Sony’s PlayStation 5 may not have been released yet, but we now know that the faceplate at the front of the DualSense controller can be removed. The process isn’t difficult and doesn’t require special tools, so will this pave the way for customized DualSense faceplates?
How Is the DualSense Faceplate Removed?
According to John Glasscock, a YouTube commentator who recently took his first look at the DualSense controller, the black faceplate is really easy to remove. He demonstrates it in the video below, removing the plate at the 55-second mark.
As you can see, the black plate simply clicks out of place and can be easily removed without the use of any screwdrivers or prying tools. It clips back in just as effortlessly, meaning that fans of the PlayStation can perform the same action when they receive their new consoles.
Can You Customize the DualSense Controller?
Theoretically, this means that you could customize the DualSense controller by swapping out the default faceplate. Given that it is so easily removed, there seems to be nothing stopping a company from designing, manufacturing, and selling its own variations on the faceplate.
However, don’t expect Sony to take this laying down. Just this week, Sony slapped a ban on Customize My Plates, citing trademark infringement as the reason for stopping the company selling its wares. The third-party brand had started taking pre-orders for its own variation of the PlayStation 5 console faceplates. Apparently, Sony took issue with this and all orders have been canceled and refunded as a result.
This means that should another brand attempt to create their own DualSense faceplates, it could find itself in hot water with Sony, just like Customize My Plates did. If the console faceplate is classed as intellectual property, the same could be said for the DualSense faceplate. Which could lead Sony to crack down on anyone looking to cash in.
Will We See Official DualSense Custom Faceplates?
Given the hype over being able to change the console faceplate, we may well see Sony issuing licensed console faceplates. They may feature designs based on PlayStation exclusives for example.
In that case, we may see bundles featuring a PlayStation faceplate and DualSense faceplate, too. However, it remains unclear whether third-party customization will be allowed by Sony.
PlayStation fans have been customizing their controllers since 1994 when the first PlayStation controller was released. If you really want to give you DualSense a different look, then vinyl stickers are always a customization option.