for a size that will meet your needs if you don’t want to go for the biggest, most expensive model. The drive comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities.
Say goodbye to the days of having to redownload games that you'd previously uninstalled because your PS5 had run out of space. A recent PS5 update from Sony has finally made it possible to transfer your PS5 games from internal storage to an external drive, and then you can simply transfer them back to the internal storage when you want to play them. And, if you plan to do a lot of that, you'll want the WD Black P50 Game Drive.
This isn't some slow-poke hard drive. Rather, it's a high-speed SSD that can hit transfer speeds up to 2,000MB/s. That's a lot faster than your ISP is likely to have you re-downloading games, plus it won't count against any data caps since you're not re-downloading anything. You can get this drive in a few different capacities from 500GB up to 4TB, though the 1TB and 2TB options will likely hit the sweet spot for ample storage without you paying too much for space that'll just get cluttered with old games you might never actually re-install.
As great as the DualSense Controller is, it can run out of juice frequently if you’re getting a lot of play in throughout the week. Remembering to charge it frequently isn’t always the easiest thing to do either, and you never want to start a game session just to find out you’re going to need to plug in the whole time. The PS5 DualSense Controller Charging Station helps you avoid this problem.
This dock will help you get a pair of controllers charging and keep them topped up. Using the charging station is as simple as sliding the controller into the stand. So, instead of fussing with a USB-C cable after every play session just to stay topped up, you can just set your controller down at the end of the day with the knowledge that it’ll be charged and ready for you the next time you sit down to play.
Most modern consoles double as streaming devices so why not get a PS5 Media Controller when you’re using the PS5 to stream or play your Blu-Ray discs.
Sure you could use a DualSense controller to get the same job done, but you’ll have to keep referring to the on-screen button guide to know whether hitting the cross button pauses or plays. Meanwhile, on the PS5 Media Remote is clearly labeled and you’ve got customizable shortcut keys to launch your favorite apps like Netflix and Disney+.
Gran Turismo 7 is easily one of the most anticipated games for next-gen and if you want to play it right on the PS5 you’re going to need a racing wheel for it. The Logitech G923 is one of the newest racing wheels to come to market and it’s a solid option with great ergonomics and 900-degrees of rotation.
Although it only offers an okay amount of force feedback compared to belt-driven and direct drive wheels, it also costs half as much as more complex racing wheels at $400. If you’re looking for that bit of extra realism and precision this is the best racing wheel to get for the PS5 right now.
The PS5 is shaping up to be a solid console for streaming and recording gameplay, but if you want to record yourself and take your content to the next level you’re going to want the PS5 HD Camera. While this peripheral might just look like a more compact version of the PS4’s Camera V2, this one was made primarily for broadcasting yourself.
Firstly it captures video at 1080p with a pair of wide-angle lenses to capture a wide range of shots. It also comes with built-in background removal tools so you can easily add yourself to your gameplay videos without having to buy and set up a giant green screen.
The PS4 had a great run when it came to fighting games, and the Victrix Pro FS proved the best fight stick for that platform. Now, in the PS5 generation, it continues to lead the pack. The Victrix Pro FS is an incredibly premium fight stick crafted all the way around with a dark, brushed aluminum that can stand up to some abuse. It features a nicely padded bottom with plenty of grip to hold it in place during intense bouts, and it has handles for easy carrying. The joystick is also simple to detach when you want to store it.
The Victrix Pro FS includes a Sanwa joystick and Sanwa buttons, ensuring you get a top-notch arcade experience right out of the box. And, with an easy-open back panel, you can open the case up and customize the components to your liking. This is an expensive fight stick, but once you put your hands on it, most other fight sticks just won't feel the same.
Want to enhance your DualSense? The KontrolFreek Battle Royale Nightfall Performance Kit will let you do that. This kit includes two thumbstick attachments and extra grip. The thumbstick attachments extend the height of your analog sticks, giving you finer control. The thumbsticks also have added grip.
Then there’s the rubberized wrap that goes onto the palm grips of the controller so you can have a better hold on your DualSense. It’s designed to wick moisture and improve airflow as well, plus it won’t leave a sticky residue if you remove or reposition it.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Continue reading...
We've rounded up the best options for you to deck out your PS5 for a compelling and convenient experience. Whether you need a controller, a fight stick, a gaming headset, or an external storage drive for more games, you'll be able to find a high-quality accessory among our picks.
