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From controllers to memberships, here’s everything you need to give yourself a gaming edge
The PlayStation 5 comes with the essential accessories you need, whether you buy the digital or disc edition of the console. Including a controller, HDMI 2.1 cable, and power leads is – in theory – all you need, but that’s only half the story.
Do you plan on gaming with friends and family on the same console? Then, you need a second controller. Alternatively, if you want to play online, a pair of gaming headphones can help, while a media remote can turn your PS5 into an all-in-one streaming device.
The PlayStation 5 accessories field is still fairly slight but there’s a growing number of useful accessories that will enhance what you can do with it.
You may have also found that you’re running out of storage space now that you’ve owned your PS5 a while. That’s where support for internal hard drives is hugely helpful, providing you purchase the right one.
Before diving in and buying everything, it’s important to think about what you actually need. Not every gamer will need everything here, so prioritise what you need most. For instance, if you solely play games online, an extra controller isn’t much use and a new cover case is fun but hardly essential. Here are some ideas of what may work for you.
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We tested a range of the PS5 accessories over a number of weeks (and in some cases, months) while playing games on the system, including Overwatch, God of War, and Fortnite in attempt to find the best add-ons you can buy right now.
Best: PS5 controller
PlayStation 5 owners already get one dualsense controller in the box, but to play with others on the sofa, you really need another one, and the official model is the best of the bunch. It has a comfortable ergonomic fit that moulds around your hands nicely, no matter what sized hands you have, and its buttons feel sleek and high-end.
Besides looking and feeling good, it also has some useful features such as haptic feedback, which is a form of far superior vibration, and a set of trigger buttons that are much more responsive and tactile than previous PlayStation controllers. It’s the natural next step for a PlayStation controller and it’s arguably the best thing about the console. A second one is an essential addition for everyone but the most antisocial player.
Best: Internal hard drive
The PlayStation 5 now allows for users to install their own internal hard drive to expand the storage capabilities of the console. It’s a little awkward finding a compatible hard drive as you need it to be a certain size and to include a heatsink (although you can install one yourself). Fortunately, this Western Digital gaming SSD makes the process fairly straightforward.
Once you spend 10 minutes with a screwdriver, your storage capacity is vastly increased. It’s an expensive upgrade but one that will prove useful for a long time. Expect to be able to store at least 10 PS5 games on the hard drive with that number potentially higher depending on the games you play.
Best: Charging dock
The Sony PlayStation 5 dualsense charging station isn’t the most exciting of accessories to own, but if you regularly need to recharge your controllers and you’re keen on a neat-looking living space, you won’t regret investing in one. While there are unofficial solutions out there, it’s this official docking station that looks the best. Simply slot one or two controllers in and the charging station soon recharges them up to full while keeping them out of your way and looking good under your TV.
Bear in mind you’ll need an extra wall socket spare as this charging station doesn’t plug into the console. It’s worth finding the room though, as a little bit of reorganising can ensure that all your cables are discreetly out of the way and your gaming area looks far better for it. Even better, you won’t have to worry about regularly plugging your controllers into the console to charge up.
Best: Camera
If you’re keen to be the next Twitch gaming sensation then the HD camera is a must-have. It’s remarkably easy to set up – simply plug it into a relevant port on your PlayStation 5 then take a moment to align it so it captures your face perfectly. Its stylings mean it ties into the PlayStation 5 aesthetic so it won’t steal focus next to your TV. Once set up, you can hit the Share button on your controller and begin streaming away so that viewers can see your facial reactions while you play.
It’s a little lacking in the finer details given there’s no PlayStation 4 backwards compatibility support, and you’ll need to use a separate mic or the one built-in to your controller, but the core principle is here making it vital for the streamers among us, even if not everyone else.
Best: Third-party headset
With plenty of gaming headsets available, the Corsair HS80 gaming headset offers a lot to stand out from the crowd. Like the PlayStation 5 pulse 3D wireless headset, it requires a separate wireless adapter but it’s worth the hassle. In exchange, you get truly immersive sound that makes your games far more compelling. You’re able to hear foes sneak up on you, as well as simply lose yourself to the environmental sounds or stirring orchestral pieces of great single-player games.
The Corsair HS80 gaming headset also offers a mic that can be flipped up to mute, proving useful for those solo gaming sessions. Comfortable to wear for a number of hours, 20 hours of battery life should prove plenty for all but the most dedicated of gamers. If you’re a PC gamer, you’ll appreciate its Dolby Atmos support too.
Best: Headphones
There’s no shortage of gaming headset options out there but the PlayStation 5 pulse 3D wireless headset is a little bit special. Made with certain PlayStation 5 games in mind, its 3D audio means you can feel fully immersed in the experience, feeling like things are truly happening all around you. It’s a distinctive way of doing things that stands out more so than conventional headsets, even if not all games fully take advantage of it just yet. It can help you gain an advantage in certain titles too, which is always useful.
It uses a wireless adapter to connect to your console rather than Bluetooth which is a minor irritant, and you’ll need to remember to recharge it, but it sounds fantastic and it’s comfy to wear even after a number of hours of playing.
Best: Remote control
Games consoles aren’t solely for gaming anymore – they’re also highly accomplished media streaming devices. Thanks to the PlayStation store, it’s possible to download apps for all the major streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and Spotify. This remote makes it easier to use them compared to using a controller, thanks to working just like a regular TV remote. It’s convenient for you and even more useful for family members who may not ordinarily use a games controller.
