Aside from a couple of games to get you started, a PlayStation 4 console comes with everything you need. But, add a few accessories into the mix and you can really enhance your experience. Some are there for convenience, others ramp-up immersion for gaming memories you just can't get with a PS4 and gamepad.
When we say a few accessories, though, we don't just mean any old things. A quality console demands quality add-ons so we've highlighted the best of the best, the ones that will genuinely augment your gaming experience.
Whether you're looking for a VR headset, some great wireless headphones, a handy subscription or a spacious external hard drive we've got something here for you.
- See also: Best Xbox One accessories
Thrustmaster T300 RS steering wheel
Perfect for racing game fans who want an authentic experience
Price: USD: $360 / GBP: £250 / AUD: $495
Buy: Amazon UK | eBuyer| Mwave
Like an arcade stick, a racing wheel with pedals isn't necessary for everyone. But if you love more serious racing games it's the best accessory you can get. The ThrustMaster T300RS is worth every penny if titles like Project Cars 2 and Gran Turismo are among your faves.
Impressive precision is essential of course, but force feedback is the T300RS's most important feature. This uses motors to pull against your hands as you turn around corners. It simulates the forces you'd feel in a real car. And as Thrustmaster uses a belt-driven system, here you get the smoothest, most realistic feel of any racing wheel that is not ridiculously expensive.
Sturdy design and solid pedals ensure it'll stand up over the long haul, and it's compatible with both the PS4 and PS3, letting you give last-gen gems fresh life with this killer wheel.
Being on a budget doesn't mean you can't get a great gaming headset. Turtle Beach’s EarForce PX24 is a perfect example of a little money going a long way. Yes, this headset is more plasticky than its more expensive rivals but is robust and very comfortable to wear.
Sound and configurability matter too, of course. The EarForce PX24 is way better than it has any right to be for its price in these areas. You won't find the same bass extension as some more expensive headsets and the treble is somewhat dry but it still sounds very good.
The PX24 use an amplifier that clips between the headset and the PS4 controller. You can boost the bass, engage Superhuman Hearing mode for first-person shooters and experiment with a virtual surround-sound effect.
Nice features like this as well as decent sound is unusual in such an affordable headset. The EarForce PX24 is a great find.
PS Plus subscription
Great for bargain hunters and the hardcore crowd alike
Price (annual): USD: $60 / GBP: £50 / AUD: $70
Got a PlayStation 4? Great. Your next step should certainly be to consider PlayStation Plus subscription. Having Sony's membership plan, which is sold in one-month, three-month, and annual options, is the only way you can play PS4 games online and access cloud storage for saves, but there's a potentially even bigger perk: free games every single month.
That's right, at the start of every month Sony drops a handful of free downloadable games across the PS4, PlayStation Vita, and PS3, and they're yours to keep and play to your heart's content so long as your Plus membership is active. With two or three PS4 games free each month, as well as additional discounts during sales and other promotions, the membership rapidly pays for itself. Make sure you keep an eye on our best PlayStation Plus deals page.
There’s plenty nice to say about Sony’s new pair of Platinum Wireless Headphones. They have exceptional – and balanced – audio performance and the mic sounds “above average” according to the people we spoke to. There’s also 3D Audio support that creates 100 "virtual speakers" for more immersive positional sound.
That said, the Platinum Wireless doesn’t have the same surround sound panache as the very top models.
All said however, it’s hard to find a better value headset that’s this easy to use and sounds this good overall. Those qualities definitely exist at a higher price, but if you’re looking for something you can set up without a fuss, you're going to want a pair of these.
Read the full review: PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset
Sony's PlayStation VR is no longer brand new red-hot tech. But it is still one of the best high-end virtual reality experiences around, not least because it's the only one that plays nice with a home console.
The headset is comfortable and immersive and it's greatly helped by an increasingly impressive library of games. These are our picks of the best games on PSVR.
Experiences you won't want to miss include the terrifying Resident Evil 7 (OK, some of you will want to miss this one) and Superhot VR. For the full experience you'll also need a PlayStation Camera and Move controllers. Many top VR games require these.
