PlayStation has finally revealed more details of its first-party fight stick and confirmed its official name: the FlexStrike wireless fight stick.
Sony initially unveiled its upcoming fight stick last month. At the time, Edwin Foo, VP of product development at Sony Interactive Entertainment, said the stick — internally codenamed Project Defiant — would give players “more flexibility to play their favorite fighting games.”
In recognition of the Evo Championship Series coming up next month, Sony has now confirmed the FlexStrike will be available sometime in 2026, although at this time, the company was no more specific than that. Visitors to Evo’s Las Vegas event August 1-3 can see it on display before then, though.
Sony promises ultra-low latency through a wireless connection on PS5 or PC, as well as the option to play with a wired connection. This is essential for fighting game fans who need their combo inputs to be as precise and as instant as possible.
The FlexStrike is also claimed to boast an ergonomic design, with a “high-quality digital stick” that’s been custom-designed by Sony, and toolless interchangeable restrictor gates so players can choose between square, circle, or octagon, all of which can be stored in the controller’s handy compartment when not in use. It even comes with a sling carry case.
You’ll be able to keep your DualSense wireless controller connected at the same time as the FlexStrike wireless fight stick, “if you’d like to use it as an additional controller for navigating menus between fights,” Sony says.
You can also use a single PS Link USB adapter to connect the FlexStrike and a Pulse Elite wireless headset or Pulse Explore wireless earbuds simultaneously on PS5, for “an ultra-low latency audio and voice chat experience in the heat of battle.”
Expect more details, including pricing information, closer to the time.
If you’re new to fighting games or it’s been awhile since you indulged, here’s our picks of the 10 best fighting games of all time. Did your favorite reach the top spot?
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
