MANILA -- Sony has unveiled the controller for its forthcoming PlayStation 5 console, marking a departure from its previous DualShock pads.

Called DualSense, the new wireless controller complements PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech engine with its haptic feedback feature and adaptive triggers in delivering "a new feeling of immersion" to players.

Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation's senior vice president for platform planning and management, said they have decided to "keep much of what gamers love about DualShock 4 intact, while also adding new functionality and refining the design."

"Based on our discussions with developers, we concluded that the sense of touch within gameplay, much like audio, hasn't been a big focus for many games. We had a great opportunity with PS5 to innovate by offering game creators the ability to explore how they can heighten that feeling of immersion through our new controller," he said in a post on the PlayStation blog.

"This is why we adopted haptic feedback, which adds a variety of powerful sensations you'll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud," Nishino added. "We also incorporated adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons of DualSense so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow."

Sony adjusted the controller's grip and the angle of its hand triggers to make the DualSense "feel smaller than it looks."

Replacing the DualShock 4's "share" button is a "create" button which, Nishino said, will provide "new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world."

There is also an integrated microphone, and what appears to be a USB-C connector.

The DualShock 4's other features remain, but with light tweaks -- the PlayStation button is now cut in the actual shape of the PS logo, and the light bar has been moved to the sides of the touch pad.

Sony also went for a two-tone design for the DualSense, departing from its single-color base controllers.

The PlayStation 5 is slated for a Holiday 2020 launch, as confirmed by Sony Interactive Entertainment president and chief executive officer Jim Ryan.

"We look forward to sharing more information about PS5, including the console design, in the coming months," he said in a message posted by Nishino in his blog post.