Sony PlayStation 4 Controller (Steamworks Documentation)

Steamworks Documentation

Sony PlayStation 4 Controller

Steamworks Documentation > Features > Steam Input > Steam Input Devices > Sony PlayStation 4 Controller

Overview

The Sony PlayStation 4 controller* was the first third party device to get official Steam Input support. It shares certain features with the Steam controller that are lacking in the XInput standard (central trackpad & gyroscope), while hewing to a more traditional twin-stick form factor that some players prefer.

*referring here to all compatible models, including but not limited to the DUALSHOCK 4 model

The PlayStation 4 controller has all the same physical features available to XInput controllers, as well as:

A central trackpad
An internal gyroscope
A programmable LED light bar

Face buttons

Digital
The PlayStation 4 controller features four standard face buttons labeled with a SQUARE, a CROSS, a TRIANGLE, and a CIRCLE.

NOTE FOR DEVELOPERS: In the West, the "CROSS" button is typically used for "confirm" and the "CIRCLE" button for "back/cancel", but the convention in Japan is reversed. When publishing your official configurations you might consider making appropriately labeled Western and Japanese variants for the DUALSHOCK 4 Controller

Joysticks

Analog, 2 axes (+ digital "click")
Like most other gamepads, the PlayStation 4 Controller features two analog joysticks, on the left and right side. Unlike other controllers, they are not vertically offset. Like most modern joysticks, the sticks themselves can be clicked in as additional digital buttons.

SHARE and OPTIONS

Digital
The SHARE and OPTIONS buttons are on either side of the central touchpad. Although the SHARE button is reserved on the PS4 console, it is not on the PC when using the Steam Input configurator. Both buttons can be freely used by games & applications.

NOTE: SHARE and OPTIONS correspond to SELECT and START on previous PlayStation Controller models.

L1 and R1 (Shoulder buttons)

Digital
The shoulder buttons are pretty standard.

L2 and R2 (Shoulder triggers)

Analog, 1 axis (each)
Unlike the Steam controller, the L2 and R2 analog triggers on the PlayStation 4 controller do not have a distinct digital "click" at the end of the normal analog range distinguishing a "full pull" from a "soft pull". From a hardware perspective they are purely analog input devices. However, the Steam Input configurator is able to fix this; the player may set a threshold that distinguishes a "full pull" from a "soft pull."

Dpad

Digital
The PlayStation 4 controller features a fairly standard digital pad, or Dpad. Physically, this counts as four separate digital buttons, but designed in such a way that makes it impossible to press both buttons on the same axis at the same time.

Touchpad

Analog, 2 axes

The PlayStation 4 controller features a single large rectangular (non-haptic) trackpad on the top of the device. It has a high resolution touch surface as well as a digital button underneath. The Steam Input configurator is able to treat this as either two separate touch regions (dividing it into left and right halves), or as one large unified touch surface. Any of these configurations can be used in the same way as the Steam controller's trackpads, with the exception of haptic feedback.

Gyro sensor

Analog, 3 axes

Like the Steam controller, the PlayStation 4 controller also has a built-in gyro sensor with similar functionality, and likewise has 3 axes of motion (pitch, yaw, and roll).