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There are many accessories that enhance the use and features of Sony's PlayStation 3 game system and games.

The 2005 "Boomerang" or "Banana" design for the controller was officially abandoned.

The SIXAXIS Wireless Controller (officially trademarked in all caps as SIXAXIS) is the official wireless controller for the Sony PlayStation 3. In Japan, individual SIXAXIS controllers were available for purchase simultaneously with the console's launch, without a USB to USB mini cable, at a price of JP¥5000 including tax (about US$40).^[1] Individual Sixaxis controllers were also available at launch in the United States for US$49.99, C$59.99 in Canada, £34.99 in the UK (€50) and in Australia it costs AU$80.^[2] The word "SIXAXIS" (contraction of "six axis" for the directional movements) is a palindrome.

At E3 2005, Sony showcased their "boomerang" design for the PlayStation 3's controller. Accompanied by much criticism (such as the difficulty of holding it), this design was later abandoned. Sony later stated that the original controller "was very clearly designed as a design concept, and was never intended to be the final controller, despite what everybody said about it."^[3]

The original design was replaced by an upgraded, wireless version of the DualShock 2 controller at E3 2006.

Until Sony announced the name in early October,^[4] reviewers had been calling the controller "DualShake", "DualMotion" or "DualMovement".^{[citation needed]}

The final wireless SIXAXIS controller is based on the DUALSHOCK design, with only minor aesthetic refinements.

The Sixaxis can operate wirelessly via Bluetooth and up to 7 simultaneous controllers are supported natively by the console.^[1] The controller also features a USB mini-B port, which can be used to connect a USB cable for internal battery charging and synchronisation with the PS3 system. The controller can be seamlessly swapped from wireless to wired operation, and is charged automatically upon connection. The controller, much like the Xbox 360's, still communicates wirelessly with the console when plugged in and some data is still transferred wirelessly, such as pairing information. The Playstation 3 console comes with a USB to USB mini cable, but spare controllers do not include one.
The Sixaxis can operate for up to 30 hours on a full charge. The battery was originally not thought to be replaceable when a Sony spokesperson stated that the Sixaxis should operate for "many years before there's any degradation in terms of battery performance. When and if this happens, then of course Sony will be providing a service to exchange these items".^[5] Later, it was revealed that the Sixaxis came with instructions on how to remove the battery and that the battery was fully removable.^[6]
A major feature of the controller is the ability to sense both rotational orientation and translational acceleration along all three dimensional axes, providing six degrees of freedom.^[7] This became a matter of controversy, as the circumstances of the announcement, made less than eight months after Nintendo revealed motion-sensing capabilities in its new game console controller (see Wii Remote), led to speculation that the addition of motion-sensing was a late-stage decision by Sony to follow Nintendo's move. Further fueling the speculation was the fact that only one game shown at E3 to demonstrate the motion-sensing feature.^{[citation needed]} Also, some comments from Incognito Entertainment, the developer behind the motion-sensing PlayStation 3 game, Warhawk, said that it only received development controllers with the motion-sensing feature 10 days or so before E3.^[8] Developer Brian Upton from SCE Studios Santa Monica later clarified that the Incognito had been secretly working on the motion-sensing technology "for a while", but did not receive a working controller until "the last few weeks before E3".^[9]

The Sixaxis features finer analog sensitivity than the DualShock 2, increased to 10-bit precision from the 8-bit precision of the DualShock 2. [1] The frame around the L2 and R2 buttons has been omitted, resulting in more trigger-like buttons, with an increased range of depression. In the place of the "Analog" mode button switch of previous dual analog models is a jewel-like "PS button" with the PlayStation logo, which can be used to access the home menu and turn the console or the controller on or off. It is possible to customize the PS button to light up if the controller is modified.^[10]

The SIXAXIS controller held up to light, which reveals the internal components of the controller. It is obvious that the vibration devices are removed.

The Sixaxis is also made from translucent plastic, which, when held against light, reveals the inner components of the controller.

A row of four numbered LED port indicators are on the top of the controller, to identify and distinguish multiple wireless controllers. Due to there being only four player LEDs on the controller itself, multiple indicators light up for players 5, 6 and 7 (for example, if the '4' and '1' indicators are illuminated at the same time, the controller is assigned to Player 5). While the PS3 is turned on, pressing the PS button will bring up a menu displaying the battery charge of all synced controllers among other options.

