I’ve said it more than once around these parts: I shouldn’t be allowed near money anywhere. The combination of spending money on gaming-focused technology and then living on the cheapest of cheap microwave meals is not a lifestyle I would recommend to anyone living like a real adult. That’s a roundabout way of saying that I’m a lifelong PlayStation fan and willingly purchased not one, but two, DualSense Edge controllers. And now I may never be able to touch any of those $199 gamepads again.
entrance Nacon Revolution 5 Pro. Sony’s officially licensed controller is a great peripheral that I’ve gradually become obsessed with over the past few weeks. For my money, it outperforms the Edge in some key areas, although it’s hard to deny that the DualSense parent has the upper hand in some scenarios. (And also forgive me for patting myself on the back for not using an easy pun at the end of that last sentence.)
In terms of the sheer number of parts you get with the Revolution 5 Pro compared to the DualSense Edge, the Nacon gamepad definitely takes the lead. Like Sony’s premium controller, you get a nice padded case and three sets of adjustable sticks at different heights. As with Edge, I found myself using the virtual sticks instead of the longer and shorter alternative equivalents, but it’s still a good option if I want to switch things up.
No matter which kit you choose, they all have Hall effect sensors, meaning stick drift will never be an issue. And yes, I’m currently shaking my head no when I think about Joy-Cons. The Big N really needs to step up their console game with the much popular Nintendo Switch 2.
And back to what Nacon includes in the box, boy, is there a lot going on. Aside from the replaceable joystick, you also get an extra D-pad – I prefer the more natural, circular cover – and stick guards that help reduce travel distance. The most unique aspect of the Revolution 5 Pro? Well, this is actually something I didn’t realize was a thing until Nacon loaned me a review unit: the control weights.
The weight of the world
These cylindrical metal graphics can be inserted into the removable, textured rear handles on the back of the 5 Pro. Nacon gives you the option of attaching a set of 10g, 14g, or 16g weights, and my little gloves appreciate the extra weight it provides for this high-end gaming pad. As someone who likes when controllers bring the widget, I naturally wanted to play with the big 16-gram boys slotted into the back of the Pro.
Another key design element I love about the Nacon controller that hits the wallet is the very chunky face buttons. As previously mentioned, I own two DualSense Edge pads (and also two regular DualSenses that I never use), and every Sony controller I’ve owned since the PS5 launched in 2020 has been tainted in my eyes by face buttons that stick out of the way too easily. The problem is due to dirt accumulating under each input, and while you can easily fix this by putting some rubbing alcohol on the button that jams you through the Q-tip, it’s just as annoying. My first Edge had this issue right out of the box with its X button, but so far, I haven’t encountered this after using the Revolution 5 Pro extensively over several weeks.
Another area I feel Nacon’s efforts have the edge (damn) over Sony’s $199 gamepad is the triggers department. Don’t get me wrong, I like L2 and R2 on the edge well. However, I do prefer the slightly snappier feel of the Revolution 5 Pro’s rear triggers. Like Sony’s official offering, the Nacon pad also has adjustable stops to reduce movement – a useful feature if you’re playing a fast-paced shooter like Doom Eternal – although it only has a duo of these compared to the three you get With DualSense Edge.
Let the revolution begin
My favorite feature of the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro? It’s a great PC gamepad. Although it’s marketed as a PS5 peripheral first and foremost, I’ve found it to be a more reliable controller when playing the best Steam games, mainly because I can actually trust it to pair stably via Bluetooth on my Windows 11 Mega machine. While the DualSense Edge can provide good PC experiences if you delve into the Steam controller’s customization menus, I’ve seen its connection drop out enough times that I only feel comfortable connecting it via a USB-C cable after a year of owning two of them.
The Revolution 5 Pro also has another PC and laptop card up its sleeve that the Edge can’t match. This will be the expected name Revolution 5 Pro application It allows you to easily remap every input on the controller, including the four easy-to-use buttons you’ll find on the back of this expensive pad. For context, the DualSense Edge only has two, in the form of LB and RB inputs. The main selling point of this program? It allows you to easily create custom console profiles without having to wade through tedious Steam menus for each game.
There are some major drawbacks to the Revolution 5 Pro if you only plan to use it on your PS5. The most important of which is its lack of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Personally, I don’t mind losing the former feature, as I feel like even the best PS5 games — outside of the awesome web-swinging action of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 — usually put too much effort into creating swashbuckling friction. There’s also no built-in speaker on the 5 Pro, which will pose a problem for gamers who play a lot of multiplayer games, although you can get around that by plugging the headset into a 3.5mm jack.
Can I universally recommend the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro at its current price to people who only play PS5 games? Probably not. If you’re playing via a Sony console and one of the best gaming PCs, this is something I can achieve more easily.
The final compliment I can pay the Revolution 5 Pro? When Nacon asks for this review unit back, I’ll definitely pay one on my dime. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a $2 microwave pizza to heat up.
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