PSA: The Brook Wingman XE Rocks! - Easily Replace Your DS3

[baboon_overlord]

The Brook Wingman XE has been mentioned a couple times on this site, namely in these threads:

 

 

But I see there isn't a thread specifically for it.

Like many of you, I have been going through second hand DS3 controllers and "aftermarket"/knock-off PS3 controllers, and was getting tired of them failing. With the honourable exception of https://baxtros.co.uk/product-category/the-controllers/ps3-controllers/ - an excellent company who sell refurbished controllers - I was getting tired of buying controllers that work great for a while, but then start drifting or otherwise just not working.

 

I've been looking at the Chronus Zen for a while, but frankly it's overkill and expensive for what I need. Plus, it seems it allows you to - let's euphemistically say - "play beyond your actual skill level" on multiplayer games, which I disavow.

 

I spent a long time searching for an alternative and finally found this reddit post (please note they are talking specifically about connection to PS3 with a DS4):

 

 

Big respect to TWShand for posting this, it convinced me to buy one. 

 

https://www.brookaccessory.com/detail/87495367/

 

Thanks to this amazing dongle, I can now play my PS3 games with my DS4 controller, wirelessly, with almost zero limitations. With the exception of the pressure-sensitive face buttons (I may need that for MGS 3 but haven't tested yet, my backup Baxtros DS3 will do the job there if need be) this works absolutely flawlessly (turning on the PS3 using the button on the console isn't a big deal, I'm not that much of a coach potato  ). I have just Platinumed Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time and had no problems with the motion control/SIXAXIS sections at all. The rumble is perfect. THE HOME BUTTON WORKS!

 

I somehow managed to complete the vast majority of Sleeping Dogs over Christmas with a knock-off DS3: the hacking sections were a nightmare and seven out of eight karaoke songs (the ones with diagonal analogue stick presses) were impossible. Now I know what people mean by "dead zones" on aftermarket controllers. Instead of finishing off the karaoke with my refurbished Baxtros official DS3 controller, I waited for the Wingman XE to arrive so I could test it. Needless to say, I aced all the remaining karaoke songs with 95%+, first time!

 

Once you get yours, if you decide to, update the firmware and then you simply plug it into your PS3, squeeze the two side buttons then press and hold Share and Home/PS Button on your DS4 and then it will pair. You can also use it wired as well.

 

I'm not shilling for this company or product, I just wanted to advise that this is the best solution I have found to a problem that has been driving me bonkers for a couple of years. I infinitely prefer the DS4 over the DS3 because I have big hands, and am pretty delighted with this setup.

 

The only downside I have found, other than in the above reddit list, is that it doesn't seem capable of knowing how much power is left (it seems to always say "Fully charged" in the XMB controller sub-menu). Once the power level of the controller gets low, it starts getting temperamental, but I make sure I charge it regularly and can also play in wired mode anyway (the dongle has a USB port in it for charging or wired use), so that's hardly a big deal. 

 

Tl;dr buy a Brook Wingman if you want to use a DS4 to replace your broken DS3 controllers and want to stop wasting money on cheap Chinese knockoffs.

 

In addition to being a PSA, I guess this thread could also be useful if anyone wants to share any other controllers they got working with this device, plus any pros/cons. E.g. DS5, Xbox controllers/Hori/etc; or any other consoles they have used it with.

 

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Bonus! Just a final note, I also got really tired of "wrestling" with my consoles when plugging in USB sticks to backup game saves and unplugging controllers. My laptop has a ridiculously low number of USB ports so I bought a Beikell USB 3.0 extender, which works amazingly well:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beikell-Ultra-Slim-Indicator-Macbook-Notebook/dp/B086P9Z2SV/

 

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to unplug it from my laptop and test it on my PS3 and PS4. It works flawlessly on both, so I bought a dedicated unit for each console. In fact, I have all three of my game save backup USB drives plugged into one extender on my PS3 and all three USB drives are available from the Save Game Data menu at all times. On the PS4, I no longer have to keep fighting with the console to plug in a USB to make backups: plugging in a USB is now easy, and the controller cable is permanently in the extender (my other USB port has a 1TB storage drive in it, and the PS4 gets very cross with me when I accidentally unplug that!). 

 

This may be old news but I assumed that a third-party device wouldn't work for some reason, and was very happy to see it does on both consoles.

 

Hope this is useful to someone.

[mizzcreed]

Thanks I've been looking for another alternative to the knock off ps3 controllers. I was using ds4 on the ps3 for a bit but some games weren't compatible my other ps3 controllers are starting to suffer from analog drift making some games unplayable. Anyways I'll  take a look at it thanks  

[baboon_overlord]

On 02/03/2022 at 11:40 AM, mizzcreed said:

Thanks I've been looking for another alternative to the knock off ps3 controllers. I was using ds4 on the ps3 for a bit but some games weren't compatible my other ps3 controllers are starting to suffer from analog drift making some games unplayable. Anyways I'll  take a look at it thanks  

My pleasure, glad I could help. I know my post was long, but it took about two hours of searching to find an alternative to the Chronus Zen so wanted to share here.

