PS5 – Thumbsticks Go Next-Gen For PS5 And Xbox Series X

Anyone ever told you to get a grip? Was that someone an analog thumbstick?

Yesterday, Atlanta-based gaming accessory creator KontrolFreek announced an update to its popular line of attachable controller (kontroller?) nubs for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox X/S, and Xbox One.

For those unfamiliar, these tiny multi-colored add-ons essentially snap over the analog sticks on your Xbox and PlayStation gamepads to provide additional height, texture and allegedly, better stability and input accuracy.

They’re also touted as reducing the need to make unnecessarily sweeping thumb movements during gameplay and therefore cutting down on general hand fatigue. I can say that I’ve tried some of KontrolFreek’s stick grips in the past and they did make my hands feel less tired after long play sessions. At the very least, they add a nice comfort bump to the rigid piece of gaming plastic we all hold like crazy people for hours on end.

The new Performance Thumbsticks, which are available now from KontrolFreek’s website in all sorts of styles, textures, heights and colors, introduce an additional fourth attachment prong to the bottom of the grippy accessories. When snapped onto your controller of choice, the extra support should produce “increased security and stability”, at least according to the early info KF sent over. Each set retails for $14.99.

If you’ve never tested these out before, they can seem a little gimmicky at first, but I do really think they add some decent padding and mobility to the stock Sony and Microsoft gamepads.

Plus, they simply look cool, so if you grab a set, you’ll definitely be the raddest kid at the weekend sleepover. But at least bring some Pizza Hut pies in case they don’t go over too well.