I tried Sonys new FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick and got my butt kicked on Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls heres everything you need to know about the upcoming PlayStation peripheral

Date:
Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
Love fighting games but never used a fight stick? Sonys new peripheral could be perfect for you.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Sony is bringing a wireless fight stick to new audiences with its upcoming FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick. The tech giant is looking to pitch its new PS5 peripheral to those who have never owned a fightstick before perhaps those who grew up with gamepads rather than arcade cabs as well as relative newcomers to the fighting game genre.

Why? Well, to find out, I sat down with PlayStations Vice President of
Product Development, Edwin Foo a man who has overseen the development of products like the PlayStation Portal and Pulse Elite Headphones . I also got to try out the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick for myself and Ive got the lowdown on its price, release date, and more. So, heres everything you need
to know about the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, and how I rated my time with the new PS5 peripheral. Latest Videos From You may like The best fight sticks: fighting game controllers from Victrix, Hori and more Best PS5 controllers in 2026 Best fighting games to play in 2025 Enter Sonys beginner-friendly FlexStrike (Image credit: Future / Sony) Before we get into the details, allow me to introduce Sony s new fight stick. The FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick can be used without a cable via PlayStation Link or
wired via USB-C. I was told that the model offers 4ms latency when connected over PlayStation Link favored over Bluetooth for its highly stable and speedier connectivity.

The model features a custom-built digital stick, which is fairly short for
an ergonomic yet fast and responsive feel. Pair that with well-sized buttons featuring mechanical switches, and you have a very solid foundation to work from.

But who exactly is this for? For Foo, this model is squarely aimed at fight stick first-timers those who have grown up using gamepads rather than arcade cabs but also newer fighting game fans.

He was keen to highlight how a lot of models boast an almost intimidating array of buttons, and can be pretty hefty to boot. The FlexStrikes simplistic layout makes it more approachable, and its ergonomic design is ideal for people who just want to pick it up, put it in their lap, and play, he said. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Who better to propose an alternative to the DualSense than the company responsible for it? Edwin Foo, VP, Product Development - PlayStation But this got me wondering: why would Sony target players who are new to fight sticks, rather than more experienced fighting game fans? For Foo, this came down to two key reasons. The first, he said, is that we [Sony] think its an
experience that those people who have grown up with the DualSense and
gamepads deserve to give a shot. Its another way to play. The second, he
said, is that we think the market is actually pretty well served already for people who already know and love fight sticks and have already made their choice, so to speak. Getting hands on (Image credit: Future / Sony) After chatting away about Sonys upcoming peripheral, I was given a chance to try it out for myself. We loaded up the upcoming fighter Marvel Tokon: Fighting
Souls , and both my opponent and I picked up a FlexStrike each.
Interestingly, you can connect two of Sonys fight sticks up to a single
dongle and maintain ultra-low latency.

Now, time for a confession. I kinda suck at 2D fighters. I enjoy the odd bit of Guilty Gear or Street Fighter , but I am by no means up to competitive standards, and inevitably, I got my butt kicked. What to read next Sony
Inzone H9 2 Wireless gaming headset review: impressive audio and connectivity take it leagues above its predecessor The best Xbox controllers in 2026: top-tier gamepads from 8BitDo, GameSir, Asus, and more This new controller
has turned me into a parrying machine

However, I did get to experience everything the fight stick had to offer, and I found it really pleasant to use.

First of all, lets talk about the control stick. Its relatively short stature made movement feel incredibly snappy and responsive, and I never suffered
from pesky mis-inputs or anything. The click of the stick moving was satisfying and relatively light it wasnt obnoxiously loud or distracting,
and Sony found a great balance in my view.

It was a similar story for the buttons, which felt tactile and reactive, and were placed in a convenient way to ensure maximum comfort. I never felt like
I was overstretched, and the layout felt very beginner-friendly ideal for
the target audience. I also appreciated a lock button on the fight stick, which prevents you from accidentally triggering buttons like options or pressing the PS button after all, accidentally pausing the game can be grounds for disqualification in some competitive situations.

One more thing that struck me about the FlexStrike was how secure and ergonomic it was to use. The models tilted, textured base kept it fixed in place on my lap; it never seemed as if it was slipping off, and its lightweight construction kept it feeling comfortable in use. Final thoughts:
a well-made model, but a slightly tough sell? (Image credit: Future / Sony) Performance-wise, I think this model hits the right notes, especially for the target market. It's approachable and straightforward to use, and offers ultra-low latency in both wired and wireless capacities. Something I also discovered is that the model has a battery life of 40 hours, which is very solid indeed, and means you wont have to charge it very often at all another user-friendly feature.

But something that may prove to be a point of contention is the FlexStrikes price. Sony told me that the upcoming peripheral will launch at $199.99 / 179.99. And while thats not extortionate, I do think that the intended audience i.e., fight stick newcomers may feel that the cost is hard to justify.

Although its high in quality and has welcome features such as a carry case with a protective slot for the stick, and mechanical switch-powered buttons, almost $200 / 180 is quite a bit to spend on a peripheral especially one
that some will find not essential for play.

Having said that, Sony told me that the FlexStrike will release on August 6, 2026 the same day as Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls , meaning that a lot of
new players could be tempted to go all in on the ultimate fighting game
setup. Foo told me that there are no plans for a game and fight stick bundle on day one, but if we saw bundles in the future, that could be an effective way of shipping more controller units.

But what do you think? Do you see the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick being a success? Are you excited to try it out for yourself? Be sure to let me know
in the comments!

The FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick will release on August 6, 2026, and pre-orders will start on June 12. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best PS5 controllers for all budgets Our top picks based on hours and hours of testing

Read our full guide to the best PS5 controllers 1. Best overall: DualSense Wireless Controller 2. Best pro: DualSense Edge 3. Best for versatility: Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded 4. Best for remote play: PlayStation Portal 5. Best for accessibility PlayStation Access Controller



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/flexstrike-wireless-fight-stick-hands-on


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)