14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has made another naming move and announced that the add-on for the Move that will be used with the off-hand will now be called the Navigation Controller. Initially, Sony referred to the same hardware as a sub controller and said that it would be used in some Move-based gaming experiences in order to provide additional control. The shift under discussion was made on the official Sony hardware site.
The Navigation Controller has one analogue stick that can be used for movement or for camera control, a directional pad, two normal shoulder buttons and two programmable buttons, X and O. There is also a familiar PS control button that will start the XMB of the PlayStation 3. The idea is that those video-gaming experiences that are too complex to be controlled completely with the main Move wand will look to the Navigation Controller in order to get additional functionality.
It's interesting to note that Sony also says on the official site that the “DualShock 3 wireless controller can be used in place of the navigation controller for all games that are compatible with the navigation controller,” suggesting that the newly renamed piece of hardware will be sold separately from the Move and will not be required for most gaming experiences. Sony has already said that it plans to offer the Move as part of a bundle with launch titles for less than 100 dollars.
The Sony Move is set to be released to the public this fall, after a delay from the original spring date. The new motion-tracking hardware for the PlayStation 3 will compete directly with Project Natal from Microsoft for the Xbox 360. Both companies are hoping that adding motion tracking to their console will allow them to better compete with the Nintendo Wii, the sales leader of the current generation. More details on the two peripherals and the games designed for both of them will likely be offered at E3.