Yet another unboxing video for the PlayStation 4 slim surfaces, this one showing off an unannounced feature for the new DualShock 4 controller that lets it run via USB connection.

It may be the worst kept secret in the video gaming world right now, but the fact of the matter is we won’t know everything about the PS4 Slim until Sony’s PlayStation Meeting on September 7th. That’s not stopping those who already own the console from continuing to leak details, though, including how the new DualShock 4 controller works and what new features it offers.

In the latest in an ongoing series of PS4 Slim unboxings, another lucky gamer shows off a few features not covered in prior videos. By now most know that the PS4 Slim is a sleeker version of the PlayStation 4 console, complete with dedicated power and eject buttons, but they clearly don’t know all the bells and whistles that the device offers.

For example, this latest unboxing shows that the new PS4 Slim sports the option to run a DualShock 4 via Bluetooth or via USB. At first glance this may not seem like a very useful feature – why would anyone want to shuck the convenience of wireless controls? – but it may come in handy depending on the situation.

In the current iteration of the PS4, the DualShock 4 runs via Bluetooth no matter what. That means that if a gamer is trying to charge their controller via USB, they will be draining the controller’s battery just as fast as they are filling it up. However, an option to run the controller via USB could potentially make it so that the controller charges and runs in a lower power mode, thereby getting the player that much closer to returning to wireless use.

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Even better than faster charging, a USB connection offers lower latency than a Bluetooth wireless connection. Since the USB connection is considered “direct” that means the latency will be minimal – an important quality for games that value fast responses like fighting games. With this new controller, players will be able to force USB use and therefore reduce their latency.

Although the USB connection feature is being revealed alongside the PS4 Slim it’s important to point out that it may not be always unique to the updated console. We still don’t know the full feature set of Update 4.0, which very well could offer the option to legacy PS4 owners. Then again, the wording of the feature suggests there is something special about the new DualShock 4 controller – besides the new front facing light bar – that makes the feature possible. We won’t know for sure until the PS4 Slim announcement early next month.

Lucky for Sony next month’s PlayStation Meeting is rumored to feature more than a PS4 Slim reveal. In fact, the real point of focus for the event is sure to be first details on Neo, Sony’s own updated current-gen console. At this point, gamers know practically all there is to know about the PS4 Slim aside from a release date and a price, but the Neo is still very much a mystery.

Source: Games Radar