PlayStation has officially unveiled a new DualSense controller for PS5, adding another option to the company’s growing line-up of gaming accessories, but there is a catch. While Sony is no stranger to releasing special-edition hardware, the timing of the announcement comes as controllers are receiving renewed attention across the gaming industry. As one example, company 8BitDo recently announced its officially licensed Ultimate 3 and Ultimate 3 controllers for PC, Xbox, and mobile devices.
In fact, Sony’s announcement arrives just days before pre-orders open for Valve’s new Steam Machine, which comes slightly after the recent release of the new Steam Controller. The controller is designed around Valve’s Steam Input ecosystem and will work across Steam-compatible devices, including the Steam Deck. While the Steam Machine itself starts at $1,049 and targets the PC gaming crowd, Sony’s latest reveal is aimed squarely at PlayStation players looking for a new take on one of the PS5’s most recognizable accessories.
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New Limited Edition PS5 DualSense Controller Release
- Pre-Order Date: June 30
- Release Date: August 6
- Suggested Retail Price: 12,480 Yen
- Includes Special Edition controller and Instruction Manual
- Compatible with PS5, PC/Mac, and mobile devices
- Supports Wired Connect with USB Type C/Wireless Connection via Bluetooth
PlayStation recently revealed the DualSense Wireless Controller Icon Blue Special Edition, a limited-edition gamepad that won’t be around forever and is only available in Japan. How long it’s available remains to be seen, but the glossy blue-and-navy color scheme, combined with the PlayStation symbols scattered across the touchpad, makes it a nice-looking controller. On top of that, there’s Japanese lettering on the back of the controller as a nod to PlayStation’s heritage as a company. Like every other PS5 DualSense controller, the Icon Blue Special Edition supports the PS5’s adaptive triggers, haptic feedback technology, built-in microphone, and motion controls. It is also compatible with PC, Mac, and mobile devices, making it useful beyond Sony’s console ecosystem.
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The Icon Blue Special Edition for the DualSense PS5 controller line-up will release nationwide on Thursday, August 6, with pre-orders opening on June 30. Interestingly, this pre-order date is also the release date for the Steam Machine, so it seems June is a busy month. It’ll be available at all major retailers that sell PlayStation products in Japan, beginning at 10 am, with a suggested retail price of 12,480 yen (including tax).
Sony has increasingly turned the DualSense into a collectible during the PS5 generation. Between anniversary editions, game-themed controllers, and unique color variants, the company has consistently found ways to refresh the hardware without introducing entirely new functionality. The Icon Blue controller appears to follow that same strategy, appealing primarily to longtime PlayStation fans and collectors rather than players looking for a major hardware upgrade.
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After all, it’s nice to own physical copies of video games, physical console hardware to play video games, and also collectible hardware associated with said consoles. Blue is a popular color, so the only thing surprising about this controller is how long it took and how it’s limited to Japan. While it may not offer any new features compared to a standard DualSense, its design is likely to make it one of the more distinctive PlayStation-branded controllers currently available.
Source: PlayStation Blog
