Sony teased its “Venture Leonardo” accessibility controller at CES 2023, and on Thursday it formally launched a brand new option to play on the PlayStation 5 with the Entry Controller, a extremely customizable gamepad constructed for players with disabilities that will likely be launched in December.
Sony has lagged for years behind Microsoft in providing an accessible first-party sport controller. The oblong Xbox Adaptive Controller was launched in 2018 for $100.
Learn extra: Inside Microsoft’s Lab With the Xbox Adaptive Controller
The PS5-compatible Entry Controller is cheaper at $90, but additionally radically totally different in design, with giant interchangeable buttons radially organized round a circle with an adjoining joystick for directional management.
That design lets the Entry Controller be used from any orientation or course, mentioned Isabell Tomatis, Sony’s {hardware} and peripherals vice chairman, in a weblog submit. The corporate has been growing the controller for 5 years and labored with accessibility organizations and consultants to refine its design and options.
The controller comes with 19 in another way sized button caps and 23 icons to label every button for which conventional enter it corresponds to (X, circle, sq., triangle, R1/L1, and many others.). It additionally has 4 3.5mm aux enlargement ports to plug in further buttons, switches or equipment, and may save 30 profile configurations for various setups.
Whereas Microsoft has stored the lead on accessible gaming with its Xbox Adaptive Controller and a brand new line of adaptive equipment launched final 12 months, Sony’s new controller will likely be welcomed by disabled PS5 players. The Entry Controller could be preordered on the PlayStation web site beginning July 21 and can go on sale on Dec. 6.
Learn extra: Veterans Who Misplaced Limbs Be taught to Sport Once more With Adaptive Controllers