The Neon Joy Of PlayStation’s Hyperpop DualSense Collection

Techno Purple DualSense

Credit score: Mitch Wallace

I’m sufficiently old to recollect a number of the very first PlayStation controller coloration variants, particularly the brightly hued DualShock choices that hit shops within the late 90s. Why would you keep on with drab grey when you may style the rainbow? I do know there have been a number of digital gamepad coloration choices, like a neat purple one, however I by no means got here throughout these, sadly.

The DualShock choices included shades of Island Blue, Smoke Grey, a very clear Crystal possibility, and the precise gamepad I acquired again in 1998, Emerald, which was a really turn-of-the-millennium translucent inexperienced. I even received the matching Emerald reminiscence card to go together with it, as a result of why not.

As cool as they had been, Sony’s controller colours may by no means severely compete with Nintendo’s slew of N64 choices, no less than in my view, however I appreciated them nonetheless. Funtastic was, and nonetheless is, exhausting to beat, naturally. And to Nintendo’s credit score, the intense hues prolonged to the consoles themselves, one thing Sony by no means actually explored with the PS1. Minus, after all, the slick black Internet Yaroze growth equipment and the notorious blue debug PlayStation console.

However I’ll say PlayStation’s newest PS5 Hyperpop DualSense assortment offers the previous Funtastic colours a run for his or her cash, and actually brings up a number of nostalgia for these traditional DualShock variants. They’re not product of see-through plastic, although the neon colours—Techno Purple, Remix Inexperienced, and Rhythm Blue—completely think of the nascent, and a bit extra edgy, PlayStation of yore.

The gathering, alongside an identical array of PS5 console covers, was introduced again in January of 2026. That mentioned, I lastly received my arms on a shiny Techno Purple gamepad final week, and whereas it’s a complete fingerprint magnet and may slip off a lap simply as a result of lack of textured grips, it must be certainly one of my favourite DualSense variants launched to date. The truth that the thumbsticks are additionally purple is such a pleasant contact.

I’m fairly upset that the console covers aren’t being provided for the PS5 Professional, although, which is the PlayStation I primarily sport on today. They’re solely accessible for the PS5 Slim, a machine I don’t personal and doubtless by no means will, so I suppose I’m out of luck. Truly, I don’t consider Sony has launched any official console covers for the PS5 Professional, aside from the restricted version Ghost of Yotei plates, which apparently sold out in seconds again in September of 2025.

That mentioned, I applaud Sony’s willingness to convey again some radical whimsy to its {hardware} lineup. Again within the ‘90s, the whole lot was loud, in-your-face and sported the type of colours you’d usually discover being flaunted by tropical birds within the Amazon throughout mating season.

Whereas retro tradition has and sure at all times shall be a factor, we’ve seen a resurgence in recent times with regards to past-leaning gaming {hardware}. Corporations like ModRetro and Analogue commerce in pure nostalgia, typically promoting their respective consoles and handhelds outfitted with eye-catching and generally translucent shells that harken again to my cherished Emerald DualShock.

I’m additionally keen on each the Loss of life Stranding 2 and Marathon particular version gamepads. The 007 First Gentle golden controller isn’t too shabby both, however I do are inclined to favor brighter peripherals. I’m a ’90s child, by and thru, so give me neon or give me loss of life.

Disclosure: PlayStation supplied product for protection functions.