The controller that came with my launch PS4 developed a problem where every time I shot a gun by pulling the right trigger I would move slightly right as if the left stick was being tilted right a bit. This was right after the warranty period, or maybe just before but it was a gift so getting proof of purchase was a hassle so I just bought a replacement and figured the problem was not so annoying it could not make for a short term 2d controller for one of the local multiplayer games that are no longer made. (Also being a gift means the controller lasted through about 9 months since it was bought at launch but only got set up after Christmas.

Replacement controller had one of the buttons die quick enough that I could do a retail exchange.

The second year of SRL I was losing every race and couldn't figure out why since I had been ok at it the year before. I'm sure you see where this is going? I just started playing witcher 3 and to cast a spell you pull right trigger. Except it does nothing unless I squeeze as hard as I can, and then it activates. So, I'm assuming the trigger no longer has the full range and that's why I lose every SRL race.

I know I play a pretty decent amount of destiny, but I'm not obsessive about it. More days I can't play video games than can and the Xbox takes some of that time. Point is, I don't think I am playing more than most and I'm not hard on the equipment. Anyone else finding these things don't last more than a year or am I just really lucky?

I still use the one that came with my console ~3 years ago. No issues.

I'm on my 4th & 5th PS4 controllers right now (I keep 2 in rotation at all times; 1 in the charger while I use the other). I put loads of hours into them, but they haven't held up as well for me as my old 360 controllers did.

My initial controller that came with my PS4 was broken when I got it. I had NO IDEA. Why? Because the way it was broken was... weird. It didn't fully register that you were pressing to the left. Does that make sense? No. It registered that it went left. For sure. In games that only needed a bit of fidelity when turning left, it was fully functional. Spelunky? Fine. Steamworld Dig? Perfect. Destiny? Nope. Not at all. When pressing the stick all the way to the left I turned at exactly 50% of the speed with which I turned to the right. This wasn't a gradual shift - if I was only adjusting a little left or a little right, it turned at exactly the same speed. Only at the extreme edge, the controller would fail to go all the way to 100.

At first I thought this was a problem with Destiny. The problem only happened in Destiny. Bungie said "no, this is a problem with the PS4 software." Well, that was wrong, but I had no way to prove that. Sony said "It only happens with destiny, so it's a problem with destiny." No one would fix it. And then one day my friend came over to loan me his pro controller, and I realized the problem wasn't software, because that controller worked fine. It was hardware. Well, shit. I was waaay outside the warranty issue for my controller. WAY outside.

For the record, I did, in fact, complete the first year of SRL racing with that busted controller. Turning left was basically impossible, so I had to do a boost turn for *every* *left* *turn*. Every single one. And I'd completed the first two raids with a busted controller. Turning hard left, it turns out, isn't really a required action in any raid encounter. Most of Destiny is played in the grey area between no turn and maximum turn. That's good design, I think, to force your players to have a little finesse.

It was, however, a problem in SRL. And, to a lesser degree, a problem in PvP. The change when I got my new controller was dramatic and immediate.

So yeah, the PS4 controller sucks. It's too small, it's fragile, and it's poorly made.

And it's not the Duke. #bestcontrollerever.

LOL

And it's not the Xbox Elite Controller. #bestcontrollerever.

Though the build quality of the pro controller plus wireless is making me question if I can still call it the best.

https://destiny.bungie.org/forum/index.php?id=115543

https://destiny.bungie.org/forum/index.php?id=115543

I predicted Bungie would add custom games in that thread.

The controller that came with my launch PS4 developed a problem where every time I shot a gun by pulling the right trigger I would move slightly right as if the left stick was being tilted right a bit. This was right after the warranty period, or maybe just before but it was a gift so getting proof of purchase was a hassle so I just bought a replacement and figured the problem was not so annoying it could not make for a short term 2d controller for one of the local multiplayer games that are no longer made. (Also being a gift means the controller lasted through about 9 months since it was bought at launch but only got set up after Christmas.

This is usually caused by a tiny little white plastic not latching on to the black nubby on the side of the thumbstick. What exactly does it do? Who knows! But pushing it in with a screwdriver fixed it for us.

Replacement controller had one of the buttons die quick enough that I could do a retail exchange.

The second year of SRL I was losing every race and couldn't figure out why since I had been ok at it the year before. I'm sure you see where this is going? I just started playing witcher 3 and to cast a spell you pull right trigger. Except it does nothing unless I squeeze as hard as I can, and then it activates. So, I'm assuming the trigger no longer has the full range and that's why I lose every SRL race.

This is going to be either the rubber under the trigger being out of place, or something sticky inside your trigger (stop eating food while you play lol). Open the controller and remove the trigger (but be careful not to lose the little metal hinge that pushes the trigger back up... though if you do lose it, it comes included with triggers that you can order from newegg for a couple of bucks... I had that same issue pop up when I knocked that little plastic out of place while painting Sammy's controller.

I know I play a pretty decent amount of destiny, but I'm not obsessive about it. More days I can't play video games than can and the Xbox takes some of that time. Point is, I don't think I am playing more than most and I'm not hard on the equipment. Anyone else finding these things don't last more than a year or am I just really lucky?

We played enough to wear the thumbsticks down to the plastic (thankfully you can buy new thumbsticks online for a few bucks), and haven't ever had a permanent issue with any of them. I think there are simply some assembly issues with some controllers rather than flat-out hardware failure. Don't be afraid to open the controllers; it's four phillips screws on the outside, one under the battery (and two ribbons that you don't NEEEED to unhook). Of course, if you can use the warranty, do that first, but you can have the controller in pieces and back together in minutes. Nothing too sensitive.

Thanks for the tips. I might tinker once the replacement I got on PRIME DAY gets here.

The new DS4 has a part number "CUH-ZCT2" and annoying new light bar strip hidden under the touchpad. It can be used wired.

I have never had a problem with my original PS4 controllers. I used the one that came with the system I bought a month or two before the D1 Alpha and a spare controller I bought the week of the Alpha.
I typically use one until the low battery warning and then swap it with the one that was charged up. I take good care of them and always use the same 1A wall charger and cable.

My original controllers have worn out a little (not that much really but I wanted an excuse for replacing them). I recently picked up a New DS4 for a good price. I have been using it wired. It seems to be slightly more responsive than when used via Bluetooth/wireless. (this could also be due to the power of suggestion as I had already read it was supposedly more responsive). I feel it has helped a little bit with PvP, but that is circumstantial and could be false (I suck either way).
Make sure you get a USB cable that is long enough to reach your couch. It really sucks being tethered and I have dropped the wired-up new controller more than I have ever dropped the wireless ones.