9 best PS4 accessories to boost your gaming, from headsets to controllers
When you first purchase a Playstation 4, you’re provided with the bare essentials you need to get started. However, there’s so much more to the system than simply sticking with one controller and no other accessories.
Like with any hobby, you can expand what you do with your Playstation 4 depending on your budget and needs. Here’s a look at the best accessories for the system, and why they’re worth investing in.
£44.98 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Two-player games
A second controller is essential if you want to play games side by side with your mates or family. It’s possible to buy cheaper, third-party solutions but none of these controllers are anywhere near as comfortable as the official controller. Pay the extra and buy one that’s identical to the controller you get with the system.
Thanks to some well thought out design, the battery is internal so you don’t have to worry about chipping in for a never-ending supply of regular batteries. Also, it has a built in speaker and stereo headset jack, which is useful for online gaming. Just try not to throw it anywhere in frustration. They’re pretty lightweight.
£9.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Efficient charging
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The Playstation 4 benefits from its controllers having internal batteries so you can easily recharge them without the need to swap out regular power sources. However, the charging cable that comes with the console is pretty short and flimsy. A better solution is to buy a dedicated charging station. While official solutions exist, this one from Y Team is far cheaper and just as effective.
Simply slot the PS4 controller on top of it and it fully charges within two hours. Alternatively, you can place two controllers down and it charges them in four hours. LED lights indicate what stage it’s at, with blue indicating that the controller is fully charged.
It’s a more convenient solution than the official cable, plus it looks much neater next to your console or on your desk.
£49.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Accessing a variety of games
Playstation Plus is what you need if you intend on playing online with friends. If you’re hooked on Fortnite or FIFA, for instance, then this is essential.
Besides allowing you to access multiplayer servers, it also gives you two PS4 games every month to download and keep for as long as you’re a member. Games vary a little in quality but generally you get pretty good ones like Destiny 2, Bloodborne and other recent favourites.
There’s a discount scheme too, with hefty discounts offered on many titles on the online store, so you can save quite a bit in the long term. Working out as only a little over £4 per month, it’s good value for money.
£119.93 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Chatting to other online players
If you intend on playing a lot of games online then you need a headset. Headsets offer advantages like being able to talk to other players (and work as a team), as well as enabling you to hear things more accurately. This headset from HyperX is one of the best in its price range. It offers plug and play Dolby Surround 7.1 sound so you can hear everything coming your way, from an opponent’s footstep to where a gunshot is coming from.
It’s a comfy fit around your head, thanks to a mixture of memory foam for your ears and leatherette elsewhere. You can also easily communicate with others via its handy mic. Even when you’re not playing online, it’s useful for those times you’re playing late into the night and trying not to disturb others in the house.
£39.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Streaming your reactions as well as your gaming
The Playstation 4 camera is the perfect starting point for your game streaming career. You can already easily share your gaming time with others by tapping the “share” button on your controller, but the camera means you also share your reactions as you play. It doubles up as a microphone, so both facial and aural reactions are recorded here.
Certain games also work in conjunction with it too, like the Just Dance series, so you can dance and flail around and the camera picks up your movements. Perfect for keeping the kids happy.
£244.48 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Fully immersing yourself in a game
It’s taken a while for VR technology to truly take off, and it’s certainly not cheap. However, the Playstation VR is a truly magical experience that immediately reminds you of how exciting games can be.
Slot the headset on and get whisked away to numerous experiences that genuinely feel real for that moment. You’ve no doubt seen reaction videos across the internet of older people jumping within seconds of trying VR and guess what? You’ll be the same, but in a good way. There are over 100 VR games out there for the Playstation 4 and your best path to experiencing them is through this starter pack.
£54.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Feeling part of the action in Playstation VR action games
The PSVR Aim Controller isn’t essential alongside your Playstation VR, but it does help a lot. It gives you a “weapon” in-game when you’re immersed within a VR experience. You can take down targets with more accuracy, thanks to being able to feel the controller vibrate at key moments, and through the use of VR, you can aim down in-game sights carefully, which feels far more realistic than using a conventional controller.
There’s also the benefit of tactile feedback as you feel the “kick” as you fire, and see the controller replicated as a “real” weapon in the VR world. If you’re keen to play action and shooter-based games with your VR unit, this is the accessory for you. It really enhances the feeling that you’re actually doing it.
£69.99 (price correct at time of publishing), Amazon
Best for: Expanding your Playstation 4’s storage space without needing a screwdriver
Depending on the Playstation 4 you bought, you either have 500GB or 1TB of internal storage. That’s pretty good when starting out, but you may find yourself filling it up fast. It’s possible to replace the internal hard drive but a quicker and less technical method is to simply buy an external hard drive and plug it in via the console’s USB port.
The Seagate 2 TB External Hard Drive is a good alternative, with it guaranteed to work well with your console. By boosting your storage space so significantly, you have the space for about an extra 50 PS4 games. It takes seconds to set up, and you can always unplug it and take it with you when visiting a friend.
£200, Currys
Best for: Avid racing game fans
Do you love to play the Gran Turismo series or DriveClub and feel like you’re driving cars that you can’t afford to own in real life? If you can stretch the budget a little, then the Logitech G29 Steering Wheel is the ideal accessory for you.
The racing wheel and pedals set promises to provide its players with a realistic driving experience. There are dual motors providing force feedback, so you can learn how to approach each turn more intuitively. As well as that, there are stainless steel paddle shifters, RPM/shift indicator LEDs, and a six-speed gear stick for changing gear just like in a real car.
It takes a little practice if you’re used to a controller, but it’s the nearest that most of us will get to driving a Ferrari at speed around a racing track.
This article has been updated. It was originally published in March 2019.
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