Sony’s brilliant new Back Button Attachment adds two handy rear buttons to any standard PlayStation 4 controller. It’s a must-have for hardcore gamers — and it works great with iPhone and iPad.
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Not so long ago, gamers had to pay a small fortune for custom controllers if they wanted rear-facing buttons. They weren’t available as standard on official gamepads, despite being incredibly useful.
That’s no longer the case. Microsoft now offers an Elite Wireless Controller, with rear paddles, for Xbox One. And Sony just launched an add-on that brings rear buttons to a standard DualShock 4 controller.
Both options also work wonderfully with Apple devices.
DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment works with iOS
Sony today confirmed to Cult of Mac that its Back Button Attachment accessory plays nicely with iOS.
“It is compatible,” a company representative said. “The Back Button Attachment feeds directly into the DualShock4 button prompts as if they were the exact buttons pressed.”
Photo: Sony
In other words, the Back Button Attachment becomes one with a DualShock 4 controller. It doesn’t act as a standalone device. So, if you press a button mapped to X, it’s no different than pressing X itself.
Any device that’s compatible with a PS4 controller is also compatible with the Back Button Attachment, then. That not only includes iOS and iPadOS, but also macOS and tvOS.
Why back buttons?
Rear-facing controller buttons can be incredibly useful in so many games. They can give gamers an edge in more competitive titles — especially those that rely on precise control from analog sticks.
Back buttons mean you don’t have to take your thumbs off your analog sticks to perform other actions. You can jump around in a Fortnite gunfight, for instance, without losing the ability to aim at an opponent.
Sony’s official Back Button Attachment offers two buttons — one on the right side and one on the left side of the controller — that can be mapped to up to 16 different functions.
Photo: Sony
It’s easily programmable and supports three different profiles, so you can have one for shooters and one for fighters, and quickly switch between them on the fly. It also offers audio passthrough.
The Back Button Attachment has an RRP of just $30, but it’s sold out pretty much everywhere right now. Some sellers are taking advantage of that and charging upwards of $72.99 for the add-on, but we recommend holding out until it’s readily available at its usual price.
