Author: Trafficblast

In terms of sheer performance and capabilities, the best gaming mice will always lead the pack. But, when you’re trying to get some work done at your office, a co-working space, or a cafe, you might not want all the extra flair (like hyper RGB lighting effects) those gaming mice have. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent mice, gaming and non-gaming alike, that can get the job done.

We’ve picked out an assortment of mice that are perfect for general use, whether it’s basic browsing or serious work. There are many different styles to suit the needs of just about any user. We’ve got ergonomic and ambidextrous mice as well as a trackball and highly portable mice. Whatever your needs, you’ll find a great mouse among this bunch.

We’ve also ensured all of our picks have one of the best modern conveniences: wireless connectivity. Some use Bluetooth while others use USB receivers, and some can still connect over a wired USB connection, but all of them will let you use them without having a wire getting in the way.

TL;DR – These are the best mice:

• Logitech MX Master 3
• Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse
• Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed
• Logitech G604 Lightspeed
• Logitech MX Vertical
• SteelSeries Rival 650
• Microsoft Arc Mouse
• Logitech MX Ergo
• Logitech MX Anywhere 2S

1. Logitech MX Master 3

Best All-Around Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Master-31586213609770.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Master-31586213609770_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8bb2ede4b0c8e1b49fa861%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs1f%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Logitech%20MX%20Master%203%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Dell%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Atrue%7D”]

• See it on Logitech
• See it on Newegg
• See it on Best Buy

Logitech has the market for professional mice cornered, the MX Master 3 is its premier mouse. It’s designed with ergonomics in mind, so your hand will stay comfortable over a long day of work. But, comfort is only one aspect, as it’s also highly versatile.

The MX Master 3 features Logitech Darkfield Tracking to make it usable on most surfaces, so no worrying about it misbehaving on metal or glass. And, with both a USB receiver and Bluetooth, it can connect to a broad range of devices from Windows and Mac computers to iPads and Linux-powered machines. It also supports Flow, letting you seamlessly use this mouse with three devices at the same time. You’ll get up to 70 hours of runtime from the MX Master 3’s built-in battery, and if you’re ever low, you can get three hours of power back with just one minute of charging. Plus, you won’t find many scroll wheels as fancy as the MX Master 3’s MagSpeed Electromagnetic wheel, and there’s even a thumb wheel for horizontal scrolling.

2. Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse

Best Budget Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2FMicrosoftBluetooth-Mouse1586374668191.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2FMicrosoftBluetooth-Mouse1586374668191_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8e2811e4b0de70ed6499e3%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs7r%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Microsoft%20Bluetooth%20Mouse%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Google%20Shopping%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Newegg
• See it on Best Buy
• See it on Microsoft

If you don’t need a mouse all the time, it might not be as appealing to buy a serious pointer that’s crammed full of features. The Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse offers a simple and affordable option that should be more than enough mouse for most. It has a simple, ambidextrous design, and runs on a single AA battery.

As the name suggests, this mouse connects over Bluetooth and uses the Low Energy mode which helps it offer up to 12 months of battery life, so it should have a bit of charge ready whenever you might need it. One nice thing to see on a budget mouse is the inclusion of a clickable scroll wheel, making web browsing that little bit quicker.

3. Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed

Best Multipurpose Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2FRazerBasilisk-X-HyperSpeed1586374905253.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2FRazerBasilisk-X-HyperSpeed1586374905253_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8e28fee4b0c8e1b49fa8e1%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs84%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Razer%20Basilisk%20X%20HyperSpeed%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Google%20Shopping%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Razer
• See it on Newegg
• See it on Best Buy

If you’re familiar with Razer, you might be a bit worried that its mice don’t have a home outside of gaming, but the Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed is wonderfully understated and can slip under that radar thanks to its omission of RGB lighting.

What you get from the Basilisk X HyperSpeed is a highly accurate mouse that can run for ages on a single AA battery. It offers superb tracking with a USB receiver, but it also supports Bluetooth connectivity. That makes it a handy 2-in-1 that you can use for gaming at home with the dongle and take to work using its Bluetooth connection. It’s all the more impressive that this mouse comes in at under $60.