Sony announced that because of the included motion sensors, the vibration feature of previous PlayStation controllers was removed, reasoning that the vibration would interfere with motion-sensing.^[7] Some disputed Sony's reasoning, citing that the Wii Remote controller has both motion sensing and vibration capability^{[citation needed]}. Haptics developer Immersion Corporation, which had successfully sued Sony for patent infringement,^[11] expressed skepticism of Sony's rationale, with company president Victor Viegas stating in an interview, "I don’t believe it’s a very difficult problem to solve, and Immersion has experts that would be happy to solve that problem for them," under the condition that Sony withdraw its appeal of the patent infringement ruling.^[12] Immersion later emphasized compatibility with motion-sensing when introducing its next-generation vibration feedback technology, TouchSense.^[13] Subsequent statements from Sony were dismissive of the arguments from Immersion, with Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Senior VP of Marketing Peter Dille stating, "It seems like the folks at Immersion are looking to sort of negotiate through the press and try to make their case to us … we've talked about how there's a potential for that rumble to interfere with the Sixaxis controller."^[14]

However, in a press release made some eight months later, Phil Harrison, Sony's president of worldwide studios, said: "Now, rumble I think was the last generation feature; it's not the next-generation feature. I think motion sensitivity is." He added that rumbling would, in the future, only come from third-party controllers. ^[15]

According to SCEA, as a result of removing force feedback, PlayStation 3 games do not support force-feedback in steering wheel controllers: "All PS3 games are programmed for the Sixaxis which doesn't have force feedback, therefore the force feedback in the wheels won't be recognized."^[16]

Main article: DualShock

On March 1, 2007, Sony Computer Entertainment and Immersion Corporation announced that both companies had agreed to end their patent litigation, and had entered a business agreement to "explore the inclusion of Immersion technology in PlayStation format products."^[17] This has been reported to indicate the possibility of a future vibration-capable version of the SIXAXIS controller.^[18] In an interview with GamePro posted March 6, 2007, when asked if Sony would consider a "pro" SIXAXIS controller with features such as rumble support, SCEA President Jack Tretton replied that the American branch will have peripherals "that will address the interests of the U.S. consumer," and that it is "certainly open to changing the SIXAXIS controller if it addressed North American gamers."^[19]

At its press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced the DualShock 3 (trademarked DUALSHOCK 3), a PlayStation 3 controller with the same function and design as the Sixaxis, but with vibration capability.^[20] Hands-on accounts describe the controller as being slightly heavier than the standard SIXAXIS controller, and capable of vibration forces comparable to the DualShock 2. According to GameSpot, DualShock 3's "rumble was a touch weak";^[21] while various others reported more refined vibration effects than the DualShock 2, particularly with the Metal Gear Solid 4 demonstration.^[22]

On November 11, 2007, the official DualShock3 controller was released in Japan, in black or white (to match the Japanese versions of the 40GB model)

Main article: PlayStation Eye

The PlayStation Eye is an updated version of the EyeToy USB webcam designed for the PlayStation 3. The PS3 also supports the PlayStation 2 EyeToy, using its camera and microphone functionalities. A firmware update enabled the PlayStation 3 to support all standard USB webcams.

Officially announced August 22, 2007; PlayTV is a twin-channel DVB-T tuner peripheral with digital video recorder (DVR) software which allows users to record television programs to the PlayStation 3 hard drive for later viewing. Wi-Fi connectivity with a PSP allows for portable viewing of live or recorded television programming. Recorded programs can be transcoded and transferred via USB to the PSP for viewing programs on the go. The software features a 7-day electronic program guide for utilizing the DVR features.^[23] PlayTV is officially set to release sometime 2008; with SCE New Zealand's head of marketing Warwick Light stating that the product is hoped to be released around the same time as the region's terrestrial Freeview digital broadcast service launches (currently expected in March 2008).^[24]

Most commercial USB headsets are compatible with the PlayStation 3. In addition, the PlayStation 3 supports some PlayStation 2 USB accessories, including the USB SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs headset by Logitech, the SingStar microphones and the built-in microphone on the Eyetoy for video and voice chat (although the Eyetoy Play game associated with the Eyetoy is not available for use on European Playstation 3s ). Since the PlayStation 3 supports Bluetooth technology, any type of wireless headset is compatible with the system^[25]; however, Bluetooth wireless headsets are not compatible with PlayStation 2 games which use the USB headsets (due to being programmed for them only) and therefore the USB headsets must still be used (though this could potentially be solved with future firmware updates). The Blu-ray Disc retail version of Warhawk comes bundled with a Jabra BT125 Bluetooth headset in North America and the Jabra BT135 in Europe.^[26]

