The PS5DualSense controller already has drift issues — what you need to know

The PS5DualSense controller already has drift issues — what you need to know

The DualSense controller, released at the same time as the PS5, has been on the market for less than three months and is already starting to suffer from glitches. The problem is familiar to anyone familiar with the Nintendos Joy-Con.

That's right, just as the Joy-Con drift problem is still ongoing, the PS5 DualSense controller is starting to have the same drift problem. Even when no one is touching the controller.

In the months since the PS5 launched on November 12, these problems seem to be happening from time to time; a Reddit thread has several people who have taken pictures of the controller drifting. Several more recent stories have also been posted on Twitter, which can be found by searching for "PS5 controller drift" or "dual-sense drift."

One Reddit user claims to have been plagued by dual-sense drift for only 10 days and has tried everything possible to fix the problem: turning Bluetooth on and off, turning off the PS5, resetting the controller, battery issues overnight recharging in case there was a battery problem, etc.

Fortunately, dual-sense drift can happen to you and you can get your controller repaired; Kotaku's Ari Notis went through this process and was told to call Sony directly after going through a live chat with support Notis then, was told "dozens of pre-recorded messages" that PlayStation support was "not the place to go to find a PS5.

Notis was then put on hold for 17 minutes before being connected to a representative who confirmed that it was covered under the DualSense warranty. Unfortunately, the only option is to pay to send it to Sony for repair. The console manufacturer said they would cover the cost of sending the controller back, but the actual cost of sending it back is all my responsibility. And if you try to recover those costs later, you won't get them back.

If your dual-sense controller starts to drift and troubleshooting doesn't solve the problem, your only option is to go through Sony; you can contact them through their dedicated PS5 hardware portal and a Sony representative will walk you through the process. Just be prepared to have to talk on the phone for a while and for the repair to take some time.

In the meantime, you will not be able to play PS5 games unless you pay $70 to purchase another controller. Fortunately, PS4 games are compatible with the old DualShock 4 controller, so you can play them without any problems.

If you don't have a PS5 and have never touched a DualSense controller, or if your DualSense controller has failed, don't give up hope; PS5 inventory is always coming in, and if you act quickly, you may be able to get one! For the latest news and inventory information on the PS5, please visit our Where to Buy page.

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