I really do think Sony is doing something with the DualSense controller and a possible version 3 with a removable battery?? That rumor has gone around and has literally split the gaming community down the middle. Some are really excited, while others could not care less. Let’s do a quick breakdown as, if it were true, this would be a very significant news.
The controller that shipped with the PS5 has been through a couple of revisions by now. There’s an insider who states that there was 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 models of BDM in there somewhere. So this will be the BDM-60 accordingly. Very slight changes, wherein having a removable battery might be one of the largest changes they have seen in recent years.
Then it gets fun in the comment section. A couple of players are pointing out you already can replace the battery in the current DualSense controllers, you just need to open the internal casing with a screwdriver and lots of patience. A user named Liam Ure said: “Can just replace the battery already with 4 screws. Would be good if Sony would sell OEM battery packs for the normal controller, it’s really not that hard to replace.” And they are absolutely right-well, at least, if you are a little bit of a DIY person.
Officially making it swappable and without tools? For so many people, that would be the truly massive change. Just imagine those sessions of gaming on your controller dying most awkwardly. Pop in an empty battery in this very moment, and they’re back in action. No need to charge it. “Having a spare battery or 2 is needed for true on-the-go gaming,” said one member. Again, this begs the question: Is Sony thinking about their aforementioned handheld?
That debate on the removability of the battery has also caused some console war drama down in the comments. Yet another commenter pointed at how hypocritical the commenters were: “These comments are hilarious. Ponies have been roasting Xbox for removable batteries for years but now that Sony is doing it, it’s the greatest thing ever?!” That must have stung for the fanboys.
The thing is – Xbox controllers have had cells-AAs or battery packs-for ages, while PlayStation went for built-in rechargeable ones. They both have their own cons and pros. Built-in means that you are not hassled to buy separate batteries, but once the battery starts wearing out, which it does after years of use, your controller becomes more or less useless unless you bear the shame and replace the battery yourself.
Battery life is probably one of the most complained about things concerning the DualSense since it started being marketed with the PS5. The haptic feedback and adaptive triggers feel and sound like an experience in themselves, but they simply suck the battery dry. One user even said he’s been hoping for “super fast charger for the DualSense” because “whenever I fully charge them, it takes hours.” So perhaps a swappable battery system could deal with that guy’s concerns, too.
The environmental side of things really cannot be ignored. One commenter stated, “too many people that came in for replacements because the battery got sleepy and slow. An entire new controller was the result.” Just imagine: If only they could swap out the battery, it would be such a huge reduction in waste.
Now, with all that taken into account, the huge question comes down to: Would that mean upping the price of the controllers? One thread speculated that the swappable components “would drive base controllers over $100 but nobody wants that,” while another one very sonorously suggested the price would go up maybe just about $10 or would be off the hook if they’re already working something up for it.
That means some players already are looking forward to what could be happening to the PS6 controller. Someone suggested, “the next big change for PS6 will be 2 back buttons as standard,” and so “gameplay cannot evolve without it.” Which just might imply that removable batteries are but a tiny step in a larger controller evolution that Sony has triggered.
From “This is the way!” all the way to “No. We don’t need that,” the public reaction has been varied. And in reality, regardless of which side of the fence one stands on, it is proof that great ideas keep coming to the controllers themselves. And any improvement toward an easier, smoother gaming experience is a good candidate for consideration.
Time will tell if this rumor is true or not, but the discussion it has again reminded that players are very passionate about their gaming hardware. That is because the controller is essentially your direct link to the game world-any modification to that experience would turn people onto it. Right now, what is creating buzz is the possibility of a DualSense with swappable batteries.
