US: Dualshock 3 hits stores next week

Whilst Japanese gamers have been able to rumble along with their PS3 games since November, the Western market has to date had to make do with the rumble-less Sixaxis – but it’s all change from next week.

Sony has announced via its US blog that the Dualshock 3 pad will be shipping to retailers in the territory next week, and that it will cost $54.99.

Though the current motion-sensing Sixaxis pad is expected to stay in circulation for some time, the Dualshock 3 (which retains the motion-sensing functionality) is expected to permanently replace it in time.

When Sony first announced the PS3, it claimed that rumble was a redundant technology, However, following the firm’s legal settlement with rumble patent holder Immersion, talk soon emerged of an upgrade to the console’s pad.

It was then confirmed last September that a revised version of the PS3 pad was in the works, and it was in Japanese stores two months later.

There’s still no word on a European release date for the Dualshock 3.

The following titles will offer rumble gaming from the off, though those marked with an * will require an online update:

* SCEA – Formula One Championship Edition*
* SCEA – MotorStorm*
* SCEA – PAIN
* SCEA – High Velocity Bowling
* SCEA – MLB 08: The Show
* SCEA – Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
* SCEA – Resistance: Fall of Man*
* SCEA – Go! Sports Ski*
* SCEA – Folklore*
* SCEA – Heavenly Sword*
* SCEA – Warhawk*
* SCEA – Super Stardust HD*
* SCEA – Snakeball
* SCEA – Toy Home
* SCEA – PSOne Emulation
* SCEA – Piyotama
* SCEA – PixelJunk Monsters
* SCEA – Blast Factor*
* Sega – Condemned 2: Bloodshot
* Ubisoft – Lost: Via Domus
* Ubisoft – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2*
* EA – Burnout Paradise
* KOEI – Dynasty Warriors 6
* Capcom – Devil May Cry 4
* Atari – Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit
* Disney Interactive – Turok