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Homebrew PlayStation DualSense controller adapter for PC can be built for just $20 with a Raspberry Pi Pico — wireless dongle delivers adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to gamers
A PC gaming enthusiast and tinkerer has shared a video demo of the new DS5Dongle. As its name suggests, this is a Windows PC dongle for users of the Sony DualSense controller. Its raison d'être is that it allows users of Sony’s well-regarded controller to enjoy wireless connectivity without the lack of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback that this connectivity choice on Windows PCs previously entailed. We would also give bonus points for the low cost (<$20) and purported low latency of this generously MIT-licensed dongle design.
The brains behind this project are provided by a developer known as awalol on GitHub, linked above. However, the video and Reddit announcement from SlaveKnightSoman neatly encapsulate the experience of using a DS5Dongle. The Redditor explains that they were attracted to this GitHub project as they had “spent way too much time trying to get the ‘PS5 Experience’ on PC without being tethered by a 3-meter cable.”
There are some technical reasons behind the reduced DualSense features on Windows PCs using wireless connectivity. Windows Bluetooth can’t handle the full non-standard use of Bluetooth bandwidth that Sony leverages to make its controllers work so well on the PS5. In contrast, the full gamut of controller features is available if Windows users use a wired version.
This is where the new DS5Dongle comes in, and it is also succinctly described as a “Pico2W DualSense 5 Bridge” by the developer. In brief, the dongle pairs with the DualSense over Bluetooth, receives the full gamut of haptic, trigger, audio, and other controller data, then exposes itself to its Windows host as a wired DualSense, and neither side is the wiser.
As what might be described as a ‘handshake spoof’ rather than some kind of emulation or translation layer, the latency should stay low. The experience of Redditor SlaveKnightSoman goes a long way to confirming that important factor, and they assert that “I didn't feel any difference to wired. But I only play single player games.” See the Reddit embedded Days Gone gaming footage to help judge for yourself.
DS5Dongle plans, details, and other useful resources are available via GitHub, so you can make your own. SlaveKnightSoman says they built one for under $20, including the cost of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W, central to the dongle’s functionality. That could be worth it if you feel that the DualSense is one of the best controllers out there.
Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.
What I'm seeing here is a Pico 2W connected by wire to a Windows PC, that is wirelessly connected to the PlayStation controller. No 3D printing required unless you want a little case for the Pico 2W and want to print instead of buy one.
Wow, I seriously had no idea it didn't support those things over Bluetooth. It seems absurd so I wouldn't even have considered that being a limitation. Especially when the same chip on your computer handles 1600mbit wifi without a sweat.
I keep waiting for a ds5 to go on sale to get one for PC gaming but now I've gotta consider the extra cost on-top because I don't want wired
Wow, I seriously had no idea it didn't support those things over Bluetooth. It seems absurd so I wouldn't even have considered that being a limitation. Especially when the same chip on your computer handles 1600mbit wifi without a sweat.
I keep waiting for a ds5 to go on sale to get one for PC gaming but now I've gotta consider the extra cost on-top because I don't want wired
The ps5 controller does use Bluetooth, but utilises the less commonly used capability for multiple audio channels simultaneously alongside the more traditional controller inputs. Some of the audio channels have signals encoded into the audio stream to control the haptics and controller feedback.
The issue is that most Bluetooth driver implementations lazily have not implemented the full Bluetooth stack including support for these multiple streams, Windows, Android/Shield and probably iOS included.
This project does though.
