14 DAY TRIAL // A new, slightly different DualShock 4 might be heading our way, as pointed to by new, recently published Federal Communications Commission certification.
Following the reports pertaining to new PlayStation 4 models being worked on, the revised controller has now stepped into the limelight. According to the documentation accompanying the certification report, the new Dualshock 4 will have the same code as the old ones, CUH-ZCT1U, with the modified FCC ID of AK8CUHZCT1F1, from AK8CUHZCT1.
Using the same model code is not something unheard of, as even Sony has done it before with the previous generation controller, the DualShock 3, which held on to the same model code (CECH-ZC2x, with the only difference being for the color variations) for its entire life, in spite of the fact that it underwent several revisions.
The changes in the data provided to the FCC indicate that the upcoming controller will have a different power supply, with its voltage reduced from 3.7V to 3.65V. Unfortunately, although the change might be indicative of a change in the battery, it doesn’t reveal what would be the most interesting piece of information, whether the actual capacity of the battery will be enlarged.
Moving on, we can see that the antenna type has also changed from a PWB one to an IFA antenna, which also matches the new antenna introduced in the revised model of the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, which is indicative of a definitive change in the controller’s internal structure.
As the FCC only certifies radio connectivity, there might also be some slight variations in the controller’s design. Be that as it may, Sony is taking an aggressive stance on pushing its console, and we’ll most likely hear more about the full extent of the incoming changes to the DualShock 4 controller during Sony’s press conference at this year’s edition of the E3 convention, taking place next week in Los Angeles.
A large number of PS4 owners have complained that the rubber on the analog sticks starts peeling off with heavy use, and perhaps Sony intends to address the issue, in addition to providing some color variation.
The issue on everyone’s mind is no doubt how long will it take Sony to improve the battery life on the DualShock 4 controller, which right now is its main weakness, especially when compared to the DualShock 3’s output, with many users reporting killing the DS4 controller in a single play session.