Sony’s newest controller for the PlayStation 5 breaks away from its usual design language. Unlike the familiar twin-stick, two-handed DualSense, this one is built for a very specific crowd. Originally dubbed “Project Defiant,” the now-named FlexStrike is Sony’s take on a high-end fight stick, targeting serious fighting game enthusiasts. It’s slated for release in 2026, but the most curious—and potentially frustrating—part isn’t how it plays, but how it connects to your system.
The FlexStrike packs the full set of face buttons and triggers you’d expect from a standard DualSense controller, alongside a single Japanese-style arcade stick with a ball top. All inputs are powered by mechanical switches, giving it a tactile, clicky feel that most gamepads can’t replicate. What really sets it apart, though, is the swappable restrictor gates built into the base. Users can choose from square, octagonal, or circular gates to better mimic the feel of different arcade machines, tailoring the experience to their preference.
That alone would likely satisfy most fight stick fans. But Sony has taken things further by ditching standard Bluetooth in favor of a proprietary wireless connection called PlayStation Link. This 2.4GHz technology, which first appeared in Sony’s Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore earbuds, promises lower latency and faster response times. Like Microsoft’s Xbox wireless protocol, it requires a dedicated adapter. Earlier accessories used a USB-A dongle, but FlexStrike will ship with a USB-C version—essential now that the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro have dropped USB-A ports on the front.
FlexStrike supports up to two controllers per PlayStation Link adapter, and can be used alongside Sony’s Pulse audio gear. You can even run it simultaneously with Bluetooth-connected DualSense controllers, allowing for flexibility when switching between input styles or navigating menus. If you’d rather skip wireless altogether, there’s a straightforward wired option as well.
Since PlayStation Link’s debut, Sony has refreshed its console lineup and launched the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro. Still, it’s puzzling that the company hasn’t integrated PlayStation Link directly into the console hardware. If proprietary wireless standards are here to stay, they should be seamless—more like HP’s approach with its Omen Max gaming laptop, which connects to HP’s peripherals without extra setup.
Sony would benefit from unifying its wireless ecosystem. Right now, its Inzone gaming headsets use a separate 2.4GHz dongle incompatible with PlayStation Link. Meanwhile, accessories like the Bravia Theater U neck speaker still plug into the controller just to access 3D audio. Why can’t there be one dongle for all Sony gear—or better yet, no dongle at all for low-latency wireless? That’s the real innovation fans are waiting for.
