Toys > A PS4 Controller
March 12th, 2023
This gift suggestion is for the casual gamer, not a console owner. Someone who likes to play a game occasionally on their laptop, phone, or iPad.
You can use a PS4 controller with a PlayStation, of course, but it’s also a bog standard Bluetooth device. They’re robustly built and have decent battery life. They charge via micro USB, so you probably have a suitable cable already. They’re officially supported in the Apple ecosystem - so you can game on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV. They’re often on sale. They have all the buttons necessary for emulated SNES/Megadrive games. They work great with Steam, and Steam Link is surprisingly viable. They don’t take up a lot of space. All of these aspects make them a good gift.
But it’s far from perfect, especially on a Mac. Not all games are compatible, as developers must actively code controller support. Mac gaming is already quite niche - adding a controller narrows the niche, so sometimes it works poorly. Steam seems to tell games that I’m using an XBox controller so I often get XBox prompts that don’t map to the button labels. I own two PS4 controllers, and neither will charge from an iPad USB charger. I bought an AmazonBasics charger just for them.
Still, a wireless controller really helps with sit-back gaming. It feels better to use a controller than tapping on a screen. Using a controller with games on an Apple TV transforms it from a novelty to something mainstream.