It’s been a little over a year since Sony released the PlayStation 5 and it’s still incredibly difficult to get. For those lucky enough to acquire one,?you’ll probably want to pick up a few essential accessories to make the most out of your PS5.
Perhaps you want to stream to Twitch, or better communicate with your friends during heated Call of Duty: Warzone matches? Or maybe you just need an extra controller or two for local multiplayer parties? No matter what you’re looking for, here are our picks for the best PS5 accessories that will make your experience with Sony’s console even better.
KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks ($14.99, originally $21.99;?amazon.com
Need some extra thumbstick grip on your DualSense controller? KontrolFreek’s performance thumbsticks may be exactly what you’re looking for. These custom rubber attachments give your DualSense sticks some extra grip, making it easier to land those crucial headshots in your favorite first-person shooters. And since they’re available in a variety of colors and styles, KontrolFreek’s thumbsticks are a nice way to make your DualSense look truly your own.
PS5 Media Remote ($29.99;?bestbuy.com
Sometimes you don’t want to fumble with a large, clunky controller when you’re watching Netflix on your PS5. That’s where Sony’s Media Remote comes in. This sleek and convenient remote packs all of the essential navigation and playback controls you need for watching your favorite movies and shows, and even features dedicated Disney+, Netflix, Spotify and YouTube buttons for getting right to some of the console’s most popular apps.
WD_BLACK 500GB SN850 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid-State Drive With Heatsink ($129.99, originally $199.99; amazon.com
There are plenty of options available for PS5 owners who want an external hard drive solution, as the included storage is only 825GB. As games nearly reach an average of 100GB per game, additional storage may be more than a necessity. The problem with external hard drives are that they can only be used for storing and playing PS4 games. To run PS5 games from storage, one needs a compatible SSD.
Since updating the console’s firmware to accept SSDs in September, PS5 owners can open their consoles for additional storage. Western Digital’s WD_BLACK 500GB SN850 NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid-State Drive with Heatsink is one of the fastest available. The SSD provides 7000mb/s read and 5300mb/s write speeds, meaning loading games and save files essentially matches internal PS5 SSD speeds.
PlayStation 5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset ($99.99; amazon.com
Industry buzzwords like “ray tracing” and “SSD” were all the rage when Sony announced the PS5 in terms of visual fidelity. However, Spatial Audio is setting trends in making the listening experience more immersive. This is a 3D audio effect that provides locational-based sounds within a three-dimensional virtual space. Not only does it sound great when listening to music, but it’s compatible with games as well. There are well over a dozen games that support Spatial Audio, including Spiderman: Miles Morales, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Returnal.
One of the best headsets that supports this is Sony’s Pulse 3D Wireless Headset. Besides being fine-tuned for the PS5, it’s aesthetically beautiful compared to other gaming headsets. It also boasts 12 hours of wireless play and compatibility with PCs, and it features noise-cancelling microphones.
HyperX Cloud Stinger ($39.99, originally $49.99;?amazon.com
While the PS5’s DualSense controller has a built-in microphone and speaker, you’ll want a dedicated headset if you want to properly communicate with your Fortnite or Call of Duty squad while being able to hear your opponents coming. The HyperX Cloud Stinger is an excellent budget pick, offering a sleek, lightweight design complete with comfortable leatherette ear cups ideal for long play sessions. The headset’s noise-cancelling microphone will make it easy for your squad to hear you, while its 50mm drivers will ensure that you hear every ambient detail as you die repeatedly in Demon’s Souls.
WD 1TB My Passport Portable ($54.99, originally $59.99;?amazon.com
The PS5’s 825GB of internal storage will fill up fast given how large modern games are, but you can give yourself some extra space by snagging an external hard drive for your PS4 games. Western Digital’s 1TB My Passport drive is one of the most popular external hard drives out there, thanks to its compact design, generous storage space for the price and compatibility with game consoles including the PS5. Just keep in mind that external hard drives can only be used for storing and playing PS4 games; the PS5 is set to get?support for internal SSDs for storing PS5 games at a later date. Either way, storing your older titles on an external drive frees up more space in your PS5’s storage for true next-gen games.
Oivo PS5 Stand ($35.99, originally $39.99; amazon.com
Between the size of the console itself and a growing collection of games and accessories, owning a PS5 can be cumbersome when it comes to the space needed. The Oivo PS5 stand helps with managing space while offering some other bonuses. It features 12 slots of holding games, which should be plenty for most owners.