4. Logitech G604 Lightspeed

Best Mouse for Macros

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechG604-Lightspeed1586213666906.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechG604-Lightspeed1586213666906_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8bb326e4b0c8e1b49fa862%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs1g%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Logitech%20G604%20Lightspeed%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Dell%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Logitech
• See it on Newegg
• See it on Walmart
• See it on Best Buy

The Logitech G604 is another one of those mice that shouldn’t be mistaken as only being at home in a gaming environment. The G604 has a comfortable design and a scroll wheel that mimics that of the MX Master 3 by having both a free-spinning and a ratchet mode. You also get the dual connectivity from a USB receiver and Bluetooth.

The Logitech G604 can run on a single AA battery for up to 5.5 months using Bluetooth or for 240 hours using the faster wireless connection. What helps the Logitech G604 shine outside of gaming is also what helps it shine in games: all the buttons. The G604 features 15 buttons in total, with six next to the thumb and an extra two near the left button. Paired with Logitech’s software, you can set up a whole host of macros to convince coworkers that you’re a spreadsheet wizard.

5. Logitech MX Vertical

Best Ergonomic Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Vertical1586213713385.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Vertical1586213713385_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8bb354e4b0de70ed649946%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs1h%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Logitech%20MX%20Vertical%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Dell%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Logitech
• See it on Newegg
• See it on Walmart
• See it on Best Buy

If you’ve got your hand basically glued to your mouse all day, you may have run into a bit of pain in your arm. That can come from having your arm rotated inward for so long, and it can lead to RSI after some time. That’s something an ergonomic mouse aims to alleviate, and the Logitech MX Vertical is a compelling example of this.

At first glance, it might not even look like a mouse. It has the profile of a sailboat because of its high peak, but that gives you a grip that will keep your arm from twisting far inward. Beyond that comfortable grip, the mouse supports multiple connection modes over its USB receiver, Bluetooth, or a wired connection. It also supports Flow for use between multiple devices at once. If you forget to keep the four-month battery charged, you can get an extra three hours of power in just a minute of charging.

6. SteelSeries Rival 650

Best Gaming Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2019%2F08%2F29%2FSteelSeriesRival-6501567105525008.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2019%2F08%2F29%2FSteelSeriesRival-6501567105525008_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225d6821f8e4b068740d1b18e2%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbkl8%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22SteelSeries%20Rival%20650%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Walmart%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Newegg
• See it on Walmart
• See it on Best Buy
• See it on SteelSeries
  

The best gaming mouse is actually the SteelSeries Rival 600 (read our review), but the Rival 650 (read our review) is its wireless twin, as it’s virtually identical in every other respect. You’ll get SteelSeries’ incredibly accurate TrueMove3+ sensor that combines a precise optical sensor with a depth sensor to fine-tune when the mouse detects lift off from a surface.

The Rival 650 offers both a wired and wireless connection, letting you continue to use it when the 24-hour battery is drained. You can customize the lighting as you like, and program the three thumb buttons for extra functionality.

7. Microsoft Arc Mouse

Best Portable Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2FMicrosoftArc-Mouse1586374566671.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2FMicrosoftArc-Mouse1586374566671_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8e27ace4b0de70ed6499e2%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs7q%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Microsoft%20Arc%20Mouse%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Google%20Shopping%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Newegg
• See it on Walmart
• See it on Best Buy
• See it on Microsoft

If portability is one of your major concerns, a big, lumpy mouse might not be the best option for you. Microsoft has the answer with its Arc Mouse. The design follows from the earlier Arc Touch mouse, with a bendable body that forms a curve when in use and lies flat when powered down. In fact, it’s bending it flat that turns the mouse off.

The Microsoft Arc Mouse runs for up to 6 months on two AAA batteries and connects exclusively using Bluetooth. You won’t have to worry about losing or forgetting any USB receiver dongle. You won’t find any true buttons on the top of this mouse, as it instead registers touches for both left and rick click as well as vertical and horizontal scrolling. While that may take some time to get used to, that lack of moving parts is less to worry about if you throw this mouse into your backpack. Of course, because it folds flat, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a pocket to slide the Arc Mouse safely inside.