TL;DR – These are the Best PS5 Accessories:
- DualSense PS5 Controller
- Aim Controllers Customized PS5 DualSense Controller
- HexGaming Rival
- Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset
- WD Black SN850
- WD Black P50 Game Drive 1TB
- DualSense Controller Charging Station
- PS5 Media Remote
- Logitech G923
- PS5 HD Camera
- Victrix Pro FS
- KontrolFreek Battle Royale Nightfall Performance Kit
1. DualSense PS5 Controller
Best PS5 Controller
The Sony DualSense controller features game-changing technology tuned and ready to go for the latest generation of games. While you’ll be getting a familiar design from past controller generations, at least in terms of the shape, it’s what’s inside that makes all the difference. It’s not just a simple rumble motor sitting inside the DualSense but rather advanced haptics that have enough nuance to take what’s happening in the game and give your hands some stimulation to match.
Then there are the adaptive triggers. Some pro controllers have an option to tune how far you depress a trigger, but Sony’s DualSense controller can actually increase the resistance of the triggers on the fly, making it harder to pull the trigger if you’re wielding a heavy bow or even locking up the trigger if your gun jams, as developers have toyed with in the upcoming Deathloop. The DualSense takes the controller and makes it more than just an input method but more a part of the actual gameplay experience.
2. Aim Controllers Customized PS5 DualSense Controller
Best Custom PS5 Controller
Sony hasn't provided many options for restyling your PS5 nor your DualSense controller. While the sheer number of re-skinned DualShock 4 controllers should be a good indication of what we'll eventually see for the DualSense, you don't have to wait around for that. Aim Controllers allows for extensive – and we mean extensive! – customization of nearly every facet of the DualSense controller.
With Aim Controllers' customizations, you can change the colors of various sections of the controller individually. The color palette on offer isn't too big, but Aim Controllers provides a decent range as well as a few multi-color options. When it comes to buttons and controls, Aim Controllers' customization goes beyond color. You can swap out the type of analog sticks, turn the action buttons into little bullet casings, shorten the travel of the triggers, and even remove the vibration motors to trim weight (though that might ruin some games). Aim Controllers also provides the option to add on a Spider Action paddle button set on the rear of the controller. The customizations don't come cheap, but you'll be able to make a controller that's truly your own.
3. HexGaming Rival
Best High-End PS5 Controller
The DualSense controller is great, but it's made even better with the HexGaming Rival. This is basically a highly customized version of the controller, letting you not only take control of the look of your DualSense controller but also how it feels and behaves.
The HexGaming Rival replaces tons of elements of the DualSense, giving some an aesthetic reskin and some a competitive upgrade. You’ll get multiple thumbstick options with different heights and concave or convex tops. You can also get hair triggers, so you’ll be more likely to shoot first. The HexGaming Rival even includes a pair of customizable rear buttons you can assign any other standard control to, giving you easy access to whichever button you need without needing to move your thumbs off the analog sticks. This controller comes at a serious premium, but you’re getting a bunch of extra style and capability on top of the price of the standard DualSense.
4. Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset
Best PS5 Gaming Headset
Sony has promised the PS5 will deliver 3D audio for enhanced surround sound to make games more realistic. While that sounds great for those of us who have multichannel speaker systems, others using just their television speakers probably won’t be able to get the same effect. If you’re not ready to throw down the money for multiple speakers or a fancy soundbar and AV receiver, the PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset might be just what you need.
The PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is an official PlayStation headset designed specifically to deliver 3D Audio from the PS5. The headset comes with connects to Sony’s console with a wireless USB adapter so you’ll also be able to use this headset with your computer. You can also expect to get up to 12 hours of wireless play and it comes with integrated rechargeable batteries.
5. WD Black SN850
Best PS5 SSD
If you want the best SSD for your PS5, you’re going to want the best SSD for gaming. That happens to be the WD Black SN850. Heck, Mark Cerny himself got the WD Black SN850 for his PS5 and he was lead system architect on the console. This drive is a speed demon. It can hit a sequential read speed of 7,000MB/s thanks in part to the bandwidth provided by its PCIe 4.0 x4 connections. So, when you want to build out a sizable library of PS5 games, this is the drive to let you do so without slowing down your loading times.
The drive is ready to go in your PS5, and the version we’ve picked includes its own heatsink to help it maintain maximum performance even when under load. All this performance will come at a pretty high premium, but you can opt for a size that will meet your needs if you don’t want to go for the biggest, most expensive model. The drive comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities.
