The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is a good ‘un—one of the best pc controllers on us. And the fact that it managed to make it onto our list while neglecting the PC platform for not offering official drivers or the ability to update its firmware is testament to how hopelessly enamored we are with its adaptive triggersand “the biggest bang.” I’ve ever felt” (although very few games fully support these features).
So the PC-DualSense relationship is complicated, but it’s gotten a little simpler now that we can update the controller firmware directly on our PCs instead of plugging it into a PS5. Just download the tool called ‘Firmware Updater for DualSense Wireless Controller‘ on the official PlayStation website, follow the instructions, connect your DualSense via a USB cable and you’re good to go.
DualSense doesn’t have official PC drivers, but that’s not a big deal as Steam makes it easy to use the controller via USB and Bluetooth. DualSense uses the older DirectInput API instead of the more universal XInput, which means many games won’t instantly recognize it. If you enable ‘PlayStation Configuration Support’ in your Steam controller settings, your controller will work with most games.
The biggest problem with DualSense on PC right now is that there aren’t many games utilizing its star features yet. Deathloop, Far Cry 6, Metro Exodus, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are among the few games that support adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, which is a pretty meager choice (though the fact that games like Genshin Impact are being updated to include DualSense support gives us hope).
Remember, if you are playing with DualSense support through Steam, you will need to disable PlayStation configuration support to enjoy it.