8. Logitech MX Ergo

Best Trackball Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Ergo1586213756821.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Ergo1586213756821_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8bb380e4b0c8e1b49fa863%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs1i%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Logitech%20MX%20Ergo%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Dell%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Logitech
• See it on Newegg
• See it on Walmart
• See it on Best Buy

When desk space is tight, a trackball mouse can be a winning ally, and the Logitech MX Ergo has what it takes. This mouse features a large trackball paired with a button for enabling precision mode, so you can move your cursor right where you need it. It offers a total of eight buttons, including a tiltable scroll wheel.

If you’re wondering where the Ergo in the name comes from, it has to do with a feature in the stand. This mouse has an adjustable tilt, which can let you change the angle you hold it at. The MX Ergo offers up to four months of battery life and can get a full day of power in one minute of charging. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity and can sync across multiple devices using Flow.

9. Logitech MX Anywhere 2S

Best Small Mouse

[poilib element=”commerceCta” json=”%7B%22image%22%3A%7B%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Anywhere-2s1586213795507.jpg%22%2C%22styleUrl%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Fassets1.ignimgs.com%2F2020%2F04%2F06%2FLogitechMX-Anywhere-2s1586213795507_%7Bsize%7D.jpg%22%2C%22id%22%3A%225e8bb3a6e4b0c8e1b49fa864%22%7D%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Fr.zdbb.net%2Fu%2Fbs1j%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Logitech%20MX%20Anywhere%202s%22%2C%22store%22%3A%22Dell%22%2C%22additionalInfo%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ourPick%22%3Afalse%7D”]

• See it on Logitech
• See it on Newegg
• See it on Walmart
• See it on Best Buy

So, you want a bunch of the great features you’re hearing about but in a smaller mouse? Enter the MX Anywhere 2S, a mouse compact enough to fit in smaller hands but capable enough to keep up with the bigger competitors.

The MX Anywhere 2S supports Logitech’s Flow software for syncing across multiple devices at once, and it can pair using the USB wireless receiver or Bluetooth. You’ll get up to 40 days of battery life from the mouse and can recharge it for up to a full day’s worth of power in just three minutes. While the mouse is small enough to go just about anywhere, it also has Logitech’s Darkfield sensor for accurate tracking on just about any surface, so you can take it and use it anywhere.

[widget path=”ign/modules/recirc” parameters=”title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=4&columnCount=4&theme=article”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark

Misfits is currently streaming on Hulu.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Imagine The Breakfast Club with superpowers. That’s basically the premise of Misfits, a British sci-fi dramedy that ran for five seasons (with only a total of 37 episodes) from 2009 to 2013 on British TV channel E4. The series follows a group of young offenders (the titular misfits) performing community service who gain supernatural powers during a freak electrical storm. If you binged the first seasons of Amazon’s The Boys, Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, or DC Universe’s Doom Patrol, and need something to scratch the itch of dysfunctional superpowered people while waiting for those shows’ second seasons, Misfits will fill that hole in your heart.

Binge It! Why Fans of Friends and The Office Should Watch Cheers

Unlike other superheroes who are defined by their powers, everyone in the Misfits’ world are given powers based on their personalities. It’s kind of like The Flash in that way… if The Flash were made on HBO and everyone said the first thing on their mind. Curtis Donovan (Nathan Stewart-Jarret), an Olympics-bound athlete dealing with the guilt of his crime, gets the ability to turn back time. Kelly Bailey (Lauren Socha), a “chav” (read: white trash) who is constantly judged and underestimated by others, can now read people’s minds. Simon Bellamy (Iwan Rheon), the quiet weirdo, can turn invisible. Nathan Young (Robert Sheehan), the most obnoxious one of them all, spends many of the episodes figuring out what his ability may be. Yet beyond the usual list of powers, someone like Alisha Daniels (Antonia Thomas), a promiscuous party girl, gains the ability to drive people into a lust-driven craze just by touch.

