Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
Five different gaming controllers for PC scattered around a desktop surface
Gaming Controllers The best PC controller for gaming 2026
Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot
PS5 PS5 exclusives: Every game released and confirmed so far
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless in white being held in front of a PS5
Headsets & Headphones The best PS5 headset 2026: SteelSeries holds onto the crown for another year
Xbox Elite Series 2 controller
Gaming Controllers The best Xbox Series X controller in 2026
A collection of TMR gaming controllers
Gaming Controllers I've tested them for you, and these are the 7 best TMR controllers on the shelves right now
The three colorways of the CRKD Ult Pro
Gaming Controllers Finally, CRKD is launching a pro controller that's shaped like a regular gamepad
Nintendo Switch 2 playing Donkey Kong Bananza with Pro Controller to the left
Gaming Controllers The best Nintendo Switch 2 controller 2026: Compatible gamepads road tested with Ninty's new handheld
DualSense Edge review image showing the controller next to the original DualSense in Nova Pink
Gaming Controllers The best PS5 controller 2026: Find your Edge
Arjun shields up as Prophet blasts out a spiral of yellow corrupted bullets in a Saros boss fight, with the GamesRadar+ Big Preview frame
Roguelike Games Saros: The Big Preview – Hands-on and developer access with PS5's roguelike game-changer
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Gaming Controllers The best Nintendo Switch controllers in 2026
The Flydigi Apex 5 with its screen and lighting on
Gaming Controllers I'm a controller reviewer with a gap in my testing schedule, and this is what I'm gaming with
Arjun runs towards Bastion in Saros, using his blue shield to absorb a spiral of blue orb bullets, with the orange GamesRadar+ Big Preview frame
Roguelike Games Saros will "tempt you to do tricky things", its game designer tells me about its aggressive, creative shield combat
A Nyxi Flexi on a desk with pink lighting turned on
Gaming Controllers This controller lets you swap between Xbox and PlayStation thumbstick layouts
PS4 Controllers
Gaming Controllers The best PS4 controllers you can buy in 2026
  1. Platforms
  2. PlayStation
  3. PS5

What do PS5 adaptive triggers actually do? This short video will show you

News
By Connor Sheridan published 13 November 2020

These triggers will fight you

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

DualSense
(Image credit: Sony PlayStation)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

It's hard to get a good idea what the PS5 adaptive triggers feel like without holding a DualSense controller yourself, but this new Reddit video will get you most of the way there.

  • If you're still trying to find one yourself, stay tuned to our guide on where to buy a PS5
The best video example of the adaptive triggers I could come up with. from r/PS5

Reddit user TyMiles2018 uploaded a brief video which shows them playing Astro's Playroom on a TV in the background and holding their DualSense controller sideways in the foreground. When they press R2 to fire Astro's balloon-launching machine gun, you can see how the adaptive trigger starts jumping: it rapidly alternates the resistance required to hold the trigger down, which mimics the sort of wild kickback a giant water balloon launcher might impose on its cute little robot wielder.

If the effect seems like too much, check our guide on how to turn off PS5 adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

Article continues below
You may like
  • DualSense Edge review image showing the controller next to the original DualSense in Nova Pink The best PS5 controller 2026: Find your Edge
  • A patented Sony controller design next to the PS5's DualSense controller The PS6 controller might not even have buttons on it as a new patent hints Sony is going all-in on haptic feedback
  • An image of the heart rate monitor on the Anbernic RG G01 controller next to the sweatlord gamer meme Sweatlord gamers, listen up: this new controller tracks your heart rate as you play

It's a lot easier to show off what better graphics and higher framerates look like, but these are the kinds of features that really get me excited about a new console launch - the stuff that makes a subtle but profound impact on not just what you play but how you play it. Admittedly, we now have to wait and see if developers will keep supporting this cool PS5-exclusive feature months and years into the console's lifespan. I also left my 3DS' 3D effect on full blast the entire time because I thought it was freaking incredible and that feature didn't quite become a games industry standard, so I might not be the bellwether here.

Regardless of how widely supported the PS5 adaptive triggers are down the line, they're clearly a lot of fun to play with in Astro's Playroom - and it's bundled free with every console, so you can't lose.

See what else is on the way with our guide to upcoming PS5 games.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Connor Sheridan
Connor Sheridan
Social Links Navigation
Former GamesRadar+ News Writer

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and was formerly a staff writer at GamesRadar+.

Read more
DualSense Edge review image showing the controller next to the original DualSense in Nova Pink
Gaming Controllers The best PS5 controller 2026: Find your Edge
 
 
A patented Sony controller design next to the PS5's DualSense controller
Gaming Controllers The PS6 controller might not even have buttons on it as a new patent hints Sony is going all-in on haptic feedback
 
 
An image of the heart rate monitor on the Anbernic RG G01 controller next to the sweatlord gamer meme
Gaming Controllers Sweatlord gamers, listen up: this new controller tracks your heart rate as you play
 
 
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
 
 
Death Stranding 2 PS5 screenshot
PS5 PS5 exclusives: Every game released and confirmed so far
 
 
The DualSense sitting next to the Hyperkin Competitor
Gaming Controllers The Hyperkin Competitor might be a better DualSense than Sony's
 
 
Latest in PS5
Macduff running from a monster during the upcoming PS5 game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert is "opposite" to most open-world games because the "magic kicks in" later, says Arkane Lyon boss
 
 
Arc Raiders character grimacing
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders boss promoted to Nexon chief backs AI push for "redesigning game development"
 
 
Bethesda
The Elder Scrolls From Arena to Skyrim, Elden Ring streamer beats Bethesda's entire RPG series "first try" with 0 damage
 
 
Crimson Desert at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023
Open World Games Nearly 2 weeks after Crimson Desert's launch, tons of players are still in the first region
 
 
Arc Raiders Wasp Hunter armor set with yellow leather
Third Person Shooters "Players shouldn't feel fully safe" in Arc Raiders even in friendly lobbies, lead dev says
 
 
Marathon Triage runner
FPS Games Yes, Marathon is hard – but that is liberating
 
 
Latest in News
Macduff running from a monster during the upcoming PS5 game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert is "opposite" to most open-world games because the "magic kicks in" later, says Arkane Lyon boss
 
 
Billy Butcher using his tendril powers
Superhero Shows Karl Urban says The Boys season 5 is "The Boys at its best" heading into the series finale
 
 
Arc Raiders character grimacing
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders boss promoted to Nexon chief backs AI push for "redesigning game development"
 
 
Pokemon
Pokemon Nintendo's Pokemon battling claim is too "obvious" to stand, US patent office says
 
 
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft WoW lead asks how players would feel about playing on controller, fans fear it'll "get worse" on PC
 
 
Caleb poses with the Love and Deepspace main character against a pink background
RPGs After gracing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with his voice, Ben Starr is ready for Love and Deepspace
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Arc Raiders character grimacing
    1
    Arc Raiders boss promoted to Nexon chief backs AI push for "redesigning game development"
  2. 2
    Nintendo's Pokemon battling claim is too "obvious" to stand, US patent office says
  3. 3
    MTG Secrets of Strixhaven finally fixes a problem I've had with Magic for years
  4. 4
    Nearly 2 weeks after Crimson Desert's launch, tons of players are still in the first region
  5. 5
    WoW lead asks how players would feel about playing on controller, fans fear it'll "get worse" on PC

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...