Like any great next-gen device, the best features are retained from the previous model while new game-changing functions are added.

That’s exactly what Sony has accomplished with DualSense, the new PlayStation 5 controller.

“We adopted haptic feedback, which adds a variety of powerful sensations you'll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud,” Sony’s PlayStation team said in a blog post.

“We also incorporated adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons of DualSense so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow.”

Moreover, the weight of the controller has been reduced, the battery charge holds longer, there is more immersive 3D audio and a built-in microphone has been added so that you can communicate with friends while playing, jettisoning the need for a headset.

DualSense, which will come in a white and black design, is likely to be priced at around $60, as that’s what DualShock 4 sold for when it was first released.

“DualSense marks a radical departure from our previous controller offerings and captures just how strongly we feel about making a generational leap with PS5,” Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in a statement.

“The new controller, along with the many innovative features in PS5, will be transformative for games.”

The “share” button also has been replaced with a “create” button, as Sony is seeking new pioneering ways to share gameplay content.

This development is indeed sweet music for PlayStation fans everywhere who have been waiting patiently for the next-gen device – although this is just the controller, and not the actual console.

The highly anticipated PS5 will be released during this coming holiday season. The price tag is still unknown, but it reportedly costs about $450 to manufacture one, according to a Bloomberg report.

Several analysts, however, have warned that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could delay the PS5 from shipping on time.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV.