The light bar on the DualShock 4 performs several minor roles for the PlayStation 4, allowing the PS Camera to track each device, giving off different and contextual colours for players, in game health and so on. However, there’s quite a few people out there who would just like to be able to turn the lights off.
As quite a bright and diffuse light source, there is the potential for it to be reflected in your screen as you play games, while there’s also speculation that turning the light off could add a few hours of additional game time to the controller’s battery life. I myself have found that the DS4 drains its battery noticeably quicker than the DS3, and needs much more regular recharging.
OPM picked up on the following twitter exchange:
— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) January 14, 2014
@playslav3 @Mimzymoo @PlayStation the LEDs do not use much battery
— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) January 15, 2014
The assertion that the LED doesn’t actually use all that much power goes against experimentation on NeoGAF from back in November, which saw a DualShock 4 with the LED disconnected idle for over 26 hours, compared to around 13-15 hours with the light attached. If your maths is a bit shaky, disconnecting the LED meant that the DS4 lasted around twice as long.
Having said that, it doesn’t really give the full story. While idling, the LED would be a more significant proportion of the overall power usage, whereas playing a game would see the buttons, the motion sensors and rumble motors spinning up. In that situation, the LED’s constant draw might not make as big a difference, but could still theoretically be turned off to deliver some additional game time between charges.
However, since we’ve been told it’s not happening, I guess we’d better just get used to charging those controllers more regularly.
lambchop
If the LED is not using that much power, What is? I’m finding it kind of annoying the amount that I have to recharge the DS4 and I`m not a really heavy duty gamer….
zb100
The touch pad – it is an “always on” actively monitoring surface. Being able to disable that would make more of a difference but render games unplayable.
jimmy-google
It’s not really an issue is it? As you don’t need the console on to charge the controller I plug mine in when not in use, I’ve always got a couple of other controllers knocking around anyway.
Did anyone complain about not being able to turn the lights off on the back on a DualShock 3?
double-o-dave
To be fair, there’s a bit of a difference between the tiny LED red lights on the DS3 and the giant glowing ball of light coming from the DS4s. :)
I don’t actually mind it though, doesn’t bother me.
ArrebatoTarugo
It is not a big issue but it will be good to have the option to turn the blue light off. I will do it if I could.
double-o-dave
I’m sure I only used to need to charge my DS3 controller about once a week but its about every other day with the DS4. I can’t see it being just the LED being the main battery draining factor. Did NeoGAF test how long the DS3s last?
rept0n
Not fussed about the recharge, but would like to be able to have the lightbar switch off when using PS4 for movies.
Such a flaw… especially when very few systems will ever be able to take advantage of the lightbar (beings they decided to sell the camera separately).
Taylor Made
I hate the LED light that ford eat up a lot of your battery
JR.
Silly decision. I can see them backtracking on this like they did with the rumble feature on the sixaxis controller.
ArrebatoTarugo
I agree. I can’t see what the blue light is doing while I am watching a film…
Bilbo_bobbins
why don’t you set it so it turns off after 10 minutes? Done.
ArrebatoTarugo
What solution is that? 10 min is better than 30min but is still 10 unnecessary minutes. (I cancel the automatically turning off the controller option anyway as I can’t log-in remotely with the vita when the controller disconnected from the PS4. I assume they will sort that as well as it is quite annoying.)
Most people here love PS4, me included, but a silly decision is a silly decision. Blue light is unnecessary and we should, at least, have the option to turn it off. I agree is not a big issue but a small firmware update could make so many people happy and it won’t affect the rest.
chall5
I agree as well, I would like to be able to turn it off and I believe the ability to do this will be added in future
jonny_bolton
I’ve not had any problems connecting my vita when the controller is off… Or at least I don’t think so… You’ve got me thinking now. I’ll have to test this tomorrow
pdannysan13
It is very likely. They only need to add an option in the PS Menu. That’s it. Maybe later on some DS4’s will come out without the light bar. So far, it’s too early to judge the future of this DS4 design because it needs more games, just so that we can see if we really will use the touchpad.
Youles
I can’t say I’ve found the light a massive issues, although if I want to immerse myself into something like Outlast next month and play in total darkness, I may change my mind.
I have noticed the DS4 drains faster, as I would expect, but fortunately I have two and the charging dock so I just switch controllers when the battery dies.
gaffers101
I got two controllers for playing two player games and find that I’ve always got one on charge. They do charge quickly but there’s no doubt they drain quicker than a PS3 controller.
CarBoyCam
Duct tape.
lambchop
The actual light is not an issue for me. I have a matte screen tv and it doesnt really reflect. If only the duct tape solution could help with the battery life too ;o)
CarBoyCam
I just have one DS4 plugged in charging then swap when things get serious. :P But to be fair, I don’t play for long enough to have it drain that often. Usually on my PC racing. :D
camdaz
Nor me, I’ve never noticed it while playing games.
I’ve two DS4s so battery life is not an issue for me either, especially as you can charge them in standby mode.
blast71
Quack!
Oh, duct tape…;P
E8_BALL_
Amazon, has the PS4 Duct Tape bundle on special atm, i’m tempted. I’d like to see it in an update. 350quid for a nice bit of modern kit & say no customers, go slap some tape on it .
“Made for gamers, by gamers.”(sml print, who have non reflective tv s & game for short periods. )
E8_BALL_
(don’t know why i incl “350.” ftr. I’m cool with that figure & will be purchasing in nr future. )
Bilbo_bobbins
not fussed. Put duct tape on it if you don’t like it and it reflects. I haven’t noticed it on my tv personally. As for charging it. Leave you DS4 connected while its in standby mode. Sorted.
bunimomike
Or buy a USB plug for the mains socket and keep a charge cable handle wherever you sit. Then you don’t have to have one trailer from the PS4 across the room/carpet, etc.
Starman
Given some of the random things that were added to the PS3’s firmware I wouldn’t be surprised if the option is enabled eventually.
bunimomike
I’d like more research than the anecdotal stuff so far. If it’s really zapping the battery then Shuhei (and thus, Sony) will be more likely to address things.
E8_BALL_
The future cross game chat pun.? Quite possibly.
E8_BALL_
possible even… Iv’e truly butchered this page lol, sorry.