Custom ‘CubeSense’ PS5 controller is a gorgeous GameCube throwback

The Nintendo GameCube from 2001 had the best controller ever designed, and yes, I will die on this hill.

Yet while it’s easy enough to get a new controller with that classic shape and button layout, one modder decided to go the extra mile and fuse the classic look and feel of the GameCube with all the bells and whistles of the PS5’s DualSense pad.

The “CubeSense” by custom controller seller Killscreen nails the iconic purple base color and mix of red, green, and gray for the accents. But it also replaces the PlayStation stock thumbsticks with one that has concentric rings (on the left) and an all-yellow “nub” C-stick (on the right).

Also note the shoulder buttons: gray for primary triggers, but only the right R1 button gets the “base” purple color (because the GameCube pad lacked a left L1 button). The triggers can be enhanced with a “clicky” short travel upgrade if you want better performance in FPS games.

As a fan of the original, I have to nit-pick a bit. First, the nub-shaped C-stick wasn’t exactly necessary as a standard stick in yellow coloration would’ve been perfectly fine.

Second, the green “A” button on the original GameCube pad was on the “bottom” (technically the middle, but bottom in cardinal terms) and oversized since it was designed to be the main button the player used most often. Killscreen has put the green button on the right instead, which is wrong for both the GameCube layout and for the PlayStation’s general bottom position for the primary interaction button.

That being said, I can’t deny the appeal here. Despite the customization, Killscreen is using a genuine OEM DualSense pad for the base, so it should work great on the PlayStation or PC. According to the Yanko Design blog, this work of art will cost $150 once it’s up on Killscreen’s shop (or $180 with the short travel shoulder button upgrade).

For a slightly more accessible take on the old GameCube pad, I can recommend PowerA’s officially licensed Switch controller, which works with the PC or other gadgets via Bluetooth.