6. WD Black P50 Game Drive 1TB
Best PS5 External Hard Drive
Say goodbye to the days of having to redownload games that you'd previously uninstalled because your PS5 had run out of space. A recent PS5 update from Sony has finally made it possible to transfer your PS5 games from internal storage to an external drive, and then you can simply transfer them back to the internal storage when you want to play them. And, if you plan to do a lot of that, you'll want the WD Black P50 Game Drive.
This isn't some slow-poke hard drive. Rather, it's a high-speed SSD that can hit transfer speeds up to 2,000MB/s. That's a lot faster than your ISP is likely to have you re-downloading games, plus it won't count against any data caps since you're not re-downloading anything. You can get this drive in a few different capacities from 500GB up to 4TB, though the 1TB and 2TB options will likely hit the sweet spot for ample storage without you paying too much for space that'll just get cluttered with old games you might never actually re-install.
7. PS5 DualSense Controller Charging Station
Best PS5 Controller Charger
As great as the DualSense Controller is, it can run out of juice frequently if you’re getting a lot of play in throughout the week. Remembering to charge it frequently isn’t always the easiest thing to do either, and you never want to start a game session just to find out you’re going to need to plug in the whole time. The PS5 DualSense Controller Charging Station helps you avoid this problem.
This dock will help you get a pair of controllers charging and keep them topped up. Using the charging station is as simple as sliding the controller into the stand. So, instead of fussing with a USB-C cable after every play session just to stay topped up, you can just set your controller down at the end of the day with the knowledge that it’ll be charged and ready for you the next time you sit down to play.
8. PS5 Media Remote
Best PS5 Remote Control
Most modern consoles double as streaming devices so why not get a PS5 Media Controller when you’re using the PS5 to stream or play your Blu-Ray discs.
Sure you could use a DualSense controller to get the same job done, but you’ll have to keep referring to the on-screen button guide to know whether hitting the cross button pauses or plays. Meanwhile, on the PS5 Media Remote is clearly labeled and you’ve got customizable shortcut keys to launch your favorite apps like Netflix and Disney+.
9. Logitech G923
Best PS5 Racing Wheel
Gran Turismo 7 is easily one of the most anticipated games for next-gen and if you want to play it right on the PS5 you’re going to need a racing wheel for it. The Logitech G923 is one of the newest racing wheels to come to market and it’s a solid option with great ergonomics and 900-degrees of rotation.
Although it only offers an okay amount of force feedback compared to belt-driven and direct drive wheels, it also costs half as much as more complex racing wheels at $400. If you’re looking for that bit of extra realism and precision this is the best racing wheel to get for the PS5 right now.
10. PS5 HD Camera
Best PS5 Camera
The PS5 is shaping up to be a solid console for streaming and recording gameplay, but if you want to record yourself and take your content to the next level you’re going to want the PS5 HD Camera. While this peripheral might just look like a more compact version of the PS4’s Camera V2, this one was made primarily for broadcasting yourself.
Firstly it captures video at 1080p with a pair of wide-angle lenses to capture a wide range of shots. It also comes with built-in background removal tools so you can easily add yourself to your gameplay videos without having to buy and set up a giant green screen.
11. Victrix Pro FS
Best PS5 Fight Stick
The PS4 had a great run when it came to fighting games, and the Victrix Pro FS proved the best fight stick for that platform. Now, in the PS5 generation, it continues to lead the pack. The Victrix Pro FS is an incredibly premium fight stick crafted all the way around with a dark, brushed aluminum that can stand up to some abuse. It features a nicely padded bottom with plenty of grip to hold it in place during intense bouts, and it has handles for easy carrying. The joystick is also simple to detach when you want to store it.
The Victrix Pro FS includes a Sanwa joystick and Sanwa buttons, ensuring you get a top-notch arcade experience right out of the box. And, with an easy-open back panel, you can open the case up and customize the components to your liking. This is an expensive fight stick, but once you put your hands on it, most other fight sticks just won't feel the same.
12. KontrolFreek Battle Royale Nightfall Performance Kit
Best PS5 Performance Thumbstick Add-on
Want to enhance your DualSense? The KontrolFreek Battle Royale Nightfall Performance Kit will let you do that. This kit includes two thumbstick attachments and extra grip. The thumbstick attachments extend the height of your analog sticks, giving you finer control. The thumbsticks also have added grip.
Then there’s the rubberized wrap that goes onto the palm grips of the controller so you can have a better hold on your DualSense. It’s designed to wick moisture and improve airflow as well, plus it won’t leave a sticky residue if you remove or reposition it.
Where to Get the Best PS5 Accessories in the UK
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Continue reading...