TCP Pro PS5 Controller 2022 REVIEW

Get A Competitive Edge the TCP Pro Modified PS5 Controller

Anyone who’s ever played a video game can tell you that the right controller is crucial to a good gaming experience. For some people, that means a standard controller that comes with the console. For others, it means a custom controller.

A custom controller for gaming can provide a number of advantages over a standard controller. First, a custom controller can be designed to fit the specific needs of the gamer. This can include adding extra buttons or changing the layout of the existing buttons to better suit the gamer’s style of play. Second, a custom controller can be built with higher quality components than a standard controller, resulting in a more durable and longer-lasting product.

There are a few ways to get a custom gaming controller. One way is to buy one that is already made by the original manufacturer (i.e. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2). Another way is to find a third-party company that makes custom controllers such as The Controller People.

About The Controller People

The Controller People is a gaming company founded in 2016 in London, England. They focus on providing the best gaming experience possible by designing customized modifications for Sony Playstation controllers. Their products are designed by professional gamers and they are constantly innovating solutions to meet the needs of the gaming community.

The Controller People have a variety of services including pro controllers, pre-made PS5 controllers, and the option to customize your own personal controller. The two Pro-level controllers they offer are the TCP Pro and the TCP Ultimate. This review is focusing on the TCP Pro.

Main Features

The standard PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller is the base of the TCP Pro controller from The Controller People. It has a built-in microphone and headset jack along with a built-in battery, integrated speaker, motion sensor, and a create button. The TCP Pro comes with The Controller People’s three main features that put players in a position to improve their gameplay.

• ClickSticks: The most comfortable “paddle” system out there. ClickSticks are extra buttons that are placed at the back of the controller. ClickSticks are a must-have for any serious gamer, enabling you to jump and slide-shot with ease.
• I.A.S.: The Interchangeable Analogue System allows you to customize your thumb stick height using a plug-in and pull-out system. It comes with tall and short sizes that you can mix and match at any time.
• Digital Triggers: Reduce the time it takes to pull the triggers by swapping them for a digital alternative. Digital Triggers turn your triggers into something similar to a mouse click. Superfast and super efficient. Perfect for shooting single-fire guns at rapid speed.

The TCP Ultimate includes all the features of the TCP Pro and adds in a few additional modifications. Here is a breakdown of the differences between the two models.

Pricing & Availability

The TCP Pro PS5 Controller is available exclusively from thecontrollerpeople.com. It is currently priced at $156.07 USD (as of publishing this article).

User Experience

When the TCP Pro PS5 Controller arrived, I was a bit confused. It arrived in a standard DualSense box. The shipping box didn’t have any information on it either. The box was not sealed with plastic wrap. So, it looked as though it was a used DualSense box. Across the closure of the box was a “The Controller People” logo sticker. This was what indicated that the modified controller was possiibly inside the box.

When I opened the box, I found the controller wrapped up in some protective packaging with the TCP sticker on it, the official PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller instruction manual, and extra joystick caps.

Right away, I recognized the difference between the standard DualSense controller and the TCP Pro. The L2 and R2 buttons on the TCP Pro controller are more clickable than the standard DualSense triggers. This is the ‘digital trigger’ modification that is described above. Because of this feature, users’ fingers have much less distance to travel when they press that button.

The I.A.S. does give you the easy option of raising or lowering your joysticks, but the starting point is still higher than the standard DualSense controller’s sticks. I would say that the TCP Pro joysticks are slightly smoother than the standard controller, but the general feel and click are about the same. It is easy to pop the caps on and snap them back on. I’m not sure if it’s part of their standard shipping practices but the shortest cap was pre-installed on my controller.

The ClickSticks in my opinion is really what makes the TCP Pro stand apart from the standard DualSense controller. This is something that Xbox users have been able to take advantage of for a while since Microsoft has a pro line of controllers available. The ClickSticks jut out of the back of the controller and are in the ideal position for the middle fingers of each hand to reach.

My fiancé who plays a lot with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 took a look at this modded controller and felt that the installed ClickSticks were long. On the Xbox controller, the paddles are flat. So the feel of the TCP Pro ClickSticks was very different to him. In my testing, I found them to be placed in a good spot and comfortable to use.

I tested this controller out with Call of Duty on the PlayStation 5 and Call of Duty: Mobile on my iPad Pro. If you have the option to do this, I recommend it because it’s a great playing experience. Even though it has a few add-ons the gameplay experience feels the same to me as it does with the standard DualSense controller. The weight feels the same but the more mechanical click feel on the L2 and R2 triggers are amazing and having the added ClickSticks is great for games like COD.

My iPad Pro recognized the controller as a PS5 DualSense controller and CODM connected the controller with no issues. The ClickSticks were automatically mapped to certain functions but reprogramming was no problem. The controller was responsive and even though it didn’t have much of a charge out of the box, I was able to connect a USB-C cable (not included) and charge it while I played.

Conclusion

Even though the controller was a surprise, it seems worthwhile if you are trying to enhance your gaming performance. I really love the feel of the standard DualSense controller and since the modifications don’t change that at all, I’m really impressed with the TCP Pro. And, based on what you get with this modification, it’s not a bad investment.

PlayStation has plans to launch a pro-level controller in early 2023 but the cost is 28% higher than the TCP Pro. So, if you want to change up your performance but don’t want to jump to the $200+ investment, the TCP Pro is a good option. The Controller People also offer modification accessories that allow users to modify their existing controllers. The triggers and ClickSticks do require soldering, but if you are so inclined and have the technical skills to do it, that is another option.

The TCP Pro controller for PS5 is a great gaming accessory. It’s comfortable to hold, has great build quality, and its button layout is very user-friendly. If you’re looking for a great controller to use with your PS5, the TCP Pro is definitely worth checking out.

For more information, visit thecontrollerpeople.com, Facebook, and Twitter.