Once again the Xbox wins
Years after Microsoft’s controller auto-off feature was second nature to Xbox 360 fans, Sony finally built an auto-off setting into the PS3.
Even though the PS3 controller has a built-in rechargeable battery, it’s still frustrating to get settled in for a venture through the surreal levels of Little Big Planet only to find your controller is inconsolably dead after you (or your wife/girlfriend/roommate) has left the system on and idle for hours on end.
And even though the battery is rechargeable, it does wear out eventually.
Not to mention, it’s a waste of energy. Unless you’re running your own solar panels, windmills, or water turbines, that energy is probably created by environment-killing fossil fuels.
Long story short: a dead PS3 controller sucks.
Easy Solution: PS3 Controller Auto-Off
Thankfully, it’s now easy to turn on the controller auto-off feature, which will power down any idle controller after a pre-determined amount of time. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the main menu (a.k.a. the XMB).
- Find the “Settings” menu second from the left.
- Scroll down to “Power Save Settings.”
- Choose the second option for “Controller Auto-Off.”
- Decide how long you want the controller to idle before it powers down (10, 20, or 30 minutes).
- Enjoy longer controller battery life and less frustration.
As an added bonus, you can also set the System Auto-Off feature to shut the entire system down if it stays idle for too long (1, 2, 3, or 5 hours). By default, the System Auto-Off won’t function during video playback or gameplay, but you can override that setting and make it shut off anyway if you are really serious about it.
I wish Sony would have made this feature default on the PS3 like it is on the Xbox, but at least they have finally made it an option.
What do you think about this or other feature settings on the PS3?
I got my PS3 a few months ago after years of admiring games like Uncharted from afar. I also use my consoles for non-gaming: ESPN3 on 360, Netflix & Hulu+ on PS3 (better picture than 360 IMO). It was driving me nuts that the controller wouldn’t auto-turn off on the PS3. Watching a movie can significantly drain the battery. I was charging my PS3 controller so much more often than the 360 just because I would forget to turn it off while streaming.
I’m glad I ran into your article. Thanks!
why my ps3 controller wont save charge while its off??