Turning The Lights Down – PS4 Firmware Will Let You Dim The DS4 Lightbar

Stefan L 36 Comments

Everyone loves a good whinge, whether it’s about the weather, the fact that you discovered a gaping hole in a pair of shoes or the fact that the DualShock 4’s lightbar is too bright/exists.

Well good news, because Sony have been paying attention and will let you dim the lightbar, as Shuhei Yoshida revealed in an interview with Geoff Keighley. Geoff slightly misunderstood, but Shuhei was quick to clear things up.

Everyone can now rejoice, as lightbar reflections in the TV are diminished and more conducive to horror games, and the DualShock 4 battery will now last approximately 5 minutes longer than before. Get in!

Right then, what’s next on the list?

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36 Comments

  1. you could always get a decal for it.
    http://ps4.mess-hall.co.uk/2014/03/ds4-lightbar-decals/

  2. so whats the big problem with us having the option to turn this off?

  3. ‘No, i said dim’ ha that’s u told Geoff! The light bar doesn’t really bother me but I would like some kind of notification that the battery is about to go. DS3 light used to blink when battery power was low so you knew you needed to charge it up soon. DS4 just seems to turn off without warning.

    • It brings up a notification for me, on screen, telling me the battery is low.

      • Me too, I’ve seen it far too often.

      • Et moi.

      • I wonder if it has something to do with me disabling all notifications?

  4. Never bothered me so I’ll leave it on. It really doesn’t intrude.

    • Thanks for letting us know. Do you have a link to the rest of your blog?

      • Show some respect, will you? Nothing wrong with Foxhounds comment.

      • It’s a comments section. Y’know, to comment on the article… If Foxhound isn’t bothered by the light and doesn’t feel the need to use the feature, I’d say that’s a perfectly valid comment. If he’d said how he prefers toast to crumpets, I could understand the moan!

        What’s with all the moaners and trolls coming to TSA of late :-(

        For what it’s worth, I’m in the same camp as Foxhound, the light’s never bothered me so will probably never use this feature – may dim it on games that don’t use the feature to see if it reduces battery consumption at all but otherwise of no use to me.

    • Yeah Foxhound it’s never bothered me at all either,but I have just ordered some of the decals dazbo suggested :)

    • same as you fox never bothered me.

      • Never bothered me either. What does bother me is that I don’t have a ps4!

      • Also doesnt bother me. I like it personally.

  5. Cue the crying that turning it down doesn’t extend battery life.

  6. Hopefully I can rely on people vocal enough to moan until we can turn it off completely.

    Why they’re insisting we keep it on is beyond me.

  7. Wow..! This is going to be the coolest feature of this gen consoles, and I’m sure it gives them the necessary boost to stay ahead of the XBone..! ;o)

    Ok, I’m happy they do it, but they shouldn’t really need to think twice about it, given the battery playtime is quite limited, especially compared to what we’ve all been used to with the DS3.

  8. The real problem with the DS4 is that Sony had the brains to make a more advanced controller, but not enough to realise it needs a bigger battery capacity than it’s predecessor, not a smaller one. It’s such a terrible way to save a few bucks.

    I’m tempted to retrofit a bigger battery.

    • I’ve been toying with the idea too – if it’s anything like the DS3 it won’t be too hard, but may just wait til it’s out of warranty though…

      • Yeah, warranty might be worth noting. It’s supposedly the same type of battery, so you can actually switch between them. But you’d be better off finding a higher capacity one on ebay, that’s what I’ll be doing. It’s just a shame that Sony couldn’t give it a good battery in the first place, such a stupid move.

  9. I like the light, never had a problem with TV reflections and it works well letting you know when you move out of the shadows in Thief.
    I’ve solved the battery playtime……… buy an extra DS4 so you’ve always got one charged…… simples!

    • Yep both mine are in the charging dock then always one ready for action ;)

      • I’d love to keep my two in a charging dock but apparently sony only saw fit to deliver about 100 units to the UK for launch and not bothered sending any more since! Had mine on backorder for almost 3 months now…

        Will be nice to dim the light a bit though, but as camdaz says it has its uses and tbh the difference it would make to battery life is negligible anyway.

      • Woah Hornet 3 months that is a bit of a wait,you would have tthought there would be some available before now,glad I are ordered mine last June with the PS4.

      • Yep, and that’s with Amazon so hardly a small time operation. Everywhere I looked was out of stock and apart from Amazon at best would only allow you to signup for “back in stock” notifications, which makes you wonder if they were a one off… Perhaps TSA could investigate?! ;)

      • TSA goes undercover.

    • Yup, i also leave one charging whilst i play.

  10. the only thing that bothers me is how long the controller lasts.

    • I agree. I’m not a heavy gamer and it seems amazing how often you need to recharge the buggers!!

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