The stand also features dual PS5 controller chargers that can top off the controllers to 100% in two and a half hours. There’s even an LED indicator to provide charge status. Though the console isn’t necessarily loud under normal usage, having a suction cooling fan featuring three speed settings should help maintain a lower internal temperature.
Sokani P25 Key Light Panel ($89.99; amazon.com
Livestreaming on the PS5 is fairly easy considering all an owner really needs is a camera like the PS5 HD Camera and a headset. But those who want to make their streaming sessions a bit more professional may want to invest in some lighting equipment. One of the better ones is the Sokani P25 Key Light. Having 2800K to 8000K color temperature settings should help give PS5 owners their most preferred look lighting-wise. Buyers who want to get a bit creative also have access to eight special effects modes and 100-level brightness adjustment. There’s even a wireless remote control for making lighting changes on the fly without having to move.
PS5 HD Camera ($59.99;?bestbuy.com
If you’re taking advantage of the PS5’s handy ability to stream directly to Twitch or YouTube and want your audience to see you alongside your gameplay, Sony’s HD Camera is for you. This dual-lens camera captures in crisp 1080p, allowing viewers to get a clear look at you in picture-in-picture as you broadcast your favorite games. The HD camera features automatic background removal for even more immersive-looking streams, and includes a stand that can easily clip to most TVs or monitors.
DualShock 4 ($59.99;?target.com
While the PS5’s new DualSense controller is one of the coolest things about the system, Sony’s tried-and-true DualShock 4 gamepad also works great on PS5. The DualShock 4 can only be used on PS5 when playing backwards-compatible PS4 games, but it’s perfect for catching up on your last-gen backlog or for playing multiplayer staples like Overcooked 2 and Rocket League. Plus, it’s generally $5 to $10 cheaper than buying an extra DualSense.
DualSense Wireless Controller ($69.96;?amazon.com
It never hurts to have an extra controller handy. Sony’s new DualSense Wireless Controller is the most innovative gamepad we’ve ever used, thanks to advanced haptics and adaptive triggers that allow you to feel every detail of your favorite games in a way that just wasn’t possible before. And with plenty of local multiplayer games already available on PS5, including?Sackboy: A Big Adventure?and?NBA 2K21, an extra DualSense will allow you and a friend to enjoy the immersive action together.
PlayStation Plus (starting at $9.99 per month; amazon.com
If you want to play online, there’s a good chance that PlayStation Plus is required. And once you have the subscription you’ll be off to the races and find some other features that you might appreciate.
Most notably, PS5 owners with Plus get access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, which features notable classics including God of War (2018), The Last of Us Remastered and dozens of other games. Beyond that, each month, the service gives out at least two free games. Additionally, Game Share allows users to play online multiplayer from a single console so gamers who may not own a copy of their friend’s game can still play.
Playstation DualSense Charging Station ($29.99; bestbuy.com
The PlayStation DualSense Charging station isn’t a necessity, but it makes charging controllers a hassle-free experience. With it you can charge up to two DualSense controllers at the same time. And besides freeing up USB ports since it plugs into the wall, the station has a click-in design that connects the controllers easily and securely. Charging both controllers to full takes a little less than three hours as well.
Qanba Drone ($69.28, originally $79.99;?amazon.com
If you’re the type of player who takes their Street Fighter or Tekken seriously, it’s worth considering a fight stick for playing with arcade-like precision. The Qanba Drone is one of the most popular and affordable options out there, packing high-quality Qanba buttons and a responsive joystick into a compact design that suits both veteran and beginner fighting game fans. Better yet, it fully supports PS4 and PS5 titles, making it ideal for next-gen brawlers like Mortal Kombat 11 and the upcoming Guilty Gear Strive.
Hori Racing Wheel Apex ($99;?amazon.com
If you’re looking for a more immersive way to play top PS5 racing games like Dirt 5 or want to be ready for the hotly anticipated Gran Turismo 7, Hori’s Racing Wheel Apex is a solid and affordable starting point. This officially licensed racing accessory includes a full-size wheel and dual petals built to replicate the feeling of speeding around in your favorite car, complete with a secure clamp for mounting it to your desk and fully programmable buttons and paddles.