Taking a moment to focus on just the caliber of casting on Misfits, you can basically thank this show for some of the best British actors going on to some truly amazing projects. Of course, you have Iwan Rheon who moved on to play the awful Ramsey Bolton on Game of Thrones and starred in the short-lived Inhumans as Maximus. Robert Sheehan would later revisit this sort of smarmy, existentially-ruined man in The Umbrella Academy as Klaus/Number Four. Later seasons of Misfits feature the likes of Ruth Negga and Joe Gilgun, who both ended up on AMC’s Preacher. Jessica Brown Findlay started off as a conservative cult leader on this show and ended up upstairs on Downton Abbey. And the list goes on and on.

The series isn’t shy to explore every possible repercussion/response to these powers either. It’s refreshing to see a series answer those out-there “what if” questions the audience may have about these powers. Most times the situations are hilarious, such as Kelly hearing her dog admit that he just groomed himself before she let him lick her on her lips. Sometimes they answer the fundamental question of someone’s perversion, like if they could turn invisible as Simon watches Kelly and Alisha change. But the show’s strength lies in the ability to “go there,” even if it’s not the easiest thing to watch sometimes, especially with an ability as precarious as Alisha’s where lust can turn violent instantly. It’s a tricky line to walk, but Misfits does so with tact and wit, and without sacrificing its voice.

Overall, Misfits is a funny, dark, and always entertaining romp. The characters are unforgettable and some plotlines are truly too insane to believe without seeing them. These powers are not blessings and Misfits fully explores that reality for these characters, no holds barred. While never truly forced or inspired to become “heroes” right off the bat, the stories these misfits follow have them deal with more nefarious things like getting away with murder, time travel, superpower black markets, zombies, and Satanism. You know, the other fun things you deal with when you have powers.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-best-sci-fi-movies-on-netflix&captions=true”]

More From Binge It!…

• Outlander Is the Hottest Time-Travel Show Ever Made
• The Magicians Is a Modern Heartfelt Fantasy for Adult Nerds
• Secret Wars Is Marvel’s Answer to Dune and Game of Thrones
• Cowboy Bebop’s Still Worth the Trip Even After 20 Years
• Why Fans of Friends and The Office Should Watch Cheers

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Binge It! is IGN’s recommendation series. Movies, TV shows, books, comics, music… if you can binge it, we’re here to talk about it. In each installment of Binge It!, we’ll discuss a piece of content we’re passionate about — and why you should check it out.

As you play the early hours of Final Fantasy VII Remake, you’ll likely start to rack up a decent stock of Moogle Medals as you explore the streets and slums of Midgar. There are a whole lot of items that come your way in Final Fantasy VII, many of which are handy in a battle for curing status effects or damaging enemies–but you’ll spend a lot of time carrying Moogle Medals around without having any idea of what they do.

The thing is, Moogle Medals are good and you want to collect as many as you can. Eventually, you’ll be able to use Moogle Medals at a special vendor to buy some cool stuff. Here’s everything you need to know about this weird currency.

How To Get Moogle Medals

You’ll find Moogle Medals in a variety of places, but the vast majority of them will come from Shinra Crates. These are the boxes with Shinra logos on them that you can smash with your sword or other weapons. You’ll also occasionally find them in treasure chests, usually hidden around corners and off the beaten path.

You can also get them in Chapter 8 upon your visit to Sector 5. Head to the Kids’ Hideout, where you can participate in the Whack-A-Box mini-game. Every time you run a round of Whack-A-Box, you get a Moogle Medal, regardless of your performance.

Where To Use Moogle Medals

Moogle Medals will sit in your inventory for a good long while through the beginning of the game. Once you hit Chapter 8, however, you’ll finally find someone willing to take them off your hands. You’ll find a store called the Moogle Emporium located in the Kids’ Hideout area, which you’ll discover as you work through the chapter’s story and sidequests.

What Are Moogle Medals Good For?

You’ll get a lot of weapons and items from standard shops, but they’ll all generally have the same inventory, which will update periodically as you advance through the story. That’s not the case with the Moogle Emporium, which contains a number of unique items you can only obtain with Moogle Medals. The Moogle Emporium includes a few key items you’ll purchase to help you complete sidequests, as well as some unique weapons and accessories you can only get from the shop.