It has buttons for all the main media needs such as play, pause, fast forward, and so forth. It also has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and YouTube so you can instantly launch them at the touch of a button. It’s not possible to remap them so if you don’t use the services, the buttons are useless, but it’s likely you’ll be using at least a few of them regularly.
Best: Third-party controller
The Nacon Revolution unlimited pro controller is a PlayStation 4 controller but thanks to the PlayStation 5’s extensive back catalogue of PlayStation 4 games, a more advanced controller than the standard dualsense controller is useful. This one is highly reminiscent of the Xbox elite controller, looking like a cross between that and a regular PlayStation 4 controller.
It’s been developed with eSports in mind with the ability to customise the size and shape of the controller’s joysticks extensively. You can add weights too if you prefer a heftier controller in your hands. A series of programmable buttons rounds off what it can do. While you wait for a similar alternative for the PlayStation 5, this is a great way of enjoying older PlayStation 4 games with the best responsiveness.
Best: Keyboard
Only a handful of PS5 games support a keyboard and mouse, but that’s not why we’re recommending a keyboard. How often have you found yourself wanting to send a message to a friend and cringed at how long it takes via the on-screen keyboard? Hook up the Steelseries apex 3 TKL and you can type at your regular speed without being slowed down.
Any wired keyboard will work with the PS5 but the Steelseries apex 3 TKL offers super quiet switches that will last for over 20 million keypresses. Comfortable under your fingertips, it’s also water resistant which can be useful if you accidentally spill a drink while playing. Lightweight and slight, it’ll easily fit among your TV unit. When you’re not playing a game, it serves well as a great keyboard for your PC or Mac too.
Best: Hard drive
While an external SATA hard drive won’t store PlayStation 5 games (you’ll need an internal SSD for that), it is still useful to store the wealth of PlayStation 4 titles. With this hard drive, you can store those games externally while leaving the internal SSD drive for PlayStation 5 titles. The Seagate 4TB HDD is designed with PlayStation consoles in mind and is incredibly simple to set up. Effectively, you just plug it in and you’re good to go.
Thanks to its extensive storage capacity, it’s possible to store over 100 PlayStation 4 games so you should never run out of room unless you switch between games very frequently. A fairly subtle design, it can easily be placed among your TV unit without it looking too noticeable or taking up too much space.
Best: PlayStation Plus deal
Buying a digital code might not seem exciting but PlayStation Plus is a great way of gaining free games on a monthly basis. Currently, it offers up 24 PlayStation 4 games that can also be played on your PlayStation 5. There’s also a growing collection of PlayStation 5 titles with new games added each month, so there’s always something new to try.
In addition, there’s access to the PS Plus Collection which provides PlayStation 5 owners with free access to 20 PlayStation 4 games considered to be generation-defining. Each is a great game to play, even more so for free, so it’s the perfect way of discovering titles you may have missed in the past. That’s even more the case if this is your first games console in a while.
Read more about the games coming to PlayStation Plus this month
Best: Console Cover
The look of the PlayStation 5 has divided critics and while nothing can reduce its size right now, you can at least enjoy a different look. It’s now possible to buy different console covers with a choice of midnight black, cosmic red, nova pink, starlight blue, or galactic purple.
The covers are easy to clip on, changing up the look of your console significantly. If you’re keen to have a particular aesthetic in your games or living room, it’s a simple way of ensuring the ordinarily white box of the PS5 blends in better with its surroundings.
Best: Steering wheel
Games like Gran Turismo 7 are at their very best when you use a steering wheel. It’s a far more visceral experience and highly satisfying to be able to steer around corners rather than use a controller. The Thrustmaster T248 is the ultimate steering wheel. It has three types of force feedback at its disposal, magnetic paddle shifters so changing gears feels suitably tactile, and has plenty of buttons for customising, plus pedals for braking in the traditional manner rather than holding down a button.
There’s a learning curve to be made here which means you won’t be beating lap times instantly compared to a controller, but it really transforms the racing game experience. A built-in display is able to display information as well as allow you to make manual adjustments too.
If you prefer to race in a more realistic manner, you can’t fault the Thrustmaster T248. Each turn feels earned and far more physical than with a regular controller. You’ll soon lose yourself to the curves of the track. Whether you’re playing a Formula One racing game, a rally game, or Gran Turismo 7, snapping up a Thrustmaster T248 will revitalise that feeling the moment you started racing for the first time.
The Sony PlayStation 5 dualsense controller is the best choice for the majority of users thanks to it giving them a way to play games with others on the sofa. It’s a well-designed controller that feels good in your hands and provides some unique features such as its pressure sensitive triggers and haptic feedback that just don’t feel the same elsewhere.
The dualsense controller is also available in a range of colours, including red (£59.85, Shopto.net), blue (£60.85, Shopto.net) and pink (£64.99, Amazon.co.uk). However, these are more expensive than the regular white and black model, with a recommended retail price of £64.99.
When your controller is so vital to your ability to do anything on the PlayStation 5, it makes sense then that the Sony PlayStation 5 dualsense charging station is the next most essential accessory. It’ll keep your setup looking tidy while also making it miles easier to recharge your controllers.
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