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Sony's DualShock 4 light bar can't be turned off to save battery

Even though it's designed to work with the PlayStation Camera, and will prove useless without that extra component.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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The lightbar on the DualShock 4.
The lightbar on the DualShock 4. Sony Computer Entertainment

Sony's DualShock 4 controller won't allow gamers to turn off its light bar to save battery life, according to the company's Worldwide Studio boss.

Fielding a question from a concerned gamer recently, Sony Worldwide Studio chief Shuhei Yoshida said on his Twitter account that the DualShock 4's light bar, which sits at the top of the device, cannot be turned off. The gamer was hoping to turn off the light bar "so the battery lasts longer."

Not including the ability to turn off the DualShock 4 light bar might annoy some gamers. The feature, which contains three LEDs, can change colors based on what's happening in a game. However, it's designed to work with the PlayStation Camera. If the Camera isn't connected, the light bar is just about useless. And since some gamers won't connect a Camera to their console, the light bar could be little more than an additional drain on the controller's battery.

Gaming site IGN previously reported that Sony had intended to include the PlayStation Camera in every PlayStation 4 bundle, but decided against it so it could offer the console for a cheaper price than Microsoft's Xbox One. Sony has not confirmed that's the case, but it would make sense, considering the light bar cannot be turned off.