Read the full review: PlayStation VR
PlayStation Camera
A great way to futureproof your PS4, and have more fun with it
Price: USD: $45 / GBP: £39 / AUD: $89
Buy: Amazon UK | Zavvi | Very| Mighty Ape
Unlike the Kinect on Xbox One, Sony's PlayStation Camera was never a big focus of the PS4 platform. However, it's well worth buying if you want PSVR as it's used to track your movements and translate those into gameplay.
There are other uses for the Camera, as well. You can use it while streaming live games on Twitch, for example. It's important that your fans see your face.
Games like Just Dance 2018 also use this accessory.
So, the PlayStation Vita is actually an entirely separate handheld console but it works well as a sharp companion to the PS4, thanks to a killer, relatively little-known feature called Remote Play.
Essentially, Remote Play lets you play all your favorite PS4 games on the go by streaming them over an Internet connection to the Vita. That means you can dominate in Street Fighter V while snuggled up in bed, or play Uncharted 4: A Thief's End during downtime on a business trip half the country away from your console. As long as you have a strong connection, the Vita lets you take your PS4 games pretty much anywhere.
It's worth noting, though, that support for the PS Vita is rapidly declining and though you can still get some good PS Plus games for it, you'll find there are very few new releases.
Read the full review: PlayStation Vita
As we all quickly discovered, 500GB just isn't enough space for active players this console generation, especially with all those necessarily game installations. If you're constantly deleting and reinstalling games to manage space, it's time to consider popping in a new hard drive, and Samsung's M9T 2TB drive is your best bet.
If you've never opened up a console (or computer) in your life, worry not: installing a hard drive on the PS4 is relatively easy, as our how-to guide shows, and it won't void your warranty at all. You'll need a 2.5-inch drive, and for the money, Samsung's drive fits the bill and quadruples your available space if you started with 500GB. It's a crucial upgrade.
Seagate 4TB External Hard Drive
Do you need more hard drive space for all the games you want to play but aren't overly keen on digging into your console's internals? You should definitely consider an external hard drive.
External hard drive support was introduced in February 2017 and it was something of a revelation for those who were unwilling to consider an internal hard drive change.
There are some great models out there but Seagate tend to make the biggest and the best of the bunch. This 4TB beast will hold around 100 games and since it's made just for the PlayStation 4 you know it's going to work well.
PowerA DualShock 4 Dual Charger
A headache-blasting accessory, a real frustration-reliever
Price: USD: $25 / GBP: £15 / AUD: $40
There's nothing worse than settling down for a long, lazy gaming session only to discover that your controller is dead. Now you're hunting for a charging cable and moving to make sure you're close enough to the TV – it's sure to infuriate you more than any trash-talking 12-year-old Call of Duty guru can. But there's an easy solution.
PowerA's DualShock 4 Dual Charger is a dock designed to keep two PS4 gamepads fully charged. Simply pop your DualShock 4 into the slot when you finish playing and it'll top off while you're not playing, ensuring the controller ready to go the next time around. Also, you're less likely to lose a controller if you keep 'em docked.
Mad Catz Street Fighter V Arcade FightStick TE2+
Recommended for top-quality construction and fan-pleasing style
Price: USD: $230 / GBP: £230 / AUD: $470
If you plan to play Street Fighter V more than casually, an arcade stick is essential—and if you're willing to spend big, Mad Catz's Street Fighter V Arcade FightStick TE2+ feels like it was ripped right off of an arcade cabinet. It's a hearty, heavy peripheral with smooth, precise Sanwa Denshi parts, letting you pull off expert moves with ease via a reliable wired connection.
It's easy to mod too, in case you want to switch things up, plus you can even get a shoulder strap for hauling it around to tournaments. While obviously designed for Street Fighter V, it's also an ideal match for Mortal Kombat X, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend, and any other game built around punches, kicks and fireballs.
If you're planning to rip up the roads in Driveclub and Project Cars or take to the track in Gran Turismo, we suggest you get your hands on a good steering wheel to make the most of the experience.
Superseding the Logitech G27, the G29 is the latest in Logitech's line of steering wheels and it's one of the best PS4-compatible wheels you'll find. Here you'll find excellent force-feedback mechanics, a solid pedal board and a realistic leather wheel cover for a very reasonable price.
Compatible with the PS4 and PC, this is a high-quality wheel that offers high-end extras at no additional cost. The only thing we'd like to see different is that a clamp on the underside capable of extending lower – it's a bit of pain for those with thick desks.
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