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A future PlayStation 4 firmware update will make it so the DualShock 4's light bar can be dimmed, Sony revealed today.
Speaking with Geoff Keighley at GDC today, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida announced the new feature. It was initially believed he indicated that an update would allow for the light bar to be disabled altogether, but he has since clarified that it will only be possible to dim the LED, not turn it off.
Sony has said since last year that the light bar could not be shut off, even by those hoping to extend the DualShock 4's underwhelming battery life. In addition to complaints about draining the battery, some have lamented how bright the light can be in an otherwise dark room.
The light bar is used for different things depending upon the game, while some don't use it at all (in which case it remains a solid color regardless of what's happening in-game). Some novel uses of it are planned, such as by Supergiant Games with Transistor, but we've yet to see a game where its use is integral.
Being able to dim the light bar is not the only feature planned for upcoming PS4 firmware updates. We learned this week that the next patch will enhance the system's sharing features and allow HDCP to be turned off. It's also being reported that pre-loading functionality could be in place as soon as next month.
