PS4 Updates: A PS3-Compatible DualShock 4, PS4 Slim Release Date and PS Now Open Beta Announced

Shoppers browse for video games near a poster advertising a FIFA soccer video game played on Sony Corp's PlayStation 4 console, at an electronics retail store in Tokyo June 10, 2014. REUTERS

If your DualShock 3 is already suffering from intense wear and tear, and you don't want to buy a new one, then your trusty new DualShock 4 may actually do the job.

It seems that PlayStation has silently released a new feature after the last PS3 firmware update, which has allowed the DualShock 4 to connect with the PS3 wirelessly.

VG 24/7 has spotted the new feature via a Reddit user, who has stated that, while the functions are still pretty limited, the DualShock 4 does have wireless support after the PS3 firmware update.

The limited features can limit the kinds of game that you can play with the DualShock 4 on the PS3, and this includes those that use sixaxis, ones that require vibration and also the PS Button.

The video below shows a quick how-to guide on pairing your DualShock 4 with your PS3.

Speculations About for the Possible PS4 Slim Release Date

The PS4 has been out for half a year already, and apart from games, the other question that Sony fans are probably asking is whether or not a PS4 Slim is in the works. Moreover, given Sony's track record of making Slim versions of its PlayStation consoles, it may actually be a question of when a PS4 Slim will be announced and released.

Wololo delves into a bit of speculation regarding the timeline, taking into consideration the release dates of original PlayStation consoles alongside the release dates of their slim counterparts.

The seen trend with the PlayStation original and slim counterpart release dates is that there is, first, a decrease in the time between the two release dates. It took over four years for the PS2 slim to launch since the release of the PS2 original, and the latest, the PS Vita, only took less than two years for a slim version to arrive.

Another trend that was noticed by the source is that the usual month to release the slim version was in during the September (or October for the PS Vita) of the year that the console was released.

With all of the supposed clues above, the speculation for the possible PS4 slim release date has been pointed to either September or October 2015. Of course, Sony has yet to announce any plans on the matter, but a driving force for the sales of the PS4 can be one factor that would help the release of the PS4 slim.

PlayStation Now's Release Date for Open Beta

Sony's cloud service PlayStation Now has been in a closed beta testing for quite some time, and after so many leaks about the tested games and exorbitant rental prices, it's no wonder that more gamers are starting to wonder when the open beta for it will arrive.

Daily Game has spotted a release date for the PS Now open beta, which is a surprising July 31 in the North America territory, specifically the U.S. and some areas in Canada. This is only available for the PS4 beta testing, with the PS Now slowly incorporating the PS3 come September.

The progress of the PS Now is not limited to the open beta update, as Joystiq reports that the Gaikai-powered service will also be expanding beyond Sony's console territory. It seems that the PS Now will finally be tested with the 4K models as part of the ongoing beta testing.

What you need to qualify for the Sony TV beta run would be to live in the continental U.S. who owns a Sony TV. The expansion of the PS Now to the 4K TVs of Sony will allow the Internet connection of the TV and a connected DualShock 3 to get you to play PS3 games.

Note that you need to have any of the following Sony Bravia TV models to be eligible for the PS Now beta: