Home Gaming No dimming the PS4’s lightbar

No dimming the PS4’s lightbar

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DS4

I love the DualShock 4, and I’m fortunate enough to not have the rubber coming off the analogue thumbsticks; a problem many people seem to be experiencing. If there is one pretty big complaint I have about the thing though, is the poor battery life. I get 6 to 8 hours of play from the thing before it needs charging.  Many think that disabling that bright blue light on the front of it would help alleviate the battery-life problem. But it’s not happening.

Responding to a query on Twitter about the possibility of a firmware update to perhaps disable the light, Sony worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida said it’s just not going to happen.

The reality of it is that LED lights really just don’t use all that much power, no matter how bright they may appear to be. I can’t say I care much for the light-bar though, to be honest. It flashes pretty colours, which is nice enough, but it’s hardly something I pay attention to. It’s used for tracking in conjunction with the PlayStation camera, but right now there’s not a thing worth getting the camera for. Playroom is a cool tech demo, but it runs out of fun within about 5 minutes, and the only other game to use the camera is Just Dance 2014.

I’d love to be able to disable the LED, purely because it’s mostly pointless for me, and that would stop it reflecting off the TV. As far as battery life goes, there are third party batteries coming that you’ll be able to install, that should increase battery life twofold.

Last Updated: January 16, 2014

62 Comments

  1. RinceThis2014

    January 16, 2014 at 08:40

    Oh damn, didn’t think of it reflecting off monitors and the like. That would irritate the crap out of me as I often play with lights dimmed/off.

    Reply

    • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

      January 16, 2014 at 08:49

      You get used to the reflections.. PC case has a massive blue ass light in the front, and with the side-window there is the blue glow from inside the case… you have some light in the room with the lights off 😉

      Reply

      • RinceThis2014

        January 16, 2014 at 08:59

        Console boy here 🙂 Nah, difference with a PC case or console light is they don’t move… Your hands do.

        Reply

        • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

          January 16, 2014 at 09:01

          Con-sole? what is that strange fabrication that you mention?

          That can get seriously annoying though, duct tape it is then 🙂

          Reply

          • RinceThis2014

            January 16, 2014 at 09:04

            HAHA. Indeed. And the reason we exists is to CONSOLE you guys for late exclusives 😛

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        January 16, 2014 at 09:03

        All those could be turned off by not buying LED fans and simply unplugging the HDD LED indicator cable 😉 #JustSaying

        Reply

    • Rock789

      January 16, 2014 at 09:27

      Depends how close you sit… Those of us with the gift of sight tend to sit further back… 😉 🙂
      **runs and hides under desk**

      Reply

      • RinceThis2014

        January 16, 2014 at 09:34

        *Those of us with the gift of huge fucking TVs* Fixed for you 😉

        Reply

        • TiMsTeR1033

          January 16, 2014 at 09:37

          *sniffs I want a big fucking tv!

          Reply

          • RinceThis2014

            January 16, 2014 at 09:43

            My brother Will has a huge one, makes me want to cry 🙁

        • Rock789

          January 16, 2014 at 09:44

          Touche’…. 😉 🙂

          Reply

  2. Grant Hancock

    January 16, 2014 at 08:42

    Hmm .. there must be a solution to this problem …

    Reply

    • RinceThis2014

      January 16, 2014 at 08:45

      A sock?

      Reply

      • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

        January 16, 2014 at 08:51

        There are better uses for a sock.

        Reply

        • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

          January 16, 2014 at 08:52

          such as??

          Reply

          • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

            January 16, 2014 at 08:56

            Making sock puppets, obviously. OBVIOUSLY.

          • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

            January 16, 2014 at 08:56

            Nice recovery..

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            January 16, 2014 at 09:22

            Obviously

          • Sageville

            January 16, 2014 at 09:27

            Hamster-sock-ducttape

          • Hammersteyn

            January 16, 2014 at 08:57

            Like jerking of…. I mean what Geoff said…. um yeah.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 16, 2014 at 08:58

            Filthy mind!

          • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

            January 16, 2014 at 08:58

            Bwaaa haaa brilliant

        • RinceThis2014

          January 16, 2014 at 08:58

          Correct…

          Reply

      • CrasH

        January 16, 2014 at 08:55

        Soo, the sock is to put in your mouth and the duct tape to seal it before they upduct you… see no more flashing light problem for you….

        Reply

    • RockMossel2014

      January 16, 2014 at 08:59

      The two best creations of man. Duct Tape and Q20. If either of those doesn’t work, you’re not using enough.

      Reply

      • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

        January 16, 2014 at 09:00

        So many jokes can be made here, but don’t want to be shouted at for being sexist…

        Reply

        • Rags

          January 16, 2014 at 09:02

          A joke is not a joke unless it as at the expense of someone. Go on. 🙂

          Reply

          • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

            January 16, 2014 at 09:02

            Duct tape turns “No No No” into “mmmh mmh mmh”

        • RockMossel2014

          January 16, 2014 at 09:04

          lol really? I have one of the dirtiest minds and I’m struggling to think of something here!