The Moogle Emporium also includes four separate books, one for each character, that will give your squad a quick infusion of Skill Points to upgrade their weapons. And if you don’t need any of that stuff, you can get some items like ethers and elixirs for relatively cheap, as compared to what you’ll spend in item shops.

Sony has revealed the PlayStation 5’s controller, officially called the DualSense, and fans around the world now know how they will be playing a brand new generation of games.

While we still don’t know when the DualSense will be in our hot little hands, we do know a bunch about PlayStation’s hardware history. From the original PlayStation controller with no analog sticks to the never-released “Boomerang” controller, Sony’s iterated on its designs in successful – and not so successful – ways. In the slideshow and article below, we take a deeper dive into the evolution of the PlayStation controller, including the brand-new DualSense.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-evolution-of-the-playstation-controller&captions=true”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

PlayStation Controller

The PlayStation controller was released alongside the original PlayStation in 1994 and was inspired by the controller of the Super Nintendo. Teiyu Goto, designer of the original PlayStation controller, respected the success of Nintendo’s latest console and didn’t want this new controller to be too much of a “radical departure.”

“The Super NES was a huge hit at the time, and naturally we wanted SNES gamers to upgrade to our system,” Goto said. “That’s why the management department didn’t want the controller to be a radical departure — they said it had to be a standard type of design, or gamers wouldn’t accept it.”

Even though Sony wanted to invoke the SNES controller, it did innovate in some areas, like the second pair of shoulder buttons that would help navigate 3D worlds. Since players had to shift their hands from the L1+R1 buttons to the L2+R2 buttons, Sony also decided to add the grip handles to the controller to make for a smoother transition.

The PlayStation controller’s buttons were supposed to represent what actions they stood for. According to Goto, the blue cross (or X?) and the red circle stood for “yes” and “no”, the triangle was for point of view, and square was similar to a piece of paper that would let players know that button was for menus.

This original PlayStation controller would return in the PlayStation Classic console.

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia/Evan-Amos)

PlayStation Dual Analog Controller

PlayStation’s Dual Analog controller was a predecessor to the DualShock and introduced the twin analog sticks for the first time.

It was first released in Japan in 1997 alongside Tobal 2 and Bushido Blade and included a rumble feature that would be initially taken out of the North American and European versions.

“We evaluated all the features and decided, for manufacturing reasons, that what was most important to gamers was the analog feature,” A Sony spokesperson said in regards to its removal, which would not matter much as the DualShock would add it back and replace this controller the following year.

The Dual Analog controller’s twin sticks also had recessed grooves, while the DualShock would adopt textured rubber grips with a more outward-facing stick.

Lastly, the Dual Analog controller had a “Flightstick Mode” that would work with such games as MechWarrior 2, Ace Combat 2, and Colony Wars and was an alternative to the FlightStick Analog Joystick.

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia/Bollinger)

DualShock

The DualShock replaced PlayStation’s Dual Analog controller in 1997 in Japan and in North America and elsewhere in 1998 and beyond.

The DualShock sported a rumble feature, and its name was derived from the two vibration motors that were housed inside the handles of the controller. In 1999, Ape Escape was the first game that required the use of the DualShock.

The PlayStation 2 would be released in 2000, and the original DualShock would be compatible with most games except for those that needed the DualShock 2’s analog buttons.

(Image courtesy of Amazon)

DualShock 2

The DualShock 2 was released alongside the PlayStation 2 in 2000 and was similar to the original DualShock bar a few cosmetic changes, a more square connector, and analog buttons that were pressure sensitive.

Those who didn’t love the standard black color of the DualShock 2 could also purchase various other colors like satin silver, ceramic white, slate grey, ocean blue, and more.

The DualShock 2 could be used on the original PlayStation and would work on the PlayStation 3 with third-party accessories, although certain games that used Sixaxis functionality would not always work with it properly.

