Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Update Uses DualSense Controllers Perfectly
Cyberpunk 2077 was already quite immersive, but the PS5's DualSense update ups the ante. A feature introduced in the Cyberpunk 2077 1.5 patch update, the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback improve the game's overall experience to a considerable degree. Guns feel more responsive, the driving feels weightier, and even opening a door has some rumble. This feature is not only a welcome change to the game but makes it much more immersive than it ever has been before.
The DualSense is one of the most immersive features of the PS5, and comes in two elements. The adaptive triggers apply tension depending on what the player uses in the game, allowing for the feeling of something like pulling back a bow more resistant. The haptic feedback feature is more than shaking the controller; it's focused and precise, making the player feel physical sensations such as driving on a gravel road or firing a weapon. Both of these elements combine to make the DualSense feature included in Cyberpunk 2077's next-gen update feel - sometimes literally - like a new game.
Of the improvements, the gunplay of Cyberpunk 2077 feels to benefit the most from the DualSense update. Prior, the guns were robbed of any uniqueness when fired, which each gun feeling quite similar despite being visually unique. After the update, each firearm feels more grounded and distinct. The shotgun has considerable kickback from the haptics; handguns feel different from machine guns thanks to adaptive triggers. Even weapons that use electricity are complimented with haptic feedback when charged. The DualSense update is a welcome addition to a game with a complicated past.
While the 1.5 patch fixes issues in Cyberpunk 2077, ranging from the quality-of-life to NPCs responding appropriately to each situation, the DualSense feature highlights arguably the best trait of Cyberpunk 2077: immersion. By elevating the gameplay from a passive experience to a reactive one, the game feels more alive. The haptic feedback and adaptive triggers put weight on the player's actions and create a more immersive experience by feeling the world through the controller. This is a truly welcome upgrade to the game's driving, which now feels more grounded, allowing players to feel more like their wheels are actually on the road, making driving that could occasionally feel a bit floaty prior to the update feel considerably weightier and more grounded.
These updates make Cyberpunk 2077 feel distinct from other shooters, and offer plenty of opportunities for future updates to expand on the DualSense feature. Despite a rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has proved time and time again that just because a game starts poorly, it doesn't mean it can't be improved - and that it can continue to be improved even if it already works well. While the update does fix a lot in Cyberpunk 2077, the game is still lacking new in-game content, causing some players to create some of the best Cyberpunk 2077 mods to update the game - though PS5 players will have to content themselves with the DualSense upgrades while waiting for the promised DLC to come. Regardless, Cyberpunk 2077 is in a great position now, especially compared to when it launched, and with the PS5's DualSense feature, it only proves that games with a rocky past are worthy of another chance.