What was once known as Project Defiant is now called FlexStrike. Revealed initially as part of the June State of Play presentation, the PlayStation-developed wireless fight stick now has its official name, just in time for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) in Las Vegas this weekend.
Designed by the team behind the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, the FlexStrike is compatible with both consoles and PCs, either through a wired connection or wirelessly via PlayStation Link. There’s no need to worry about latency either, as Sony is promising “innovative ultra-low latency wireless technology” to plug the gap.
Diving deeper, this wireless fight stick features mechanical switch buttons and toolless swappable restrictor gates. Square, circle, and octagon restrictor gates fit into the fight stick’s built-in storage compartments alongside the included PS Link USB adapter, making it easy to bring it wherever you need to. Give the device a good charge, pair it with the included sling carry case, and you are ready to go.
Features of the PlayStation FlexStrike Fight Stick
With a better understanding of the fighting game community, the team has also made sure to include more bells and whistles on the FlexStrike:
- Simultaneous PlayStation Link audio: On PS5, FlexStrike wireless fight stick offers a seamless fighting game experience. Players can use a single PS Link USB adapter to connect the FlexStrike wireless fight stick 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.
- More importantly, the device will bundle an updated PlayStation Link USB adapter that is compatible with USB-C ports.
- Dual FlexStrike wireless fight stick connections: On PS5, connect two FlexStrike wireless fight sticks via a single PS Link USB adapter for couch competition or co-op.
- Durable and ergonomic design: The FlexStrike wireless fight stick features a unique, ergonomic design with comfortably angled surfaces and a non-slip base for a firm foundation. It also has a high-quality custom-designed digital stick.
- DualSense controller connectivity: You can keep your DualSense wireless controller on PS5 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.
- Adjustable controls and DualSense inputs: The FlexStrike wireless fight stick features the same game control inputs found on the DualSense controller, plus a touchpad.
There are also additional customisation options, including the ability to switch directional inputs with a built-in lever mode switch or lock in the layout and prevent accidental inputs during a match with a dedicated lock button.
Those at EVO 2025 will have the first opportunity to check out the fight stick in person at the Fight Stick Museum and the Arc System Works booth. For the rest of us, it will arrive sometime in 2026, hopefully just in time for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls.