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia/Evan-Amos)

Honorable Mention: The Boomerang

While the PlayStation 3 “Boomerang” controller was never released, it took the world by storm with its radical design that looks like…well…a boomerang.

It was shown at E3 2005 during the reveal of the PlayStation 3, but curiously, wasn’t highlighted or focused on during the main presentation. It was simply sitting in display cases on the show floor.

The Sixaxis would go on to replace this wild design, but the Legend of the Boomerang would live on for many more years to come.

Sony did eventually comment on the controller, saying it was a design mock-up that it wanted to have ready for the PS3’s reveal. Following its first showing, the design team took to heart the feedback and decided to go with the much more familiar DualShock-style of controller.

Sixaxis

The Sixaxis was included with the PlayStation 3 when it launched in 2006 . It was Sony’s first official wireless controller, and was capable of detecting motion with “six degrees of freedom,” yet it did not have a rumble feature.

Games such as Warhawk and Lair were designed around the Sixaxis, which was a much lighter controller due to the lack of rumble.

The DualShock 3 was set to be released with the PlayStation 3, but a lawsuit in 2004 by Immersion caused Sony to remove the rumble capabilities while it was in the appeal process and go with this version for a short while.

Immersion sued both Sony and Microsoft for patent infringement regarding the rumble functionality. Microsoft ended up settling, but Sony decided to continue the fight in court. Sony ended up losing and the verdict would have Sony pay $90.7 million to Immersion and halt sales of the controllers in question. Sony immediately appealed, which meant it could continue to sell the controllers during the process, but lost. In 2007, Sony and Immersion agreed to end litigation and would work together to “explore the inclusion of Immersion technology in PlayStation format products.”

This would finally allow Sony to release the DualShock 3 as was originally intended in 2007.

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia/Evan-Amos)

DualShock 3

In 2007, a year after the launch of the PlayStation 3 and the Sixaxis controller, Sony announced the DualShock 3 at the Tokyo Game Show. It would end up replacing the Sixaxis and would finally bring back the much-requested haptic feedback.

Besides that, the DualShock 3 was not much different than the Sixaxis, even though it did weigh about 40% more because of the new vibration motors.

The Sixaxis would be discontinued in 2008, making the DualShock 3 the standard controller for the PlayStation 3.

PlayStation Move

The PlayStation Move controllers were originally released in 2009 for use with the PlayStation 3 and were available during the motion renaissance that also featured the Nintendo Wii Remote and Microsoft Kinect.

The PlayStation Move controller (or wand) had inertial sensors that could detect motion and a big orb the top that could change colors and was used for tracking by the PlayStation Eye or PlayStation Camera.

In our review of the PlayStation Move, we said it had “the potential to be the best motion control system on the current crop of consoles; but unfortunately, the games offered at the moment just don’t do the technology justice.”

Following its launch, Move support was included in such big titles as Killzone 3, Dead Space: Extraction, Gran Turismo 5, and more. Many of these utilized various other accessories like the Navigation controller that would add another analog stick, the PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter that was a gun controller with a slot for the Move, and the PlayStation Move Racing Wheel.

The PlayStation Move Wand would continue to work with the PlayStation 4, and it came back as a controller option for PlayStation VR.

DualShock 4

The DualShock 4 was released alongside the PlayStation 4 in 2013 and featured not only a capacitive front touchpad and motion detection but also a light bar on the top of the controller that could illuminate in many different colors.

The light bar, while it would flash red and blue when the cops were chasing you in GTA V or would mimic Alien Isolation’s motion tracker, was also designed with PlayStation VR in mind. This caused issues before launch of PlayStation’s VR headset because no one really understood why this light bar was needed and Sony wasn’t willing to reveal all its secrets quite yet.

“The tracking light… it was our department that said we need that on,” said SCEE senior designer Jed Ashforth. “It was for tracking for VR, and when all these things were coming out six months ago and everyone was going ‘it’s reflecting in my TV,’ we were going ‘oh no’ because we couldn’t tell anyone what it was for.”

