Sony Publishes An Official Linux Driver For PlayStation 5 DualSense Controllers

[jntesteves]

Geez, the theories on this thread!
Sony uses Android extensively. Android which uses Linux. That's all there is to it.

[esbeeb]

Owing to this driver support, I'd get these joysticks for a niece or nephew way sooner than the Kentucky Fried Joysticks.

[bofh80]

stadia

[leech]

What makes the most sense to me is that people may develop more games utilizing some of the unique characteristics of the controllers. and you know if you get a game like Horizon Zero Dawn to run on Linux, and the controllers enhanced the gameplay as such as the trailers for some PS5 games show, maybe they will change from random gimmick, to something people actually want. I know I am more inclined to buy a PS5 controller nkw and was going to wait at least a year or two to get a PS5.

[EthraZa]

O guess they want DualSense working on Sony Android TVs for PS remote, Stadia and the likes.

[theriddick]

They must be leaning on Linux for something. Sony doesn't do anything that doesn't directly cut them a check. Including hiring Denzel Washington.

Linux is a big supporter of Vulkan API which from what I understand is easiest for Sony to port or even use directly since it isn't locked down to a particular OS.

I believe the PS4 and Switch even are capable of running Vulkan API if a developer wishes, but I do not know directly since I don't have console dev kits, but someone who does might know if vulkan calls can be made available or not.

Lets be honest here, DX12 is kind-of the enemy of Linux and basically everything outside of windows10... (xbox run a streamlined version of windows10)

[stqn]

My guess would be that this allows game developers to do initial development or porting on Linux rather than on the PS5. Probably makes for quicker code-compile-test-fix cycles than involving an external locked-down device.

All the consoles require Windows for development (the big three at least). It would be a nice change to be able to use Linux but I don’t think it will happen soon.

[gavron]

Any company that wants to contribute unencumbered FOSS is welcome.

Once they apologize to Geohotz perhaps I'll buy a product they make ever again.

E

[microcode]

Cool, my current favourite controller is the XBox One controller but I'm always happy to try others.

[You-]

Playing via android makes sense as a good reason.

Sony were one of the first (then) big manufacturers with a major effort to mainline all the required kernel modifications. They are no longer as big a player and I have not kept informed whether they continue to do the same, but it would make sense that they do.

Getting the drivers in now will mean phones launching in the second half of next year and afterwards could start to use th native driver. Considering a plus 5 year lifespan for consoles, it would be better in the mainline kernel than as a patch.