In the run up to launch, there was rumour that the DualShock 4 thumbsticks weren’t quite as durable as people had hoped. Pictures filtered out of well worn controllers from demo stations where the rubber texture to the left stick had been worn away.
Of course, at that time it was easy to shelve the discussion, with early production materials and hardware being used, and subject to a lot of abusive wear and tear from consoles being carted from one game show to another.
Two months since the initial launch and it’s not as easy to dismiss. There are reports and pictures from a wide range of people that have seen not just the texture being lost, but the outer layer itself being worn away to such a degree that it splits and breaks through to the main plastic underneath. Though my own controllers haven’t deteriorated to that degree, one of Peter’s has.
He’s quite bitter about this.
To try and see just how widespread an issue this really is, we’d like for you to share with us your own experience with the DualShock 4, and whether the analogue sticks are fit for purpose.
Just pop your answer down in the poll below, but also feel free give us a little more context in the comments below, and we’ll come back to the results some time next week.
blackredyellow
I haven’t had a problem. Then again, I don’t use mine all that much and I have two remotes.
skibadee
have 2 mine are fine
MICKY17
No issues with my 2 controllers, had one since launch and the other only a couple of weeks so fingers crossed they don’t wear out anytime soon!
freezebug2
A bit odd as the actual build quality and materials used look and feel the same as a DS3 (had very recent access to a DS4). The only possible cause I can see is the slight redesign in the circular ridges on top of the sticks where a thinner layer of the rubber compound contacts the harder plastic portion possibly wearing through.
QA would probably dictate a minimum tolerance of rubber/plastic contact thickness and this has not been adhered to….the sticks maybe needed another quick dip!
AddictedAndy
They start to wear after a week! One of mine has completely come off. Sony said I could send the one from the box back to them.
zb100
Don’t know about the DS4 but my original DS3 that came with my day 1 fatty had a similar problem. The plastic cover came off a few months ago but a tube of super – glue sorted it. Bit different in duration though from 2 months!
mcduff1979
left stick on mine has started to wear
MrBiron
I voted no but I do know a few people that have this problem with their controllers.
NeverWinning
Left stick has begun to lose the rough coating though I’m not down to the plastic yet. Suspect it’s through clicking the L3 button to run in KZ.
Amazon purchase – will contact them about a replacement to the joypad only.
chall5
just too early to say for me, no signs so far but I’ve only had it a few weeks