          Reply

          • GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

            January 16, 2014 at 09:09

            One only needs two tools in life: Q20 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop.

          • RockMossel2014

            January 16, 2014 at 09:18

            lol fair enough!

          • Sageville

            January 16, 2014 at 09:30

            Pfft!

            Old Skool!

            Think Hamster + Ducttape

          • RockMossel2014

            January 16, 2014 at 09:43

            Mind=Blown

  3. Hammersteyn

    January 16, 2014 at 08:50

    LOL that’s why I bought a second controller. Still it seems to charge faster than the battery depletes so that’s a plus. Also like Geoffrey my rubbers not coming either controller.

    Reply

    • William Francis

      January 16, 2014 at 09:05

      Same, 2 controllers solves all them issues.

      Reply

    • Lourens Jordaan

      January 17, 2014 at 12:40

      My Dualshock 4 developed a serious case of sticky trigger. I had to start up my PS3 yesterday (oh the horror!!!) just because I was too stingy to get myself a second controller. BT games is replacing it this afternoon. At least I got to see what the hype around borderlands 2 was about.

      As far as I can see in these posts, I might be the only guy who had any issues with the controller. I still don’t feel comfortable with the fact that the thing broke only after a month of use. That’s about 140 hours worth.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 17, 2014 at 12:48

        Shame man, well if the controller lasts longer than a month this time round you know you’re good then.

        Reply

        • Lourens Jordaan

          January 17, 2014 at 13:03

          Thanks for the support. The community must stand together in times like these. lol

          I went over to the “http://www.lazygamer.net/video/dualshock-4-controller-issues-are-getting-worse/” article and found at least three other guys who had the same problem in the last seven days.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            January 17, 2014 at 13:11

            Shucks! Well hopefully BT Games sorts everyone out. I know there are people who has had issues with them but I can only commend them on their service so far.

  4. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    January 16, 2014 at 09:02

    ( •_•) I guess that they…

    ( •_•)>??-? are yet to see the light

    (??_?) YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 16, 2014 at 09:06

      LOL

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Vegas

      January 16, 2014 at 09:22

      BWAHAHAHAHA

      Reply

    • Rock789

      January 16, 2014 at 09:29

      Brilliant! 🙂

      Reply

    • Sageville

      January 16, 2014 at 09:31

      …when someone has too much time on their hands…. out comes the ascii art

      Reply

  5. William Francis

    January 16, 2014 at 09:04

    I’ve been playing almost every night on my PS4, and sometimes all weekend too, and I have yet to have the blue light in-front of the controller get in my way. I barely notice it if at all. But the battery life can be a bit bothersome. That’s why i got me 2 controllers!

    Reply

  6. Melasco

    January 16, 2014 at 09:12

    I get over 10 hours before it shuts down. About 1.5 after the low battery warning, but I’ve never felt the life is too short. Every 3rd day I just leave it in the charging dock for an hour an good to go for another 3.

    I do however agree that the light bar is pretty useless, and imo they could have left it out completely.

    Reply

  7. ALKi1234

    January 16, 2014 at 09:12

    Since their unveil last year February this is the first time i’m going “this is a M$ way of thinking”.

    Reply

  8. fred

    January 16, 2014 at 09:15

    Loving the dualshock 4 – no complaints.

    Reply

  9. VampyricSquirrel Monk

    January 16, 2014 at 09:16

    It’s probably the addition of the touch pad and whatever else they’ve added to it which is sapping the power.

    Reply

    • Sageville

      January 16, 2014 at 09:32

      I like the touchpad, just need some clever peeps to make some meaningful use of it.

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 16, 2014 at 09:35

      Prob a combination of the Leds and the touchpad..

      Reply

  10. Rock789

    January 16, 2014 at 09:26

    Yeah, battery life is definitely a little low. But still loving my PS4! 🙂

    I must say, I dunno what the fuss about the thumbstick rubber was all about – the rubber on the thumbsticks of my controller aren’t coming off either. But maybe that’s because I don’t gnaw on them like some demented rabbit! 😉 🙂

    Reply

    • Sageville

      January 16, 2014 at 09:33

      Mine neither, I did notice that the roughness of the thumbsticks goes away after some use.

      Reply

    • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

      January 16, 2014 at 10:02

      It will eventually wear off. My 360 controller sticks are completely plain, still usable

      Reply

    • Double-O-Six and a half

      January 16, 2014 at 10:44

      Does the rubber coming off at inopportune moments create the risk of getting a host of miniature Dualshock 4 controllers? So you don’t get too excited on your PS4 are the rubbers a form of mirth control?

      Reply

  11. Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

    January 16, 2014 at 10:01

    I’d just get a longer USB cable..?

    Also I sit below the level of my TV so don’t have the reflection problem 🙂

    There I fixed it

    Reply

  12. El Capitan del Blade

    January 16, 2014 at 11:49

    It’s called Duct tape people, no more lightbar reflection.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Vegas

      January 17, 2014 at 11:46

      hahaha, indeed

      Reply

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