 

I found my first problem with it, but I don't really understand why it happened. I was playing Tomb Raider 2013 to finish off the remaining trophies for the Plat and noticed that the diagonal top left on both the left and right analogue sticks didn't work on the multiplayer. Tried those positions for the sticks on Alpha Protocol, MGS: 5 TPP and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and all good. I know they work perfectly for Sleeping Dogs as I wouldn't have been able to do the karaoke without the left stick top left diagonal analogue, so it's perplexing.  

 

I am absolutely loving this with Metal Gear 5 (and with every other game I have played so far except for Tomb Raider MP, but it didn't matter since I was solo boosting/boosting). 

Edited March 11, 2022 by baboon_overlord

[chaoticescape]

I had this for roughly 4-5months now and here are my thoughts on it :).  The device works great but there are a couple of minor things with it,

1st. you cant turn the ps3 on with it which really isn't a big deal

2. It does disconnect randomly, it only really occurred when I left the controller for a while. the controller didn't need to be charged or anything like that but it was a simple fix just needed to unplug the stick from ps3.

 

That's really the only issues I had with it but I would still highly recommend it. It's a lot nicer playing with ps4 controller .

[janzor88]

I don't understand why you'd complicate things?

You can already pair your DS4 easily with the Playstation 3 and use it with a wireless connection.
Only functions that are missing, are the rumble and home button. Are you buying adaptors because these functions work with it?

[chaoticescape]

10 minutes ago, janzor88 said:

I don't understand why you'd complicate things?

You can already pair your DS4 easily with the Playstation 3 and use it with a wireless connection.
Only functions that are missing, are the rumble and home button. Are you buying adaptors because these functions work with it?

There are a few games that don't work for it. star ocean 4 for example you can only use the right stick nothing else.

Edited July 16, 2022 by chaoticescape

[baboon_overlord]

23 hours ago, chaoticescape said:

1st. you cant turn the ps3 on with it which really isn't a big deal

2. It does disconnect randomly, it only really occurred when I left the controller for a while. the controller didn't need to be charged or anything like that but it was a simple fix just needed to unplug the stick from ps3.

 

That's really the only issues I had with it but I would still highly recommend it. It's a lot nicer playing with ps4 controller .

Hi chaoticescape,

 

Yes, I agree, switching on the console isn't a problem. I've got my TV set to switch on via HDMI when I turn the console on, it really isn't important. 

 

As to your other point, I bought some 3m USB cables for my PS3 and PS4 and I play wired all the time now. Honestly, the cables are so long it doesn't really feel any different to playing wirelessly. At first I was playing wirelessly and had the same issues you describe, but since playing wired, it works 100% of the time with no problems.
 

23 hours ago, janzor88 said:

I don't understand why you'd complicate things?

You can already pair your DS4 easily with the Playstation 3 and use it with a wireless connection.
Only functions that are missing, are the rumble and home button. Are you buying adaptors because these functions work with it?

 

Hi janzor88, this is isn't over-complicating things, it's making them WAY better. Not having rumble is crap, plus not having a home button is quite disastrous, especially if you don't have a working DS3/DS3 clone.

 

If you read my OP then you will see all the advantages to using this, it replaces the DS3 perfectly. Literally the only drawback is that you can't switch the console on with it. Given the cost of replacing DS3s, how unreliable third-party joypads are and how well built the DS4 is compared to the DS3, it's a no brainer. Over time, this will save you a small fortune (plus I personally prefer the DS4 anyway).

 

So to answer your question, yes, this device give you all the functionality of the DS3. For me it's a must have (and I haven't even looked into the possibilities of what else it can do yet).

.  

22 hours ago, chaoticescape said:

There are a few games that don't work for it. star ocean 4 for example you can only use the right stick nothing else.

Hi again, have you tried it wired? As I stated above, the only game I had an issue with was Tomb Raider 2013 (and that was quite a minor problem).

Edited July 17, 2022 by baboon_overlord

[chaoticescape]

12 minutes ago, baboon_overlord said:

-snip-

hello  ,

I haven't tried using the wired yet but I may look into it. as for 2nd quote that was using the ps3's built-in function for syncing up ds4 controller I should have made that clearer .

[baboon_overlord]

4 minutes ago, chaoticescape said:

hello  ,

I haven't tried using the wired yet but I may look into it. as for 2nd quote that was using the ps3's built-in function for syncing up ds4 controller I should have made that clearer .

Ah... OK, so your comment regarding Star Ocean 4 was using the DS4 with the PS3 Bluetooth functionality. Got it.

 

Yeah, Sony really screwed up, it's kind of outrageous that you need to buy a third-party device to get what should have been easily achievable with a firmware update on PS3 to make the DS4 fully compatible. Given how tiny the circuit boards are, they could probably have made the DS4 compatible by default anyway.

 

Do try wired, as I say, since I went that route I haven't had any issues at all. It works 100% of the time. Get a decent 3m cable with a braided jacket, you can't go wrong.