What is being touted as the PS4 controller prototype has made itself visible in the form of an image which has got tongues wagging endlessly. What’s that bald spot at the center? Why does is it look to unattractive? What’s that blue-ish light for? It is for real or just a phony version like those boring fake iPhone videos? These are just a bunch of questions which are flying around at the moment, so let’s take a deeper look at it and try to decode the matter.
This purported image of the PS4 controller prototype has come out via Destructoid which claims that it is a sample product. Quite obviously, this is not the final version of what will hit retail; that’s a no brainer, but the features that it houses are most likely to be present on the actual variant. One of the most prominent eye-grabber is the wide pad that it houses on its front. Only one conclusion is being reached on what this could be: a touchpad like the one on the rear of the PS Vita.
The lit up portion is a mystery as well, but as many must have guessed by now, it seems like a PS Move kind of a thing. How gamers will be able to implement it as a motion-based controller without holding it in an utterly uncomfortable fashion is something we haven’t quite been able to figure out. The Start and Select buttons seem absent from the face of the machine, but a small button can be spotted right next to the apparent touchpad. This is being said to be a Share key which would let gamers instantly capture and upload videos to the Internet. If true, have the Start and Select buttons migrated to the back of the device?
Moving on, closer observations reveal that compared to DualShock 3, this new device features a tightly-bound D-pad, whereas its face buttons on the right remain virtually the same. The new analog sticks are also a departure from its predecessor, in terms of structure and placement. Lastly, at the center, one can spot a grill of sorts, which can either be a Wii Remote-like speaker or a Kinect-like microphone.
All these are pure speculations, and no confirmation of any form can be expected until Sony decides to go official. We have our doubts about the PS Move integration, and think it may not be infused into the final product, but will be sold separately, like right now. But we’ll be happy if proved wrong. Also, one more thing to be noted is that this picture is that of an early prototype, so the device we’ll see when Sony unveils the console for the first time may be completely different.
The company’s February 20 show is being expected to hold answers to a number of questions that are making the rounds currently. We’ll have full coverage of the event right here on our website. Make sure to head back here for details.