PS4 Controller: How to customize a PS4 controller
The DualShock 4 , the controller that comes bundled with any PlayStation 4 , is definitely a great product. However, its basic colors, especially the black one, are a little too “classic” for your taste. You therefore believe that it is possible to improve the situation by customizing, but you have no idea where to put your hands to do so.
That’s the way it is, isn’t it? Then don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place, as I’m about to explain how to customize a PS4 controller . Obviously I will not only focus on the “look”, but I will also illustrate some possibilities that can make the DualShock 4 more comfortable in terms of interaction with games.
Before starting with the instructions, however, I want to clarify that I do not take any responsibility for how you will use the information contained in this tutorial. In fact, if not done correctly, some changes could cause the controller to malfunction. Also, in some cases it may void the warranty . Well, I warned you!
Index
- How to change PS4 controller
- Accessories
- Rubber pads for analogue
- Adhesives
- LED
- Custom controllers
How to change PS4 controller
If you want to understand how to customize a PS4 controller , probably the best solutions you can consider are the ones present below. There are both products made directly by Sony and others from third parties.
Accessories
If you are trying to understand how to customize a PS4 joystick in an official way, or through accessories made directly by Sony, you must know that there is a concrete possibility.
In fact, you should know that the Japanese company in its product portfolio also has the Key Expansion accessory . The latter can be placed on the back of the DualShock 4 by adding 2 extra rear buttons to the latter.
These keys are programmable choosing between 16 actions and it is possible to set 3 different configurations , in order to use them in the various video games. There is also an OLED screen that shows how the buttons have been configured and allows you to change the settings.
Also note the fact that the accessory has a 3.5mm jack for connecting headphones to the controller . Put simply, this accessory allows you to change your style of play, trying to use the pad more comfortably.
This official accessory, generally, is sold at a price below 40 euros. It can be found both in major physical retailers dedicated to video games and in online stores such as Amazon .
PlayStation 4 – Dualshock 4 Key Expansion
See offer on Amazon
For the rest, there are obviously other accessories for the official PlayStation 4 controller. However, the latter are made by third parties and not directly by Sony. This means that you have to evaluate the quality of the product well and often check which type of DualShock 4 model you have.
Furthermore, some third party accessories are also “controversial” from certain points of view . In fact, online there are products that allow, through software external to the PS4, to configure the various buttons of the controller in order to perform actions more quickly.
In this tutorial I will not go into detail of that type of products, as they are not exactly well regarded by the gamer community (everyone should be played on a par, therefore only with controllers or at most official accessories that do not guarantee too much competitive advantage).
In any case, the existence of this type of product is well known and therefore it is right to inform you about it. For the rest, to be clear, there is obviously a bit of everything on the market: there are customized back buttons and much more. I warned you about the competitive advantage issue, but of course the decision is yours.
Rubber pads for analogue
One of the most common customizations for what concerns the official PlayStation 4 controller is certainly represented by the rubber pads for the analogs .
In fact, the latter, which among other things are very simple to “assemble” , do not guarantee a competitive advantage of who knows what type: simply by means of the rubber pads it is possible to obtain a tactile feedback different from the classic one, while preserving the analog and perhaps making the colors of the controller more “lively”.
As you can imagine, the market for dualShock 4 analog rubbers can be in some ways equated to that of smartphone covers : there are so many possibilities that it is impossible for me to give you precise advice on this.
To be clear, generally in online stores such as Amazon it is possible to find packages containing rubber pads of essentially all colors for a few euros. Then there are rubber pads with various designs, as well as with different conformations.
BB Rubber Pads for PS4 Controller
See offer on Amazon
Mudder Silicone Button Caps Protective Cover for Xbox One …
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In short, there are certainly no shortage of choices to customize your controller using rubber pads for analogue.
Adhesives
Another method as simple as used to “modify” the design of your DualShock 4 is to go through the appropriate stickers .
In fact, there are myriad possibilities of this point of view: there are just some stickers that cover a bit the whole surface of the controller and, if applied correctly, can actually make the DualShock 4 much more “lively”.
Clearly, there are essentially all types of adhesives. Often users decide to customize their controller with stickers related to their favorite narrative universes, but obviously there are a myriad of solutions on the market, including “generic” ones.
