PlayStation Revives Transparent Hardware With New Prism Collection for PS5

PlayStation is bringing one of gaming’s most nostalgic hardware trends back to the modern era. Sony Interactive Entertainment officially unveiled the Prism Collection today, October 28, introducing transparent DualSense wireless controllers and matching PlayStation 5 console covers in three new colors.

The new lineup includes Flare Orange, Emerald Green and Graphite Gray, each built around translucent materials that expose parts of the hardware beneath the exterior shell. Pre-orders begin November 10, 2026, while the collection launches starting February 4, 2027.

Rather than treating the transparent design as a simple color variation, PlayStation says the collection was deliberately created as a modern interpretation of the see-through electronics that became popular during the late 1990s.

The Prism Collection Brings Transparent PlayStation Hardware Back

Sony describes Prism as a collection designed to let players see more of the engineering and craftsmanship inside their PlayStation hardware.

The transparent effect covers much of the DualSense shell, including its rear section, allowing internal components to remain visible beneath the glossy material. A metallic center section provides contrast and gives the controllers a more contemporary PS5-style finish.

PlayStation designer Leo Cardoso said the company knew fans had been waiting for transparent controllers to return and wanted to reinterpret the late-1990s aesthetic in a way that still fit the PS5’s industrial design.

The result is intentionally nostalgic without simply recreating an older DualShock controller.

Flare Orange, Emerald Green and Graphite Gray

All three Prism designs use the same transparent concept, but Sony says the materials behave differently depending on the color and lighting.

Flare Orange is the brightest of the three, with overlapping translucent sections taking on a slightly rosy appearance.

Emerald Green uses a darker green finish designed to gain additional visual depth through the transparent plastic.

Graphite Gray takes a cooler approach, with Sony describing it as a storm-gray tone intended to produce a more understated look.

Matching PS5 console covers will also be offered in each color, allowing players to pair the console and controller within the same design.

Sony Says the Collection Was Inspired by Late-1990s Transparent Tech

The visual direction is a deliberate callback to an era when transparent and translucent electronics became especially popular.

Clear shells appeared across controllers, handheld systems and other consumer electronics during the late 1990s and early 2000s, allowing users to see circuit boards and internal components that would normally remain hidden.

PlayStation itself has experimented with this look before.

Sony released transparent DualShock controllers during previous PlayStation generations, including translucent DualShock 4 models for PS4. The Prism Collection represents a more extensive return of the concept during the PS5 generation.

Sony’s design team specifically described Prism as a way of bringing that classic trend back without abandoning the visual identity established by PS5.

Prism DualSense Controllers Will Cost $84.99

In the United States, each Prism Collection DualSense wireless controller will carry a recommended retail price of $84.99.

Sony also announced the following international recommended prices:

United States: $84.99
Europe: €84.99
United Kingdom: £74.99
Japan: ¥12,480, including tax.

That positions the Prism models above the basic standard DualSense price while remaining within the range Sony has used for premium color variants and special-edition controllers.

The three colors are individual products rather than a single bundle.

Matching PS5 Covers Will Cost $74.99

Players who want the entire console to match can also purchase the corresponding transparent PS5 covers.

Sony lists the recommended U.S. price at $74.99, with prices of €74.99 in Europe, £64.99 in the U.K. and ¥9,980 in Japan.

The console covers will have more limited distribution than the controllers.

Sony says they will be sold directly through PlayStation in markets where PlayStation Direct operates, while other regions will receive limited quantities through selected retailers.

Pre-Orders Begin November 10

Pre-orders for the Prism Collection begin November 10, 2026.

In the United States, orders through PlayStation Direct open at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET. Sony says participating retailers will also accept orders.

In supported European PlayStation Direct markets, pre-orders begin at 10 a.m. local time.

The overall collection begins launching on February 4, 2027, although Sony warns that the exact release date and availability may vary between countries and regions.

What About the Prism Collection in Brazil?

Sony has also officially announced the Prism Collection through the Brazilian PlayStation Blog, confirming that the products are planned for the Brazilian market through participating retailers.

The Brazilian announcement says pre-orders are scheduled to begin on November 10 at 10 a.m. local time, while matching PS5 covers will be available in limited quantities through selected retailers.

However, Sony has not announced official prices in Brazilian reais.

The Brazilian PlayStation Blog also notes that exact availability and launch timing can vary by country or region. Because of that, the February 4 international launch should not automatically be interpreted as a guaranteed Brazilian retail date until local stores publish their listings.

The DualSense Still Has the Same Core PS5 Features

Sony has presented Prism as a design collection rather than a new DualSense revision.

There is no announcement of new buttons, battery technology or additional gameplay functionality tied specifically to these controllers.

The appeal is therefore primarily visual: the familiar DualSense architecture, adaptive triggers and haptic-feedback hardware can now be partially seen through the transparent exterior.

That is also why the design is particularly fitting for DualSense. Instead of simply applying another solid color, the transparent material turns some of the controller’s internal construction into part of the aesthetic.

Transparent Gaming Hardware Is Having Another Moment

PlayStation’s decision comes during a broader revival of retro-inspired hardware aesthetics.

Transparent plastic has periodically returned across gaming accessories, handheld devices and custom controllers after largely disappearing from mainstream console design during the 2000s.

Sony is explicitly leaning into that nostalgia rather than pretending the idea is entirely new.

The difference with Prism is how closely the concept has been integrated into the PS5 generation’s existing visual language: transparent outer materials, monochromatic coloring and metallic central surfaces instead of the more playful multicolor internals associated with some older transparent electronics.

That makes the collection recognizable as a throwback while still looking like current PlayStation hardware.

Prism Gives PS5 One of Its Most Distinctive Accessory Collections Yet

Throughout the PS5 generation, Sony has steadily expanded DualSense beyond the original white controller with standard colors, metallic finishes and numerous limited editions tied to games and entertainment properties.

Prism stands apart because it changes more than the color.

For the first time in this generation, Sony is making the physical construction beneath the exterior part of the official design.

And unlike a game-specific limited edition, Prism is being positioned as an entire hardware aesthetic: three colors, three DualSense controllers and matching PS5 covers.

For players who remember the era of clear game controllers and translucent electronics, Sony is not being subtle about the inspiration.

The late ’90s are officially back on PlayStation — this time with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback inside.