If you wanted to use a DualShock 4 controller on your Windows PC in the past, you had to rely on a Bluetooth adapter or dongle and third-party software like DS4Windows or Joy2Key. For the most part, that setup worked, filling the gap Sony left by not providing official Windows drivers. Fast forward to three months ago, and Sony finally announced a wireless USB adapter designed to bring native DualShock 4 support to the PC.
But does it deliver on that promise?
Update: I previously mentioned I would revisit this review once either Steam added native DualShock 4 support or Sony released an official driver. Steam support has since launched, though it’s still inconsistent. Meanwhile, Sony still hasn’t released its own driver. However, the team behind DS4Windows has updated the software to support the official adapter, meaning it now works in nearly every game—if you have DS4Windows installed.
Click here to download the latest version of DS4Windows.
Name: Sony DualShock 4 USB Wireless PC Adapter
Platform(s): PC / Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10
Manufacturer: Sony Entertainment
Release Date: N/A
Price: $24.99
For a device meant to finally solve the DualShock 4 compatibility issues on PC, Sony’s adapter was released with very little fanfare. No announcements, no marketing push, not even a mention on the PlayStation Blog. I wouldn’t have known it existed if I hadn’t spotted it during a random visit to my local GameStop, hidden behind other accessories. It was sheer luck that I found it.
Physically, the adapter is pretty unassuming. At first glance, you might mistake it for a USB flash drive. It features a simple black PlayStation logo, and there are no buttons or instructions visible. Thankfully, pairing it is straightforward. When plugged into a USB port, pressing the adapter’s end produces a satisfying click, causing the LED to blink. You can then pair it with your DualShock 4 by holding the Share and Home buttons together.
Pairing is quick and reliable, and I was impressed by the build quality. It feels sturdier than the Xbox One wireless adapter, which has its share of design flaws (read about that here).
The Good
The Sony DualShock 4 USB Wireless PC Adapter performs flawlessly when used for PS4 Remote Play or PlayStation Now on PC. In those environments, it truly shines. If your main goal is to play PS4 games streamed to your PC, then this adapter is worth every penny.
The Ugly
Unfortunately, things fall apart when it comes to using the adapter for standard PC games. Out of the 11 games I tested, only two showed any meaningful functionality, and only one worked without issues.
- Steam Big Picture – Fully functional. Navigation and game launching worked fine.
- Street Fighter V – Did not work
- Shovel Knight – Did not work
- Dark Souls II – Did not work
- Dark Souls III – Did not work
- BioShock Remastered – Did not work
- Rocket League – Did not work
- Redout – Did not work
- 20XX – Partially worked. Movement and basic inputs registered, but pressing more than two buttons at once failed.
- Shadow Warrior 2 – Worked perfectly
- Shadow Warrior – Did not work
- DOOM 2016 – Did not work
In almost every case, games failed to recognize the controller. Even in 20XX, where input was partially functional, multi-button commands weren’t responsive enough for proper gameplay. Surprisingly, Shadow Warrior 2 worked without issue despite not listing DualShock 4 support. Most of this boils down to a lack of native support in both Steam and individual games. Until that changes, this adapter is useless for traditional PC gaming.
The Saving Grace
There is hope on the horizon. Valve announced during Steam Dev Days that full DualShock 4 support is coming to Steam (read more here). While there’s no release date yet, it’s reassuring to know that broader compatibility is planned. Once implemented, this adapter should see a major boost in usefulness for PC gaming.
The Update
Though not official, DS4Windows version 1.4.52 (download here) now supports Sony’s adapter. After testing, I can confirm that the adapter now functions correctly across most games—with DS4Windows installed. While this support didn’t come from Sony directly, credit is due to the DS4Windows team for making the hardware viable.
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DualShock 4 USB Wireless PC Adaptor
Overall
When Sony announced the adaptor, the first thought in my head was that we’re finally getting some native support. Sadly, that wasn’t the case in this instance at all. While being a great idea it just wasn’t implemented well – unless you count using it exclusively for the PS4 Remote Play and using it for PS Now service. Short of that, I can’t recommend anyone picking up this, especially if they were looking forward to using this over DS4Window or Joy2Key.
Update: While it’s still not officially support via Sony, at least the update of DS4Windows gives Windows users the ability to use their DualShock 4 USB Wireless adaptor in any game they seem fit. This effectively changes the adaptors worth, as long as you’re willing to use a 3rd party software to get it where it needs to be.
Pros:
- Works great for PS Now and PS4 Remote Play
- Well built and I really liked how the unit pairs
Cons:
- Sadly this doesn’t really support many PC games, rendering it useless – Unless you use DS4Windows 1.4.52 or higher.
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Fares a bit better with DS4Windows
