The historic launch of the PlayStation 5 has led to numerous records being broken by the latest Sony system, and the console’s controller has proven to be equally successful. Following in the footsteps of the PS5, the DualSense controller has had the biggest launch month of any video game controller.
In the same thread detailing the records broken by the launch of the PlayStation 5, the statistic on the DualSense controller was mentioned by NPD Director Mat Piscatella. Beating out every previous iteration of the DualShock and all the Xbox Wireless controllers released thus far, the PlayStation 5’s new controller has taken the throne of “biggest controller launch.” With the NPD results pointing out an 8% increase over last year’s spending on accessories, it seems like the DualSense controller is the item to thank for the noticeable rise in sales.
Piscatella also made it clear that this high sales number for the DualSense controller was not just related to unit sales, but “dollar sales” as well. With the DualSense now standing tall as the best-selling “gamepad in U.S. history” when it comes to launch months, it will be interesting to see how Sony keeps players invested in buying more controllers. With fans already spending their time and money making custom PS5 controllers, Sony may want to invest in releasing some more official designs and color options for the DualSense.
Regardless, the controller’s huge first month is certainly noteworthy, serving as another impressive statistic tied to the latest PlayStation console. The success of the DualSense can be largely attributed to the PS5 itself, as the system’s first month has seen massive sales for Sony inside and outside of the United States — leading to more households around the world possibly wanting an extra controller. With Sony selling massive amounts of PS5s in Japan as well as Spain, the success of the PlayStation 5, and the device that controls it, is truly unprecedented.
The DualSense’s success can also be attributed to the quality of the controllers, as virtually every review for the PlayStation 5 has praised the controller almost as much as the system itself. A major strength of the PS5, the DualSense comes with features like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback that make gaming feel better than ever. With the next-gen controller also boasting a good size, weight, and button layout, seeing it top the NPD charts is certainly understandable.
It seems that the bizarre marketing of the PS5 controller, such as the ASMR DualSense video, has helped its sales — or at the very least not had a negative impact. With the latest generation of gaming having only just begun, the DualSense controller’s success will surely continue beyond this first month.
The PlayStation 5 is available now.
