The DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment adds the paddle type buttons that have become standard for pro or elite controllers, including the excellentXbox One Elite Controller Series 2to any standard PS4 controller. The accessory adds two ergonomically designed buttons to the back of the controller which plugs into the DS4by way ofthe 3.5mm headphone input. I’ve been trying out the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment for the past few days, and I have to say I’m impressed.
Throughout the years, I’ve used an insane amount of controllers. They not only provide an important function to gamers, but they are also reflections of our personalities. My controllers span various colors, themes, and functionality. It was the Xbox Elite controller that introduced me to the world of back buttons/paddles. Admittedly, they took some getting used to, but at the timeI was addictedtoTitanfall,where mobility is not only important but often the key to survival. I had set up the perfectTitanfallcontrollerload-out that made it so my fingers never left the triggers or sticks, improving movementas well asmy performance. It has since become difficult to use a controller that didn’t have back paddles, but since I’m a PlayStation main I longed for Sony to release their own elite controller.
There are several third party pro controllers for the PS4 but I was always reluctant to purchase them due to their steep cost. I said I’d never pay more than $100 for a controller (the Xbox Elite was an impulse buy thatwas almost entirely coveredby Amazon gift cards from Christmas). Then came the officially licensedSCUF Vantageand somehow that $200 price tag seemed worth it. I mostly liked the Vantage, but it didn’t feel like a DualShock 4, it felt likean Xboxcontroller. Maybe it’s my girl sized hands or the fact I’ve been playing with a DualShock for over 20 years, but I prefer the size and shape of Sony’s controllers. Knowing that, I still thought getting the even bigger and bulkier Astro C40 was a great idea, only to get that feeling again. So now I’ve spent the same amount of money that my PS4 Pro cost and was still mostly using the standard DualShock 4.
When I heard of the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. However, now that I’m a seasoned pro or elite user with an arsenal of SCUF, Evil and Astro controllers, can a $30 accessory even compete? While the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment can’t entirely replace the expensive controllers, as those offer so many other features and customizations, it proves you can teach an old DualShock new tricks, and at a fraction of the cost.
[pullquote]"[The DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment proves you can teach an old DualShock new tricks."[/pullquote]
Setting it up is a snap…literally. Starting with theDualShock4 turned off, place the accessory into the bottom of the controller. You will need to use some force, but once itis snappedinto place properly, you have completed the installation process. It’s a tight fit that looks natural; in fact, if you had never seen a DS4 before you wouldn’t even know that it wasn’t born that way. The accessory includes its own 3.5mm headphone input so you can still use wired headsets with it attached.
The second step is turning it on and deciding which buttons you want to bind to your new paddles. This process is also very easy and user-friendly. Clicking the OLED display turns on the function. From there, you can scroll throughall of thebuttons, triggers,d-pad and sticks. Once you land on the one you want, hit the screen again and itis remapped tothe Back Button. You can store up to three different profiles as different games will require different button combinations.
The Back Button attachmentis perfectly placedand shaped so much so it feels like a natural extension of the DualShock 4. I didn’tfind myself accidentally hittingthe paddles in inappropriate times, unlikesomemore expensive controllers. They are also very responsive and I didn’t notice any lag or delays. Having the shape and feel of the original controller with added features felt great and didn’t result in the hand fatigue I feel when using the Astro or the Vantage. If you already own and love one of the aforementioned premium controllers, you will probably want to skip this. However, if you cringe at the hefty price tag pro controllers carry or want to keep the shape and feel of DualShock, then I highly recommend picking up the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment.
We all know the PS5 is coming soon andmy hope isthat this accessory is a glimpse into the DualShock 5 and that the paddles with on-the-fly button re-mapping will be available at launch. In the meantime, there is still a lot of greatness tobe hadon the PS4 includingThe Last of Us 2andGhosts of Tsushima, so the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment is a great investment even with next-gen approaching fast.
