The DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment isn't quite that. It doesn’t have “hair trigger locks,” interchangeable joysticks, or many other special features. But it does add the most immediately useful piece of any enhanced controller: two mappable rear paddles, which can duplicate any pair of buttons on the DualShock 4 proper. The idea is to give you quicker or more convenient access to inputs you frequently use in certain games. Because the device is so minimalist, it’s highly affordable—at $30, it’s multiple times cheaper than most pro controllers, even factoring in the cost of a DualShock 4 itself.Crucially, it’s also available. Sony initially launched the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment all the way back in January, but the accessory sold out after a few weeks and was almost completely unavailable for several months. We’re posting this review today, after five months of regular use, because retailers only just started to restock the device over the past week. Even now, availability is spotty at some stores.
Still, now that buying one is at least feasible, the DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment is worth a look for a good swath of PlayStation 4 owners. While it can’t match the flexibility of a true pro controller, it carves out a place in the middle ground for those who want more from their PS4 controller but don’t want to pay the price of a second console to get it.