As of September 2026, Sony has released approximately 25 DualSense controller styles since the launch of the PS5, surpassing the 23 PS5 exclusive games counted under specific statistical criteria. As colorways and special editions continue to increase, these controllers are gradually becoming collectibles.
This comparison uses a rather strict definition of "exclusive": it excludes cross-generation releases, PC ports, and remasters. Therefore, the figure of 23 titles does not represent the total number of games on the PS5 platform, but rather the number of titles limited to this console after applying the aforementioned filters.
There is also a significant difference in development investment between the two product types. AAA game development costs exceed $200 million and take five to seven years; adding new colorways to controllers requires only a few months of R&D and costs much less. As game development costs and cycles continue to increase, selling cosmetic accessories has become a way for manufacturers to generate profit.
Compared to consoles with smaller profit margins, controllers can generate higher profits, with some special editions priced at over 85 euros. Beyond Sony, Microsoft's Xbox Design Lab and Nintendo's various Joy-Con models are also expanding accessory sales through personalized hardware.
DualSense updates have also involved internal components. Sony has gradually introduced more durable parts to address wear and tear issues, including stick drift. Stick drift causes games to register movement input even when the player isn't touching the analog stick, so buying a new controller is sometimes necessary to replace an old, malfunctioning one.
