Introducing My Consumer Product: PS5 DualSense Controller

 

 Introducing My Consumer Product: PS5 DualSense Controller

Watch the video here:


Why This Item Matters to Me



Gaming is my go-to way to relax after work and classes, and the PS5 DualSense controller is at the center of it. I work 40 hours a week helping our family business and go to school full-time online, so when I see my controller, I see my time to relax and take a deep breath. It is more than just a gaming tool it turns on my TV, lets me stream shows, and helps me connect with family who live out of town when we play together online. Until this class, I never really thought about the environmental footprint behind something that feels so simple and personal.

The controller is described and shown at the website Buy DualSense® Wireless PS5™ Controller | PlayStation® (US) featuring is sleek, wireless, and packed with features like adaptive triggers, a built-in mic, a rechargeable battery, haptic feedback, and enhanced sticks that make gaming immersive. You are able to get any color and specialty controllers that PlayStation offers right on the website. Ultimately the PS5 Wireless controller is a way for me to step out of the normal world for a while and take a break from everyday life.

What It is Made Of

Curious about what’s inside? Check out this YouTube teardown to see the PS5 DualSense controller taken apart step by step.

The controller combines multiple materials:

  • Outer Shell: Hard plastic casing (likely ABS resin) for durability and lightweight design.
  • Buttons & Joysticks: Silicone rubber for flexibility and grip; plastic caps for joysticks.
  • Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery (internal, not removable by user).
  • Circuit Board (Motherboard): Fiberglass-reinforced epoxy laminate; metals like copper, nickel, and traces of gold for conductivity.
  • Adaptive Trigger Mechanism: Plastic gears and housing; small metal springs for tension.
  • Haptic Feedback Motors: Metal weights and electromagnetic coils for vibration.
  • Touchpad & Light Guide: Plastic panel with embedded sensors; transparent plastic for LED light diffusion.
  • Ribbon Cables & Connectors: Polyimide film for flexibility; copper traces for electrical signals.


 

 

Where It Comes From

The PS5 DualSense controller is primarily manufactured and assembled in China, Malaysia, and Japan, according to PlayStation’s official site. Components like the lithium-ion battery, circuit board, and plastic shell are sourced globally before final assembly in these countries.

Teardown guides such as iFixit’s DualSense repair page confirm this global supply chain, showing parts like the battery and adaptive trigger mechanism that come from specialized suppliers.

Once assembled, these controllers are distributed worldwide to retailers—including Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop here in Wisconsin—before reaching gamers like me.

Personal Connection

This controller is not just about gaming it represents convenience, connection, and stress relief. After long days of work or studying criminal justice, it helps me shut my brain off. Until this class, I did not think about all the materials, mining, and shipping involved in something I use almost every day.



Looking Ahead

Even though it feels simple, this controller has a hidden geography: from plastic production to lithium mining and global shipping, each button press connects me to a global system. In my next blog, I will explore the environmental impacts both local and global of this controller and think about what it really costs the planet.

And WOW! You would not believe how hard it was to find out what the parts are, what materials they are made of, and where they come from. Why is it so hard? This simple PS5 controller really has me thinking about how little transparency there is in everyday products and how much effort it took me to uncover the story behind them.


    Expanded Further Reading Section:

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What’s the Big Deal About a Small Plastic Bag?

Image
It seems harmless as it helps carry groceries, and by the time you check out your items are already bagged. But this past August in Wisconsin, heavy rain flooded people’s homes, and I saw firsthand through my family’s waterproofing business how something as small as clogged drains can leave families losing almost everything in their basements. In fact, Milwaukee experienced the largest sewer overflow since the Deep Tunnel was built, with more than five billion gallons spilling over 78 hours. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel That is when I realized how even tiny plastic bags can become a big problem. Lessons from Battle of the Bag After watching Battle of the Bag , one thing that really stood out to me was how plastic bags clog storm drains, which can lead to serious flooding in cities. The video showed examples from places like Mumbai, India, where blocked drains caused streets to flood and killed hundreds of people. ▶️ Watch the documentary here: Battle of the Bag –...
Read more

The Environmental Impacts of My PS5 DualSense Controller: Local and Global

Image
The PS5 Controller: Local and Global Impacts This week, I looked deeper into the environmental impacts of my PS5 DualSense controller . At first, it seemed like a simple item a fun gaming tool I use to relax but when I traced where its materials come from, how it’s made, and what happens when it’s disposed of, I realized I had never thought about the geography behind it. Its environmental effects happen both locally and globally. Production Impacts The controller is made of multiple materials: Outer Shell: Hard plastic ( ABS resin ) Buttons & Joysticks: Silicone rubber and plastic Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery Circuit Board: Fiberglass , copper, nickel, and traces of gold Where do these components come from: From what we learned in class about uneven development and global supply chains (Lecture 1), it is clear that production affects some regions more than others: Lithium battery: Lithium is mined mainly in Chile, Arg...
Read more

Reflecting on the Environmental Geography of My PS5 Controller

Image
               Reflecting on the Environmental Geography of My PS5 Controller   As someone who is twenty-one and part of a gaming group where everyone uses PS5s, I have realized that gaming controllers are more than just accessories, they are products with environmental impacts. My family and I have gone through many controllers over the years, and I used to toss old ones into a drawer or the trash without thinking about where they ended up. After learning about the materials inside them, plastics, copper wiring, lithium-ion batteries, and rare-earth metals like cobalt and lithium I now understand how our everyday electronics affect ecosystems, wildlife, and people around the world.   Why a PS5 Controller Matters Environmentally Even a small device like a controller goes through a global life cycle involving extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. Mining metals such as lithium and cobalt destroys habitats ...
Read more