How to Use a DualShock 4 Wirelessly On PS3

Even if you own Sony's PlayStation 4, recent PS3 hits like "South Park: The Stick of Truth" and "Dark Souls II" make Sony's last-gen powerhouse worth holding on to. If you prefer to use the PS4's softer and more ergonomic DualShock 4 gamepad to play your favorite PS3 games, Sony has made the process easier than ever.

DualShock 4 gamepads previously only worked with PS3 via a wired connection, but Reddit user shafiggy16 notes that the system's most recent update allows you to sync your DS4 to your PS3 wirelessly. The process is quite simple, so here's how to get it going.

MORE: Best PS4 Games 2014

1. Power on your PS3 and DualShock 4 controller.

2. From the PS3 dashboard, select Settings.

3. Select Accessory Settings.

4. Enter the Manage Bluetooth Devices menu.

5. Select Register New Device. Your PS3 will now scan for Bluetooth controllers. 

6. Press and hold the Share and PlayStation buttons on your DualShock 4.

7. Select Wireless Controller from the devices menu. Your DualShock 4 is now synced.

Keep in mind that your PS3 will recognize your DualShock 4 as a generic wireless controller, so you won't be able to use the gamepad's PlayStation button, touchpad, vibration features and Sixaxis motion control. Engadget notes that the DualShock 4's wireless PS3 performance can be "somewhat spotty," so we recommend hanging on to your microUSB cable just to be safe.

Source: Reddit, Engadget

Follow Mike Andronico @MikeAndronico and on Google+. Follow us @TomsGuide, on Facebook and on Google+.

Michael Andronico

Mike Andronico is Senior Writer at CNNUnderscored. He was formerly Managing Editor at Tom's Guide, where he wrote extensively on gaming, as well as running the show on the news front. When not at work, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Hawkeye is the best Avenger.