Sony Won’t Disable Light Bar on the PlayStation 4 Controller

[blaaislaai]

I have head numorous reports that the DS4 controller's battery life sucks compared to the PS3, however why would sony not want you to be able to switch off the LED on the controller.. for longer lasting gaming? Justification is needed

If you were hoping Sony would add an option into the PlayStation 4 firmware to turn off the LED that sits atop your PlayStation 4 controller, don’t put that masking tape away quite yet.

The typically warm Shuhei Yoshida, Sony’s President of Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment, kept things short when he replied to a tweet about the topic.

As EGM notes, one of the few complaints about the PlayStation 4 controller is the much shorter battery life when compared to its predecessor. Users suggested that turning the light off might save battery, but all Yoshida had to say on that topic was that “the LEDs do not use much battery.”

I can understand why people with more reflective televisions and darker rooms might find the light irritating, but those with concerns about battery life don’t really need to worry. Disabling the light bar on the PlayStation 4 controller wouldn’t save much more than disabling the power LED on the PlayStation 3 controller, so if it’s battery life you’re worried about, the light bar isn’t the first place Sony’s going to be looking when they try to extend that.

I’ll just pick up a roll of black masking tape for when Sony manages to get the console back in stock.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/01/17/sony-wont-disable-light-bar-on-the-playstation-4-controller/

 

[S1ght]

I kinda agree with what Yoshida said. LEDs use very little amount of power and the battery you might save there will be minuscule I reckon.

 

[Vapor-X]

Why would you want to turn the led off, it is what makes the ps4 unique, I know this decreases the battery life but really it has low power, and gives a feeling of new technology.

 

[Tom]

Iv never been fazed with the battery life of a controller... Iv always got 2 so if 1 dies i go to the second and plug in the first, and if iv had mates around to jam some Fifa we have never played for more than 3-4 hours...

And what S1ght says is true, the LED's use very little power...

 

[brendanvb]

I can understand how it could become annoying when playing in the dark and it reflects on the screen, so I don't see why they can't just provide us with the option to turn it off.

 

[XbatousaiX]

Probably to much effort to really do it, and any ways 0.5 percent of ps4 owners will care about reflection if it bothers you, use some tape to cover it up.

 

[blaaislaai]

I can understand how it could become annoying when playing in the dark and it reflects on the screen, so I don't see why they can't just provide us with the option to turn it off.

Yeah that is how I'm reasoning about it. I only play in the evening ( 90% of the time ) and sit about 1.5 - 2meter away from my 46" TV, that little blue light will definitely reflect on the screen. Unless it will be one of those annoyances to get used to.

 

[Vapor-X]

They should maybe just make a setting to dim the light, because I like the colors of the ps4 controller, I have never seen one infront of me, but I looks better than the xbox controller.

Usually I sit at a table playing with the controller between my legs under the table, It is really comfortable for me , but people laugh at me for some akward reason.

 

[brendanvb]

Probably to much effort to really do it, and any ways 0.5 percent of ps4 owners will care about reflection if it bothers you, use some tape to cover it up.

I guess, while not ideal, that is an option. Just doesn't seem like something that would take a hell of a lot of effort to patch in.

 

[Stunt]

Yeah that is how I'm reasoning about it. I only play in the evening ( 90% of the time ) and sit about 1.5 - 2meter away from my 46" TV, that little blue light will definitely reflect on the screen. Unless it will be one of those annoyances to get used to.

Buy a non-reflective screen... Lol, I can't stand a reflective screen and thus always go for the matte one's. Sadly most still have shiny frames

 

[Wlad]

I can't see why people would complain about the light bar. My TV has a pretty reflective frame and I can't really see any reflection of the light on it or the TV screen. I sit less than 2 meter away from the screen and even when the screen is completely black I barely notice the reflection. Like others have said, if it bothers you that much get some insulation tape or something.

 

[dampi256]

I think the battery drain comes from the touch-pad. I might be wrong.

 

[Nemesis]

I can't see why people would complain about the light bar. My TV has a pretty reflective frame and I can't really see any reflection of the light on it or the TV screen. I sit less than 2 meter away from the screen and even when the screen is completely black I barely notice the reflection. Like others have said, if it bothers you that much get some isolation tape or something.

Same here. But you mos know the internet... everyone knows better. On a positive note, the light bar has helped me navigate in the dark so +1!