For example, there are those who have decided to “cover” the DualShock 4 with a sticker related to their favorite team , as well as those who have decided to buy a “skin” able to make the controller look covered in paint .
6amLifestyle Cover Skin Controller PS4 Dualshock in Anti-slip Silicone …
See offer on Amazon
Leslaur PVC Back Adhesive Protective Film for PS4 # 278
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Controller Skin Ssc Napoli For PlayStation 4 (PS4) with Protected Shell …
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Put simply, there are so many possibilities that it is even difficult to choose which adhesive to apply to your controller. You just need to consult, for example, online stores like Amazon : you will most likely find something that suits you.
LED
How do you say? Do the customizations mentioned so far in the guide seem too “simple” to you? No problem, I think I have what you need: LEDs .
We gamers apparently are not able to do without the latter, as evidenced by the designs seen over the years in relation to the various gaming products. On the other hand, LEDs guarantee that “futuristic” look that everyone appreciates.
So you will most likely be pleased to know that it is in fact possible to apply LEDs underneath the buttons of the DualShock 4, so that there is a certain type of lighting while you play, as well as a certain atmosphere in your night sessions.
On the other hand, the original controller of the PlayStation 4 already focuses on some lights, since it already has some of them in the upper part. However, having LEDs under the various buttons according to some users makes the design much more pleasant.
However, in this case you must know that it is necessary to go through third-party accessories , which must then be mounted. More precisely, it is generally possible to buy kits containing everything necessary to position the LEDs under the levers, directional arrows, analogue and back buttons. Among other things, you can usually choose to apply lights of different colors depending on the area.
In case you were wondering how the power supply of the LEDs works , you should know that these kits often use the controller battery directly , so you don’t even need to go through additional products (in any case, obviously every single kit is a story in itself).
eXtremeRate Multicolored DTFS LED Kit for PS4 Pro Slim Joystick Button …
See offer on Amazon
eXtremeRate Multicolored Buttons DTFS LED Kit for PS4 Analog Sticks …
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eXtremeRate Multicolored DTFS LED Kit for PS4 Pro Slim Joystick Button …
See offer on Amazon
This is certainly a possibility considered interesting by many, but obviously you have to disassemble the pad to mount the LEDs. There are therefore all the consequences of the case. Don’t get me wrong: often the kits involved have all the necessary instructions and assembly is not complex, but clearly there is always that minimum “risk” .
I reiterate, therefore, as already said at the beginning, that I do not take any responsibility for any damage caused to the controller, since this tutorial is purely for illustrative purposes and I am simply explaining to you what are the possibilities offered by the market to customize the DualShock 4.
In any case, you can find myriads of different kits in online stores such as Amazon, so I invite you to inform yourself well about what you are buying, also trying to understand if your controller model is compatible with the kit, as well as in what way the latter works.
Custom controllers
In addition to the various customization possibilities guaranteed by official and third-party products, I remind you that it is also possible to buy controllers already customized by the manufacturers.
To be clear, in addition to the special versions of the DualShock 4 (perhaps dedicated to a specific video game or of a different color than usual), there are controllers designed for professionals , which allow, for example, to program buttons , as well as to “lock” the triggers to perform actions more quickly. In addition, there is even no shortage of small controllers , as well as solutions with clearly visible LEDs .
Then I remind you that it is possible to choose the pads according to your preferences, for example, regarding the type of connection (wired or wireless), positioning of the analogs (symmetrical or asymmetrical) and weight , just to name a few factors that you may want to keep in mind. consideration when purchasing.
Razer Raiju Tournament Edition (2019) – Gaming Controller with or …
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Nacon Compact Controller PS4 Official Sony PlayStation, Crystal Red
See offer on Amazon
Hori Controller Mini (Red) For PS4 – Official Sony – PlayStation 4
See offer on Amazon
In any case, the market has several choices also with regard to custom controllers. The only advice I can give you in this case is to avoid those who promise you modified products , generally referred to as chipped or modded .
In fact, these are controllers used by those who want to cheat in online games and this could lead to problems with your account (there are also the conditions for the ban). For this reason, it is good to “limit yourself” to choosing between products that have an official Sony license .
If you are interested in the subject, I invite you to consult my tutorial on the best controllers for PS4 , in which I went into detail on the products that I think are the most valid.