List of Bluetooth headsets compatible with PlayStation_3

The PlayStation 3 BD Remote (CECHZR1) allows users to control videos and music on Blu-ray Disc and DVD through Bluetooth. In Japan, the device was available as of December 7, 2006, and costs JP¥3,800 (about US$35).^[1] The device was available in North America as of December for US$24.99.[2] It is available in the UK for £17.99. Since the remote communicates with the console using Bluetooth, which utilizes radio waves, the device does not need to be pointed at the console to function; as is the case with traditional infrared remotes. However, this fact also means that a "universal" infrared remote is not able to control video playback on the PS3.

The PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adaptor (CECHZM1) is a device that allows data to be transferred from a PlayStation memory card or a PlayStation 2 memory card to the PlayStation 3's hard disk. At launch, the device did not support transferring saved game files back to a memory card, but the upon release of the PlayStation 3 system software version 1.80, the user is now able to save and/or transfer PSOne and PS2 game saves from the PS3 directly onto a physical Memory Card via the adaptor. PlayStation 2 saved game files can also be transferred between PlayStation 3 users via other current memory card formats. The device connects to the PlayStation 3's USB port on one end through a USB Mini-B cable (not included with adaptor, but it was included with the console itself), and features a legacy PlayStation 2 memory card port on the other end. The adaptor was available for purchase simultaneously with the console's launch, at a price of US$14.99 in the United States, JP¥1500 (including tax) in Japan,^[1] and CAD$19.99 in Canada;^[2] however, US Toys 'R' Us stores sell the adaptor for USD$19.99.[3]The Memory Card Adaptor was released on 25 May 2007 in the UK at GBP£12.99.

Topline cable (HDMI 1.3a) for Full HD picture and 7.1ch sound (does not allow NTSC[480i] / PAL[576i] standard-definition display).

Entry line cable (RCA) for standard-definition display and 2.0ch sound (analog video and audio).

The official HDMI cable retails for US$39.00 or in the UK £12.99. Most standard HDMI cables (ver 1.2 / 1.3) are also compatible. An official component AV cable set from Sony is available for $19.99 or £17.99. Also, composite, S-Video, RGB SCART and component cables for the PlayStation 2 are all compatible with the PlayStation 3, as they utilize the same "A/V Multi Out" port.^[27]

On the audio part, AV cables connected to the "AV Multi out" allows 2.0ch (stereo) only, optical "Digital out" allows both 2.0ch and 5.1ch and "HDMI out" (Ver.1.3) supports 2.0ch, 5.1ch and 7.1ch.

Units sold in NTSC regions are SD/ED NTSC, 720p, 1080i and 1080p compliant, while those available in PAL regions are compatible with SD/ED PAL, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. A NTSC system (480i/480p) cannot output PAL (576i/576p) games and DVDs (DVD-Video/DVD-Audio) - however PAL units can display "All Region" NTSC DVDs. This regional lock does not affect HD output (720p/1080i/1080p) - except for Blu-ray Disc movies.

• HDMI cable: 1080p (HD), 1080i (HD), 720p (HD), 576p (ED PAL), 480p (ED NTSC)
• D-Terminal (Ｄ端子) cable (SCPH-10510) Japanese market

D5: 1080p (HD), 1080i (HD), 720p (HD), 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC)

D4: 1080i (HD), 720p (HD), 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC)

D3: 1080i (HD), 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC)

D2: 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC)

D1: 480i (SD NTSC)

• Component AV (YUV) cable (SCPH-10490): 720p (HD), 576p (ED PAL)/576i (SD PAL), 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC)

• Péritel (SCART) cable French market: 576p (ED PAL)/576i (SD PAL), 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC)
• AV Multi (AVマルチ) cable: 480p (ED NTSC)/480i (SD NTSC) Japanese market
• S-Video cable (SCPH-10480): 576i (SD PAL), 480i (SD NTSC)
• AV (composite / RCA) cable (SCPH-10500): 576i (SD PAL), 480i (SD NTSC)

• DualShock