PS4's new touchscreen, social controller

The DualShock 4 controller for the PlayStation 4 claims an enhanced experience and a few intriguing new features, including a Kinect-like stereo camera.

True to rumours that have been circulating for the last few months, the new DualShock 4 controller for the PlayStation 4 features, among other things, a Vita-style touchscreen on the front.

The new controller was show at Sony's PlayStation 4 event in New York this morning, where Sony unveiled the important features of the console.

PlayStation architect Mark Cerny said that the touchscreen was intended as a new input platform, but did not demonstrate further.

Also new to the controller is a headphone jack, so that gamers no longer have to plug it into the console; and on the left-hand side, a "Share" button. This allows players to immediately share screenshots and videos of their gameplay, as well as stream in real time.

This, in turn, allows friends in the player's network to join a player's game, and offer tips and advice if they see their friend having a bit of trouble.

On the front of the console is a light panel that is, Cerny said, to quickly and easily differentiate between controllers.

Also shown was a Kinect-style stereo camera that can map the 3D space of the room and track the controllers in it. It may also have compatibility with the Move controllers, which were shown later in the presentation by Media Molecule, who demonstrated a yet-unnamed building game.

The DualShock controller, Sony said, had a new design that enhanced buttons and thumb-sticks to reduce latency and improved rumble capabilities.

The PlayStation 4 console was not actually shown.

For a breakdown on what Sony announced, visit PlayStation 4: what we learned.