Gamers using the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller on their computer can now enjoy full haptic feedback via a Bluetooth connection. This new functionality, however, was not developed by Sony, but by a third-party application.
Previously, full support for the DualSense controller in PC games was only available via a wired connection. This limitation represented a significant inconvenience for players, especially considering that Sony itself showed no interest in resolving this issue. However, the situation changes from today, with the DSX v3.2 Beta 01 update, which resolves this critical point for the community.
The official update notes, released on the Steam platform by developer Paliverse, detail the innovation: “Added support for Virtual DualSense with Audio, allowing games to send native DualSense audio and haptics through DSX via Bluetooth or USB. (Requires DSX+ to create a virtual DualSense as it always was).”
Therefore, using this application allows users to experience all the controller’s functionalities through a Bluetooth connection, considerably expanding usability and the gaming experience. This is especially beneficial for those who, for example, play on a PC connected to the television, sitting at a certain distance from the screen, and, consequently, need a wireless connection. This demand was particularly notable and frustrating for owners of the more expensive DualSense Edge controller.
The new DSX beta update also brought several other usability improvements for those using DualSense or DualShock controllers in the PC environment:
- The DSX app can now be launched manually without the need for Steam, with a 28-day proprietary cache period before requiring the platform again.
- The main pages have been redesigned, including Home, LED, Haptics | Rumble and the Profiles section.
- Profiles have been completely overhauled, featuring a card-based user interface, color labels for profiles, filtering options by color, organization by recent usage, profile details, usage information, and simplified actions to apply, configure, share, duplicate, or reset.
- There’s been a major overhaul to button mapping, with a new workflow for assignment, better action filtering, improvements to advanced mapping, swiping controls, Action Blocks support, and various fixes for shortcuts, hold, toggle, and toggle actions.
- Improvements have been made to controller skins, with more artwork and appearances for gamepads, controller color feedback, and better controller view persistence.
DSX is available to purchase as a paid app on Steam for $7.99, with an additional $3.99 cost for DLC that offers the essential option of creating a virtual DualSense. However, with the functionality presented today, this amount becomes a small investment for many users who want to access the full feature set of the DualSense controller, regardless of the connection type.