PC players can now update the DualSense controller’s firmware without a PS5

Sony has announced that the DualSense controller can now get firmware updates via a PC connection.

Players who prefer to play on a PC no longer need to connect their controller to a PlayStation 5 in order to update it.

They can now download new Windows software called ‘Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller’, which can be found on the PlayStation website.

This enables them to plug in their DualSense controller via USB, download the latest firmware update from Sony’s servers and apply it to the controller.

Previously, players could only update the DualSense firmware via a PS5, but the new software means that theoretically there’s now no need to own a PS5 at all to use a DualSense on PC and keep it updated.

The news may be particularly useful for those who enjoy playing PC ports of PlayStation games, something Sony has started to embrace in the past couple of years.

Sony released Horizon Zero Dawn for PC in August 2020, and followed this up with a PC port of Days Gone in May 2021. It then released a PC version of God of War in January 2022.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy will also make the jump to PC in 2022, while a listing spotted on Steam‘s database last year suggests Sackboy: A Big Adventure may also be getting a PC port.

Further reading

PS5 DualSense breakdown reveals internal upgrades for new colours

It's unclear if the new controllers will address stick drift

PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst said last June that the platform holder was “still early on in our planning for PC” but that consoles would remain the priority for new releases.

PlayStation recently acquired Nixxes Software, which is best known for its work on the PC versions of Square Enix properties including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Hitman and Thief, to help it bring its games to the platform.