Sony publishes official Linux driver for PS5 controller

Sony has released a new ‘hid-playstation’ driver for the Linux kernel. This new version adds support for the DualSense controller. The driver is currently not part of the mainline kernel.

Sony released the DualSense driver earlier this month, Phoronix recently noted. The drivers have not yet been accepted at the time of writing and are therefore not part of the mainline kernel yet. Currently, 13 different patches from Sony are on hold in Patchwork, submitted by a Sony employee.

The driver adds support for the basic functions of the controller via USB and bluetooth. For example, the gamepad itself, the touchpad and lightbar, the motion sensors and basic haptic feedback all work properly. More unique functions, such as the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback based on the voice coils, do not work yet; it is not clear whether support for those functions will be added in the long term.

The Linux kernel currently already has a so-called hid-sony driver, which was largely maintained by the Linux community. In January, however, it came to light that Sony itself has also started working on this driver, Phoronix writes. With the release of its new DualSense driver, the company wants to move some functionality from the hid-sony driver to its own hid-playstation driver. Incidentally, the hid-sony driver will remain and is still used by other Sony devices.

There are currently no official Windows drivers available for the DualSense controller. PC gamers can already use the controller via Steam, as the Steam Input API already supports the PS5 controller. Also on Steam adaptiver triggers and haptic feedback with vcm are not yet supported. It is not clear if and when Sony will officially add support for the DualSense controller to Windows.