Sony DualShock3 Stateside "early 2008"

We were just alerted to an "easter egg" of sorts hidden in plain site in the text of the PS3 firmware 2.01 update released on November 20th. It's not much, but an asterisked notation for "Vibration Function" says that the DualShock3 will be "Available for purchase in early 2008." Goodish news for those of you having trouble acquiring the rumbler from Japanese importers.

[Thanks, Arun]

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Dec 10th 2007 1:48AM]

Well, about damn time! Sheesh.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 10th 2007 6:01PM]

I figured this would happen. I assumed from the beggining that SONY would do whatever was neccessary to get Rumble into its controllers.
Come to think of it, SONY actually saved money by waiting so long to release it because the DS3 costs more to produce than the SIXAXIS. Now they've straightened out their hardware revisions and product SKUs and proceed.

It doesn't make any sense to buy a PS3 right now. Might as well wait till the DS3 gets packaged with the 40GB version.

[kyle allen @ Dec 10th 2007 1:57AM]

wait... its for ps3 and its the same color as the ps1? not that ps ones arent the bomb, its just you'd think theyd make it match the past two systems..

[fearless_fx @ Dec 10th 2007 1:59AM]

japan has white ps3's

[kyle allen @ Dec 10th 2007 2:01AM]

sweet, i didnt know that.

[freehunter @ Dec 10th 2007 3:23AM]

It's not even the same color as the PS1, which was a sort of grey, at least the model I had was. This is pure white.

[Jamesology @ Dec 10th 2007 2:23AM]

Yeah, the white one is only available in the 40gb version though. A silver one is suppose to come soon in the near future; most probably only in Japan. Then there's a rare red one 80gb made only in Canada, but the SixAxis' are still black, not red.

I already have this Dualshock 3. There are barely any PS3 games that is compatible for the rumble. I think only R&C has it fully working. I think Motorstorm has it functioning too but feels very faint or it could just be the false feeling. Though I know I love the heavy controller, and it feels way better than the light SixAxis.

I hear the battery doesn't last that long but I have never experienced it yet. It seems like it last just as long as my Wiimotes. But then again the Wiimotes are always turning ON since it's usually store in a travel bag to bring to my buddy's house once a week.

But no matter what keyboard and mouse all the way!

[Alex Seyer @ Dec 10th 2007 2:31AM]

if you want a ps3 a different color or any other electronic device in a rare color head on over to www.colorwarepc.com

[Pulse-Wave @ Dec 10th 2007 2:10AM]

Awesome!...if true.

[Alex Seyer @ Dec 10th 2007 2:25AM]

Wow..or you could just hit ebay up and grab one for about 80 bucks with shipping...and they have them in black

[BloodiedWraith @ Dec 10th 2007 11:12AM]

playasia has them for $59.90 + shipping. I just pad $66 for mine; so I'd much rather pay that than the $80 from eBay you're suggesting =P

[tc @ Dec 10th 2007 2:42AM]

Keep the price under $50 and make it usable as a bluetooth gamepad, then I'm sold.

[Jamesology @ Dec 10th 2007 4:51AM]

What do you mean useful? I would rate the Dualshock better than the Wiimote due to comfort issue and it's reaction issue. I can beat majority of Wii games with a 2inch flick movement of the Wiimote and pressing A or B, all with one hand. But I just got a 360 and I prefer that controller from all the consoles.

But still nothing beats a keyboard and a mouse. HA!

[thethirdmoose @ Dec 10th 2007 8:32AM]

Well, I can beat most PS3 games with a 1 cm flick of the joystick and a couple presses of the R and X button

[Jamesology @ Dec 10th 2007 2:35PM]

I don't know how you would beat Motorstorm, COD4(which I now hate the PS3 for), and R&C with "a" flick of the joystick. Maybe multiple flicks but unless you tied a rubber band hold the joystick in up position and flick side to side from time to time I can visualize it.

Otherwise you need two hands based on the shaped of the SixAxis or you have a sixth finger.

[Pentium @ Dec 10th 2007 3:32AM]

nice....DualShock 3 must been released with the PS3 a year ago...

[DarkLightConnection @ Dec 10th 2007 4:02AM]

Amen to that

[superaktieboy @ Dec 10th 2007 2:45PM]

wait.. wait..
so we (eu & us) get it somewhere in January/February? :O THAT IS AWESOME NEWS :D

[Loban @ Dec 10th 2007 5:10PM]

Maybe they should have skipped the rumble and actually make the controllers comfortable to use. I swear, my hands hurt so bad after using these pieces 'O $h!t. They obviously didn't think about ergonomics when designing them a decade ago.

[mathew @ Dec 13th 2007 2:24PM]

Good news for Sony too, 'cause I'm not buying a PS3 until it ships with them.

[Gert @ Feb 27th 2008 11:09AM]

When are they going to release this in Europe?
I am still waiting for the new 40gig dualshock 45nm cell SKU! Im hoping march but i cant find the info anywhere.
And how would i recognize this new SKU?