Have you had any problems with your DualShock 4 controllers?

Haha, I have

Hot damn, the DualShock 4 is a great design, isn’t it? It’s probably my favorite Sony controller to date, and although the Wii U GamePad edges it out in terms of my most-liked control method of this generation, it’s a great option. But if my stable of pads is anything to go by, man are they shoddily made.

In short, I’ve been through four DualShock 4s since the launch of the PS4 in November 23 of 2013. They all still technically work, but two have the padding on the analog stick completely ripped off, and two have multiple sticky buttons. To perform what I call “open controller surgery” isn’t that difficult, but it’s been a really weird experience to see a pad break this often.

Sony even admitted that launch DualShock 4s had issues, going so far as to offer free replacements, which accounts for two of my broken pads. But after that period, they claimed the manufacturing issue was fixed, so I picked up two more Glacier White models — nope, after a period of roughly seven months, those are starting to wear too.

It’s been kind of a pain as I play through a game I can’t talk about yet for a review next week (hint: the main character’s name sounds like this guy’s).

Have you had similar luck with your DualShock 4s?