The START and SELECT buttons seen in all previous PlayStation controllers were replaced by the OPTIONS and SHARE buttons, respectively. The SHARE button allows players to quickly upload screenshots, videos, and more.

The twin joysticks were adjusted and, like the Dual Analog controller, have recessed grooves. The L2 and R2 buttons were more curved and outward-facing than the Dualshock 3’s style.

Around the time the PlayStation 4 Pro was launched in 2016, Sony released an upgraded version of the DualShock 4 that allowed for play while connected to a USB cable (THANK you!) and the ability to see the light bar on the top of the touchpad.

DualSense

The PlayStation 5 controller has been revealed, and its called the DualSense. It is said to “bring a sense of touch to PS5 gameplay,” and will keep many of the DualShock 4 features while adding new functionality and a refined design.

The DualSense will have much more advanced haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for the L2 and R2 buttons.

The haptic feedback will add “a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud.” The Adaptive triggers, meanwhile, will help you “feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow.”

Additionally, the SHARE button from the DualShock 4 will be replaced by the CREATE button, although Sony isn’t ready to fully detail what this change will mean.

The DualSense also features a two-toned design,  a departure from previous controllers. The light bar will also now be found on either side of the touchpad.

[poilib element=”poll” parameters=”id=4341faa3-05b7-465d-b3a9-e8f3db11da47″]

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/07/ps5s-controller-the-dualsense-revealed”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

If you’re in the mood to play some retro games, there are two great PC games bundles on sale celebrating Sega’s heyday. The Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics Bundle includes a whopping 59 games for only $9, while the Dreamcast Collection features a much smaller compilation of six games for just $4.49 at Fanatical. If you purchase them at Fanatical, you’ll receive codes that can be redeemed on Steam. The sale runs until tomorrow, April 9 at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET.

The Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics Bundle is normally $30, and the PC version features several more games than console versions, including Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Ecco the Dolphin, and Eternal Champions.

The Dreamcast Collection is more focused with only six games. It also regularly sells for $30, so it’s 85% off right now. It comes with the following games:

The bundles are also on sale directly through Steam, but they are a bit pricier. The Sega Genesis Classics Bundle is $12.30 on Steam, and the Dreamcast Collection is $11.11, though it does come with one extra game, Sonic Adventure 2.

The Sega Genesis Collection is currently discounted to $12 on the Nintendo Eshop for the Switch’s Spring Sale. Though it may sound weird to say, classic Sega games feel right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The Switch isn’t the only platform holding a spring sale right now; you can also shop for hundreds of game deals at the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Epic Games Store.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s Warzone mode has kicked off a new season today, introducing a new operators, a tweaked game mode, plenty of cosmetics and, most importantly, a dog.

The Warzone update is now available on all platforms and allows players to form squads of four instead of the initial trio approach. This gives the game a full set of varied squad sizes up to four, following on from the solo queue update which landed in mid-March.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/23/call-of-duty-warzone-review”]

As well as the new Quads mode, you can expect new playlists, weapons and blueprints (including silenced and non-silenced gun variants) on the ground in Warzone, as well as vehicle skins so you can kit out your quad bikes and trucks in-game.

Riley the German Shepherd, the resident good boy from Call of Duty: Ghosts will also make an appearance as a unique finishing move in-game, proving his bite is just as bad as his bark.

Outside of Warzone, Season Three introduces a few new maps including a remaster of the original Call of Duty 4’s Backlot map and a few new game modes arriving later in the season, including Gun Game Reloaded and Reinfected Ground War.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/01/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-review”]

The Season Three mascot is none other than Alex, a new operator who you’ll be acquainted with if you’ve played Modern Warfare’s campaign mode. His model features a few post-narrative aesthetic tweaks, but no spoilers here!

Later in the season, two more operators will arrive in the shape of Ronin and Iskra, available through store bundles. If you’re new to the game, Activision has also revealed the Modern Warfare Battle Pass edition, which gives you the full game and 3000 CP, as well as a suite of skins. This means you can unlock the season three battle pass straight away and jump into the action.

You can check out the patch notes over on Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward’s website, which detail all of the new content coming to the game with this bumper update.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.