Games, and a controller in the colour you wanted

Why a second controller is the first thing to buy

A PS5 ships with one DualSense. Almost every household with more than one player ends up buying a second within a month, and it is the single most useful thing you can add to the console.

It is also the accessory most worth buying at the same time as a game rather than later, because a controller alone rarely justifies a delivery on its own.

The colours are the same controller

We carry the DualSense in a wide spread of finishes — white, midnight black, cobalt blue, starlight blue, rhythm blue, galactic purple, chroma indigo, techno red and grey camouflage. They are mechanically identical. The choice is purely what you want sitting on the shelf under the television.

Worth knowing: colourways come and go on a schedule Sony does not publish, and the discontinued ones do not come back. If a particular finish matters to you, that is an argument for buying it when you see it rather than waiting for a sale that may outlast the colour.

Looking after the controller

Stick drift is the failure people actually encounter, and it is usually dust rather than wear. Keeping the controller off the floor and out of direct sun does more for its lifespan than anything you can buy.

Charge it with the cable it came with, or any decent USB-C cable. Leaving it plugged in permanently is fine and will not harm the battery — a flat controller you have to charge mid-game is the more common annoyance.

Buying games

Physical discs can be lent, resold and played without re-downloading, which is why we still stock them. They need the disc drive, so check which PS5 you have if you are buying a physical copy for a console you have not looked at closely.

Deluxe and ultimate editions usually bundle cosmetic extras and occasionally an early-access window. They are worth it if you already know you want the game. They are a poor way to try one.