Is the PS4 Controller a Good Deal for PC Use?

[Katarn]

The PS4 controller (V2) is the only quality controller local markets have in stock for the foreseeable future. I need a controller, and I don't know if I feel like waiting a full month before I get the chance to buy another one.

 

I need it for gaming and reading (I use a controller with Xpadder to navigate pages on Acrobat Reader and to highlight text).

 

Priced at over $60, it is a bit expensive for what I believe should be the cost of a controller, however, that is the price of the Xbox 1 controller as well (were it in stock). So it is not necessarily overpriced for the local market.

If I am to give that kind of money, it would have to be very high quality in order to justify the purchase.

So I have several questions:

 

- How is its compatibility with Windows? I don't mind using DS4Windows. This will obviously be a determining factor. For that price-range, I would like a controller that does not give me trouble with modern games (Gears of War, Halo MCC, Crysis 3, Mankind Divided, Sekiro, The Witcher 3...)

- Can I use it to emulate the mouse and keyboard functions on the Desktop? This is also a determining factor, it can be with Xpadder or alternative software; as long as it can imitate mouse and keyboard functions.

- How is the track-pad when used in lieu of a mouse? This could be very beneficial and could easily justify the price if it means I can be far away from my desk and still operate the mouse.

- Is the gyroscope good and viable? This might be an interesting feature for which I could see myself paying the extra cash.

 

A few followup questions would be:

- Is it worth paying double the money I would give for a Logitech F310 if I were to wait a few weeks?

- What is its quality, feel, and performance compared to an Xbox 1 Controller?

 

I need to know these things before I make the decision. It is not a cheap controller, but some features like the trackpad and the gyroscope (and perhaps the speaker/mic input) could justify the purchase. Above all would be its quality and its use.

[Tristerin]

Just giving out my experience with third party variants - while functionally I have no had issues, all buttons work, no early failures (none yet had them a few years) there is a stark difference, to me, in button squish/rebound, trigger depth/travel/wobble compared to a OEM controller.  So if you are thinking of getting a good reviewed 3rd party variant like I have done, they work, but are not the original

[aDoomGuy]

There are no official drivers... I use the PS3 controller but it can be a pain in the ***. They will work with a 3rd party driver but don't count on official support. Apparently Sony wants you to use the PS controllers on the PS.

[VioDuskar]

16 minutes ago, Katarn said:

 

 

- How is its compatibility with Windows? I don't mind using DS4Windows. This will obviously be a determining factor. For that price-range, I would like a controller that does not give me trouble with modern games (Gears of War, Halo MCC, Crysis 3, Mankind Divided, Sekiro, The Witcher 3...)

- Can I use it to emulate the mouse and keyboard functions on the Desktop? This is also a determining factor, it can be with Xpadder or alternative software; as long as it can imitate mouse and keyboard functions.

- How is the track-pad when used in lieu of a mouse? This could be very beneficial and could easily justify the price if it means I can be far away from my desk and still operate the mouse.

- Is the gyroscope good and viable? This might be an interesting feature for which I could see myself paying the extra cash.

 

A few followup questions would be:

- Is it worth paying double the money I would give for a Logitech F310 if I were to wait a few weeks?

- What is its quality, feel, and performance compared to an Xbox 1 Controller?

 

 

I use this regularly because the Xbox controller feels big in my small hands. 

 

It uses bluetooth, so if you need it for online multiplayer i don't suggest it. but, in PC gaming no controller is good for PvP games. 

It uses bluetooth, so no need for a xbox or third party dongle. it works. 

 

it does require DS4, but that's actually kind of nice, as it lets you remap buttons. (i flip my L/R1 with my L/R2 for better triggers.)

the track pad works fine.  a light tap is a single click, a hard press is a right click. 

 

I have not used the gyroscope. I cannot attest to it's usage. 

 

it's a good value for money if you're used to playing with a DS4 controller. 

quality is fine, but i think all of the console controllers have mushy buttons. even xbox. 

[Statik]

this is only my 2c...

 

I've used both PS4 and Xbox controlllers on my PC. Once working they both had full functionality, but getting the PS4 controller to work was a pain in the ass, and felt like jumping through hoops, while I had my Xbox controller up and running in a matter of seconds.

[geo3]

1 hour ago, Statik said:

this is only my 2c...

 

I've used both PS4 and Xbox controlllers on my PC. Once working they both had full functionality, but getting the PS4 controller to work was a pain in the ass, and felt like jumping through hoops, while I had my Xbox controller up and running in a matter of seconds.

If you have steam it just works. No hoops to jump through. And you can even use it in non steam games.

[Statik]

Just now, geo3 said:

If you have steam it just works. No hoops to jump through. And you can even use it in non steam games.

The PS4? Since when? Is that recent? I haven't used a PS4 controller in years, but I believe this was probably 3-4 years ago when I was trying to get DS2 going on my PC. It sure didn't just work then ahah. I need to download some 3rd party software

[geo3]

2 minutes ago, Statik said:

The PS4? Since when? Is that recent? I haven't used a PS4 controller in years, but I believe this was probably 3-4 years ago when I was trying to get DS2 going on my PC. It sure didn't just work then ahah. I need to download some 3rd party software

PS4, yes. At least 4 years, maybe more.

[markr54632]

I have a dualshock 4 even though I do not own or play ps4. I got it for pc use and was relatively disappointed. It works just fine as a standard controller when paired over bluetooth. I never really liked the way it responded or felt to try getting the gyroscope or touch pad functioning. Alot of games with quicktime events dont properly display the playstation prompts either. 

 

I really didnt want to shell out for an xbox one controller, so I've been using the xbox 360 controller with the official microsoft wireless adapter and it works great.