A PS3 controller listing that says “Sixaxis” leaves one very useful question unanswered: does the seller mean the original Sixaxis controller, or a DualShock 3 that also has Sixaxis motion sensing? The word appears on both, because apparently one naming headache per console generation was insufficient. Check which pad is actually being offered before paying for rumble that is not there.
The original Sony Sixaxis has motion sensing without vibration feedback. DualShock 3 retains motion sensing and adds rumble in supported software. For someone buying a controller to use across a PS3 library, our pick is a working, correctly identified DualShock 3. An original Sixaxis still makes sense for an early PS3 collection or a player who specifically wants that controller. You can also turn vibration off on a DualShock 3; disliking rumble does not force you to hunt down the earlier pad.
Motion sensing and rumble do different jobs
Motion sensing supplies an input: the game can respond when you move the controller. Rumble supplies feedback: the controller vibrates when supported software tells it to. Having one does not prove the other is present. Sony’s official controller retrospective separates the 2006 Sixaxis from DualShock 3’s later addition of vibration.
| Question | Original Sixaxis | DualShock 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion sensing? | Yes, when the game uses it. | Yes, retained alongside rumble. |
| Vibration feedback? | No. | Yes, with compatible software and the relevant settings enabled. |
| Wireless play? | Yes. | Yes, using Bluetooth. |
| Our buying priority | Choose it for a specific early-controller collecting goal. | Choose it when you want motion sensing plus the option of vibration. |
This comparison concerns those two Sony controller types. A third-party pad needs its own specification check. A familiar button layout or a seller’s “PS3 compatible” description does not establish every feature you care about.
Read the top edge, not just the listing title
Look at the featured photograph: the original Sixaxis is above, with SIXAXIS lettering. The lower controller shows DUALSHOCK 3 as well as SIXAXIS. The second word has not magically turned the lower controller into the earlier model. It describes a capability that carried forward.
Ask for photographs of the actual unit, including its top markings and rear label. They give you something concrete to compare with the written description. A generic front-facing picture is much less useful here: both controllers have the familiar twin-stick PlayStation arrangement. A photo can clarify what is being advertised, but it cannot certify authenticity, internal parts or working condition.
Early games make the rumble question more interesting
The original MotorStorm for PS3 is a useful example. Sony’s April 2, 2008 DualShock 3 compatibility post marked it as needing a patch to activate rumble. The same list included Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune for PS3 without that patch-required marker.
That distinction matters when interpreting a demonstration. Controller model and software support are separate questions. If an early game stays silent in your hands, first establish the exact title and installed update rather than assuming the hardware has failed. Conversely, a game accepting buttons does not prove that its vibration feature has been demonstrated.
That historical list is evidence of the named games’ support at the time, not a guarantee that every old update is currently downloadable. We have not verified a fresh MotorStorm patch download for this article. If a purchase depends on an update, verify that dependency before relying on it. An asterisk can do a surprising amount of damage when everybody ignores it.
Identify the pad before interpreting a silent game
Sony’s PS3 controller-settings guide says the system’s vibration setting can disable rumble even when the game’s vibration setting is on. So a lack of vibration is an observation, not a model identification method. Check what the controller is, then check whether that game and configuration should produce feedback.
For the connection and charging side, use our dedicated DualShock 3 pairing and charging guide. It covers setup; this comparison helps you decide which controller type belongs on your shopping list.
Collectors should define which PS3 moment they want
The original Sixaxis has a clear historical place. DualShock 3 does too. Sony’s September 20, 2007 announcement planned a November introduction in Japan and a spring 2008 introduction in North America and Europe. The April 2008 US blog then described controllers shipping to stores. These are regional rollout records, not one universal release date.
For a period-focused display, decide the region and period you are trying to represent before buying accessories. For regular play, decide whether rumble is part of the experience you want. Neither goal requires pretending that the original controller is useless or that an attractive DualShock 3 listing is automatically a sound purchase. Buy the specific item, with its stated contents and condition.
Put the right PS3 games on the shelf with Zypher
Buy your next physical PS3 game from Zypher Trading Video Games. Check our listings for MotorStorm on PS3 and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune on PS3, and read the selected condition and included contents before ordering. These links are for the named games. Check the listing contents rather than assuming a controller or cable comes with your copy.
Shop Zypher’s games, or sell your old games to Zypher when it is time to make shelf space.
Sources and native product listings checked November 2, 2026, America/Denver. Recommendations are Zypher editorial judgment. Featured photo: DeclanTM, CC BY 2.0; original photograph, displayed responsively. Hardware photographs illustrate the controller types, not Zypher inventory. No photographer or manufacturer endorsement is implied.
