PS5 DualSense Support Added To PC In Steam Update (Sort Of)

If you were looking to use your fancy new PS5 DualSense controller to play some PC games, we've got good news and bad news. Valve has announced that the latest Steam client update has added what it's termed "initial support" for the controller.

As you might have guessed, this means that while you can certainly play games with the DualSense, Steam doesn't yet support all of the controller's nuances, including its rumble, trackpad, or gyroscope. This also means that the DualSense's fancy haptic tech--which allows you to feel a bowstring as you pull it, for example--is still only available on the PS5 system itself. That tech could be a game-changer for the console if developers can utilize it correctly.

Currently, the DualSense can only be used both wired and wirelessly on the PC. For the former, you'll need a USB-C to USB-A cable to do so, unless you have a USC-C port. (As PC Gamer notes, the PS5 comes with the cable, but the DualSense by itself does not, so watch out for that.) To use the DualSense wirelessly, you'll need a Bluetooth adapter, though many motherboards have Bluetooth built-in these days. By itself, the DualSense costs $70.

The PS5 is already out in several territories, including North America. Sony previously said that the battery life on the DualSense is comparable to that of the DualShock 4, though some have reported that the games that make special use of the controller's haptics may drain the battery faster. The controller also features a removable front plate, though it's not clear if Sony will allow third-parties to sell their own custom designs. Sony has also indicated that more colors for the controller are coming in the future, though it's not clear when that may happen.