So I use a ps5 dualsense controller for playing games on my pc. Recently, as in the past week the left thumbstick has developed stick drift. As in it’ll just hard left all the time.
In the past I’ve just gotten a replacement controller, but I’d like to know if there are any repair services for the controller or upgraded controllers that would work better for me. I do prefer the playstation layout style of the controller and that would be my only requirement.
There should be plenty of repair and upgrade services for your controllers.
Replacing a analog/tumbstick is not a complicated repair for someone with basic soldering skills, so plenty of shops and individuals offer those services. (Just be sure to check any reviews to be safe.)
If you like to tinker you could probably do it yourself in a afternoon. (Dis and reassembling the controller takes longer than the repair itself)
If you are getting a controller repaired you might want to consider to upgrade/replace the analog sticks for hall effect or TMR sensors.
In case you haven’t heard about them before, hall effect and TMR use a magnetic sensor instead of a resistive film to track movement.
Also newer capacitieve based sensors exist which are supposed to be even better. (I have no experience with those)
All types should be less prone (but not fully immune) to stick drift and vastly more wear resistent compared to the old resistive design.
The repair itself is the same regardless of stick type you get.
Unfortunately I don’t think any first or third party manufacture makes controllers including them.
They do make upgrade kits for excising controllers, and some repair shops and people sell pre upgraded controllers.
But what’s available will depend on your location.
Be mindful of the really cheap offers and check the reviews before getting a upgrade kit, as quality vary vastly between manufactures.
I did find a site that did the diagnose / repair @ $39.99 per controller. And does the upgrades. I was looking at something like $139.99 - 159.00 for the repair and upgrades (face buttons as well as the joysticks and triggers.)
I found an 8bitdo controller with the tmr joystics for $59.99. Only down side is it’s an xbox clone / style and not a ps5 clone / style. For the price difference I can give it a go and if nothing else do a review for the people here.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR8Y5W6Z?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
I’m a huge fan of GameSir’s controllers. They have
I currently use a gamesir supernova (~$50 in USA) which has an Xbox layout (not a fan of PlayStation layout’s, my thumb seems to have less grip with that position)
You @Log at first you had my attention and now you have my gratitude.
I didn’t know about GameSir before, so after reading what you listed I took a curios peek what they had on offer.
You ware not exaggerating, there are some very intrestring controllers checking a lot of boxes.
Of course only after holding and playing it you can make a full judgement if you like it.
But they really stand out in a positive way with some features on offer making me want to get and try a few.
I just happen to come across the Cyclone 2 and it took a bit for my brain to click.
TMR sticks, hall effect triggers even multiple wireless and cable options for the same price as a regular Xbox controller with non of the above except wireless.
I’m still checking out other controllers and I currently feel like a kid in a candy shop.
I’ll alternate controllers based on which game I play, motivated by which orientation benefits me best for analog stick and the dpad.
Although I am more biased to the playstation style, I grew up with a playstation 2 so I probably imprinted quite a bit.
There is also a functional aspect to this.
Because I’m dyslexic the R1,R2, L1 button naming style, triggers a brain impuls way sooner then the RB, RT or LR.
It’s just easier for my brain to spot and process which button as the letter and number are two distinct entity’s, having 2 letters next to each other LT and LR look very similar to me and I have to actively look what the second letter actually is.
So even when I use a xbox style controller, I have the game in playstation button layout when available.
@thetazman Oh quite a steep price, even taking in to consideration some controller models can be a pain to take apart.
Those better be some really fancy upgrades.
It might pay to shop around a bit as my experience tells me parts + labor should be around 100 dollar tops.
Or diy the upgrade yourself, only costing you the parts and whatever time and sanity you find acceptable investing.
Now you mention 8bitdo, I did have a controller from them quite some years ago.
I didn’t know they expanded the offers with tmr and stuff.
The one you listed seems pretty solid.
I think i had a ultimate first gen.
You might really like the brand @log recommended.
They could just have something more suiting your taste.
But you’ll probably need to browse the all products page as weirdly no playstation filter is offered.
I did spot some controllers in the playstation style, so calling them PlayStation is probably making sony mad or whatever.
I’ve had good luck with 8BitDo controllers on PC. The TMR sticks are a nice bonus too, but I’d mainly look at how comfortable the layout is and whether the wireless connection stays reliable. For $60, it seems like a pretty solid middle ground.
