4Gamers – Hardware Review | PlayStation Access Controller

PlayStation recently gave us the opportunity to test its new Access Controller, which was created specifically to provide a solution for players with physical disabilities who cannot use a regular controller. Since we don’t have a disability, we enlisted the help of Ties Klok, an adaptive gaming expert, who tested the console with Leonie, an experienced gamer with a muscular condition, for this review. The biggest problem Leonie faces while playing is that she can’t always reach all the buttons and her muscular disease also means that she can exert less force on the buttons.

The first thing you notice about the access controller is that the box also has an all-in-one design. The box is designed so that it can also be opened by people with low muscle strength or limited mobility. The box opens easily with additional tabs and all parts are neatly arranged in compartments in the box. Unfortunately, Leonie still needs some help, but this shows that Sony has thought about the big picture. The manual is also clear and the console itself runs very smoothly. You’ll be instantly taken through the configuration of all the buttons, so you can fine-tune the controller to your liking. You can also adjust and adjust the joystick with some attachments.

Leonie still needs some help when using the different accessories, because not all buttons are easy to press equally. In particular, the joystick trigger button is on the back which is also a little heavier, but once set, the joystick is easier to use. On the other hand, larger buttons are very easy to replace and the new ones snap back into place quickly and smoothly using magnets.

When it’s time to play games, the first choice is Rocket League. Leonie is immediately impressed by the additional possibilities she gets while playing thanks to the controller. With the large ball-shaped joystick cap, operating the joystick requires little force and flies over the track. However, it has a bit more difficulty with the convex buttons that come standard on the controller. After a while, they were replaced by other variants, which are flat or hollow.

The first major issue that pops up is the circular shape of the controller. Since some of the buttons are far away from each other, Leonie cannot operate all the buttons. It can operate at most four of the game’s nine buttons, and because the controller is round, it doesn’t matter how you position it. Therefore, it is not possible for people with limited mobility or strength to use all the buttons correctly. This problem is partly solved by assigning additional functions to the buttons. In Rocket League, for example, the dot and crosshair combination can be assigned to a single button. The Toggle Key is also a useful option, so that it stays pressed once the button is pressed.

The Access Controller also has far fewer extra buttons than, say, the Xbox Adaptive Controller or the Hori Flex Controller. You can add about 20 additional buttons to these two controllers, while you’re limited to four with the Access Controller. This appears to have been a conscious choice on Sony’s part. The Access Controller is more of an actual console than a basis for a custom game setup. This will work well for some people with disabilities, but probably will not be enough for a large percentage.

The access controller is a very nice, powerful controller that is basically easy to operate. The biggest plus of the program. It’s very accessible and the customization options within the controller are endless. Good design choices have also been made with the various accessories for the switches and joystick, which are also easy to replace. However, the feeling remains that the access console is not within everyone’s reach. It’s almost impossible to develop a universal console for all the various limitations, but it still seems as if Sony missed an opportunity by using the Access Controller only as a console and not as the basis for a custom game setup. It has now become a very good adapted console that has made gaming on PlayStation more accessible to some people with disabilities. But it hasn’t changed the rules of the game yet.