With the 007 First Light's PS5 release getting closer by the day, Sony has shed some light on the upcoming James Bond game's new limited edition controller. Announced on the official PlayStation Blog on April 9, 2026, Vice President of Global Marketing, Sony Interactive Entertainment Isabelle Tomatis unveiled the new 007 First Light Limited Edition DualSense pad, which swaps the plain-white form factor for a shimmering gold chassis, and the game's logo slab dab in the middle of the touchpad.
Pre-orders begin on April 17 at 10 am local time at PlayStation Direct, with the controller launching on May 27 to coincide with the game's PS5 release day. Yet, while I'm sure this would be listed among the best PS5 controllers Goldfinger has ever seen, this DualSense has given me the license to kill any and all excitement I had for any future limited edition controllers.
Most of my James Bond love starts and ends with the thousands upon thousands of hours invested into 007 GoldenEye on the N64, but I can't help but think that Bond fans deserve more than this minimalistic design. The golden finish, which Franchise Art Director on 007 First Light, Rasmus Poulsen, states "pays tribute to the elegance, legacy, and timeless style of the franchise" feels fitting enough, but it's the thin lines that don't do this new DualSense any favors.
According to the same Franchise Art Director, those lines are "barrel-inspired detailing" which "reflects the themes of the game and how it feels to play it" but they're what make this my least favorite limited edition DualSense release. They're so thin that they appear like a design that was mocked up on MS Paint, rather than anything that reminds me of the Bond films and franchise. I get that they were trying to pay homage to the gun-barrel opening sequence that's an iconic part of the films and the games they're based on, but I don't think it entirely gets across with a selection of thin lines spread across the faceplate.
If you're not a big 007 fan, there's still plenty of stock left of the past limited edition PS5 controllers, including everything from the Death Stranding 2 DualSense to the more recent limited edition Marathon DualSense controller.
Marathon DualSense | $84 at PS Direct
Death Stranding 2 On the Beach DualSense | $84 at PS Direct
Fortnite DualSense | $84 at PS Direct
I had hoped upon the initial unveiling that at least the back of this upcoming controller would have more interesting design elements, but there's just the 007 First Light logo and the tagline "Earn That Number" printed on the back of the pad, and that's it. It's a huge step up from the official GoldenEye N64 and 007 GoldenEye Wii Classic Controller Pro controllers, don't get me wrong. They just sported a gold finish and called it a day.
However, I was hoping there'd be more to this limited edition 007 First Light controller, especially as it's $10 / £10 more than your everyday DualSense. The controller will cost $84.99 / £74.99 when pre-orders go live at 10am local time on April 17, and it will be available at official PlayStation Direct online storefronts and "participating retailers."
The official PlayStation Blog announcement didn't share exactly what US and UK storefronts will be stocking the pad. Yet, if you're still eager to be the gamer with the golden controller and grab this limited edition PS5 pad, we'll be back to provide you with a list of the best pre-order links so you don't miss out.
- View all limited edition DualSense controllers at PS Direct
- View all PS5 controllers at Amazon
Our guides to the best PC controllers for gaming, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers are full of high-quality pads that you don't have to wait for.