Gamesir, Flydigi, 8BitDo
Buying “official” controllers is unfortunately a waste of money in this day and age. It’s not just the stick drift that’s inevidable, it’s the general quality of these. Getting them working (on Windows) is always a hassle too. It’s gotten a lot better, but it’s just not worth it over a controller that can switch between diferent console modes, has full xinput support etc
I’ve never seem to have an issue to get the controller to work on windows (at least the ps3 / 4 / 5) with a usb connection. On linux the ps5 controller just worked. Will know more when the 8bitdo controller arrives and can put it thru it’s paces. I shouldn’t have any other issues than having to configure it in steam as steam is a bit weird when setting up controllers.
I did dabble a lot with drivers en input remappers well before steam had it’s controller compatibility layer, the ps3 controllers just did not function in Windows.
I believe Windows requires a protocol called xinput for gaming support and the ps3 controller did only output a generic signal.
I had a program called DS3 tool which real time translated ps3 to a virtual Xinput device the same as steam now does automatically.
I still use a remapper called REWASD I can make a xbox controller be detected as a PS5 controller and so most games with PS controller support change the button labels in game to PS5 so I don’t have to fight the setting to get those applied.
Plus I had a real oddball controller with no support for windows.
REWASD just remaps them to whatever I want no hassle.
Yea ……. I remember using ds3 when I ran windows and before steam added sony controller support natively. Now that I’m on linux mint for my os and steam for gaming, I’m set with the controller compatibility with my os / game. The problem I usually run into is a game controller that fits well with my fat fingered hands.
So I tried the 8bitdo ultimate 2 controller and it works fine with the pc but didn’t work well with my hands. Smaller than a ps5 controller and my wrists started to ache afte 45 minutes of play. Ended up with another ps5 controller and also fixing the original controller I had with a bit of compressed air shot down the shaft of the thumb stick. Going to keep the second controller as a spare as my luck the fix will onyl last 6 months or so.
Yah getting a controller with proper fit can be a challenge sometimes.
Don’t remember which brand controller but I had one my wrists did not like I eventually tossed as it was a cheap one.
Great you got to revive your old controller, who knows you might get lucky once or twice more.
I wanted to suggest to maybe try electrical contact cleaner if you haven’t yet, as it’s a bit stronger than air.
I did a quick google to see if it was safe for controllers, and it’s actually widely recommended to use contact cleaner.
It gets way deeper in places air can’t reach.
I send you a clip, this guy repairs stuff for a living so if he recommends it should be fine.
But it’s not a requirement getting his branded cleaner.
Contact cleaner is a IPA solvent mix, the general hardware store should carry it to.
If they offer multiple do a little test squirt on a flat surface you want one which does not evaporate immediately but start to dry in a few seconds and leaving no residu when all is evaporated.
I am familiar with electrical contact cleaner! It was just a wtf else do I have to loose as I’ve already have the replacement kinda move! I didn’t think it would honestly work!
Haha great you do, you’d be surprised how many people I have to tell in my line of work what contact cleaner is and why it’s better than to run electronics under the tap with water.
So I’d fallen in old habits when asking you about it, sorry about tad.
Did you ever try the google Stadia controller?
It was a hybrid between a PS4 style controller with xbox markings on it.
I really liked it’s design and feel.
Since I generally don’t have a can handy of electrical contact cleaner with me when I’m working on devices at other peoples homes (I know I should correct this) I usually use isopropyl alcohol over water. No worries about asking if knew about or used electrical contact cleaner …… it’s not a common used / known item in the home tool kit.
As for the google stadia controller. I gave the whole system a pass. already heavily invested in steams ecosystem. I don’t mind if I can find a good 3rd party controller but google didn’t seem like the third party type. I figured if the service went belly up or google killed it the hardware would be bricked permanently.
Yah google killing stadia was silver lining actually.
They dumped Chomecast 4k + controller bundles for 30 euro a box. (retail was 145 I vaguely remember)
When they announced to stop, the same week a firmware update was made available killing the controller it’s wifi capability.
And in exchange full bluetooth and usb support on Windows.
It got picket up as xbox 360 controleer.
All my fiends got a chromecast 4k out of it and I have a decent number of pretty good spare controllers.
It was out fo character for how google just did not put everything in a land fill.
And fixed windows support.
If you’re dealing with stick drift, spraying some electrical contact cleaner around the stick module before replacing the whole stick is worth a try — it’s cheap and has brought a couple of my controllers back to life. For a replacement, the newer hall effect and TMR stick controllers from brands like 8bitdo and GameSir are genuinely impressive; since there’s no physical contact wearing down, drift is basically a non-issue on those.