New Life for Old PS4 Controllers
If there’s one thing I love, it’s using things in ways they were never intended. Weird video game controllers hold a special place in my heart, whether it’s a cardboard box you have to flap to move in-game or a robot with antennas you move to tune into his dreams. But, this process is just as delightful in reverse, where you get to use traditional gaming console controllers in new, creative ways. If you’ve got a project idea for just such a thing kicking about in your head, check out this PS4 Breakout PCB to give a new life to those previous-gen controllers!
The PCB is designed to fit inside your PS4 controller housing, interfacing perfectly with the tricky-to-work-with membrane buttons inside the device. The PCB lets you utilize the joysticks’ directionality and button features, the D-pad, the 4 shape buttons, all four triggers, the internal speaker, and the function buttons like “options”, “share”, and “PS button”. Some soldering will be required, as the joysticks have to be replaced and to add the wires for accepting the inputs from the PS4 controller, but the guesswork of what wire goes where has been taken out to the equation with this PCB breakout!
Best of all, the entire project is open-source, and the maker, Becky Stern, has a full behind-the-scenes video of how she fabricated and reverse-engineered the controller, as well as an article documenting the project. Check out her Tindie shop to see what other projects she’s offering there, and watch the video below to get the full scoop on the PS4 breakout PCB and what exciting projects she’s using it for!
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