The new and improved DualShock 3 looks nearly identical to the Sixaxis controller that originally shipped with the PS3. Noticeably heavier, the DualShock loses the Sixaxis logo, but features both game activated vibration (rumble) while maintaining full tilt functionality (Sixaxis).
Initially Sony tried to assert that the reason the PS3 didn't support rumble was due to the fact that tilt/motion sensing wasn't compatible with rumble, and later that rumble was simply a "last generation" feature (poor Phil Harrison). In reality rumble is a patented technology owned by a company named Immersion. Sony had lost its initial lawsuit over the technology (Microsoft settled for tens of millions of dollars) and, thus, couldn't include it in their controller. The two companies have settled their differences, and now we all get to enjoy the controller that should have always been... albeit a year and change later than we all expected.
It should be noted that the DualShock 3 officially replaces the Sixaxis controller, which has now been discontinued. The DualShock 3 has an MSRP of $54.95.
Sony has also released the following list of PS3 games that are compatible with/support rumble via the new DualShock 3 wireless controller. Games marked with an asterisk require a downloadable patch in order to activate the DualShock 3's rumble feature. The patch should download automatically.
Here’s the official list of games supporting the DUALSHOCK 3 at launch:
- (PS3) SCEA - Formula One Championship Edition*
- (PS3) SCEA - MotorStorm*
- (PS3) SCEA - Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
- (PS3) SCEA - PAIN
- (PSN) SCEA - High Velocity Bowling
- (PSN) SCEA - MLB 08: The Show
- (PS3) SCEA - Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
- (PS3) SCEA - Resistance: Fall of Man*
- (PS3) SCEA - Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
- (PS3) SCEA - Go! Sports Ski*
- (PSN) SCEA - Folklore*
- (PS3) SCEA - Heavenly Sword*
- (PS3) SCEA - Warhawk*
- (PSN / PS3) SCEA - Super Stardust HD*
- (PSN) SCEA - Snakeball
- (PSN) SCEA - Toy Home
- (PSN) SCEA - PSOne Emulation
- (PSN) SCEA - Piyotama
- (PSN) SCEA - PixelJunk Monsters
- (PSN) SCEA - Blast Factor*
- (PSN) Sega - Condemned 2: Bloodshot
- (PS3) Ubisoft - Lost: Via Domus
- (PS3) Ubisoft - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2*
- (PS3) EA - Burnout Paradise
- (PS3) KOEI - Dynasty Warriors 6
- (PS3) Capcom - Devil May Cry 4
- (PS3) Atari - Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit
- (PS3) Disney Interactive - Turok
