Sixaxis

The Sixaxis is a wireless gamepad produced by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. Introduced in 2006, it was the successor to the DualShock 2 controller used on the PlayStation 2. A key feature of the Sixaxis was its motion-sensing capability, allowing players to control games through tilting and movement of the controller itself. This was achieved through an internal accelerometer.

The Sixaxis was named for its six degrees of freedom, referencing the three axes of translation (up/down, left/right, forward/backward) and the three axes of rotation (pitch, yaw, roll) that its motion sensors could detect.

Initially, the Sixaxis lacked the rumble feature (force feedback) found in previous PlayStation controllers. This was reportedly due to a patent dispute with Immersion Corporation related to rumble technology. In 2007, the DualShock 3 was released as a successor to the Sixaxis, re-introducing the rumble feature while retaining the motion-sensing capabilities. While the DualShock 3 became the standard controller for the PlayStation 3, the Sixaxis remained compatible and continued to be used by some players, particularly in situations where its lighter weight was preferred. It connects to the PlayStation 3 console via Bluetooth.