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Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime stage was designed to resemble a PlayStation-style controller. The shapes were part of a wider video-game framing that, according to a report on the show’s creative team, Lamar conceived to represent his life as a game. The available reporting identifies a visual reference, not a specific controller model or a Sony sponsorship.
What was the PlayStation reference?
The stage used a tic-tac-toe-board layout, with X and O forms joined by triangle and square shapes—the familiar geometry of PlayStation controller buttons. GameSpot reported on February 10, 2025, that Lamar came up with the video-game framing and that it was meant to represent his life as a game. The report does not identify a particular controller model. GameSpot’s account of the stage design describes the connection.
Why did Kendrick Lamar use the shapes?
The visual reference was one part of a storytelling approach, rather than a standalone product display. Creative director Mike Carson said the team used a monochromatic concrete look and let the video-game motif emerge through dialogue, lighting, choreography and music.
At an Apple Music press conference before the game, Lamar described storytelling as a consistent part of his music and said he wanted to bring it to whatever stage he was on. The Associated Press reported his remarks on February 6, 2025, and noted that he became the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the halftime show. Read the Associated Press report on Lamar’s comments.
#1 Best Overall
- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
The Atlantic interpreted the tic-tac-toe staging as part of a performance about the tension between artistic integrity and entertaining a mass audience. That is the publication’s reading of the show, not a confirmed statement of Lamar’s intent. The Atlantic’s review offers that interpretation.
Was the halftime show sponsored by PlayStation?
The reporting establishes that the stage evoked PlayStation controller symbols; it does not establish a Sony partnership, sponsorship or product-placement arrangement. The NFL announced the event as the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, headlined by Lamar at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. The NFL’s event announcement identifies the show and venue.
Rank #2
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
How the design fit the performance
The video-game motif connected the stage’s visual language to the larger idea of Lamar’s personal journey. GameSpot’s reporting attributes that framing to Lamar and describes the board-like stage as part of it. Carson’s comments indicate that the concept was carried through several elements of the performance—not only the set—while Lamar’s own pre-show description emphasized storytelling.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How many people watched the show?
The NFL’s current Super Bowl Halftime Show page reports 133.5 million viewers for Lamar’s 2025 performance and describes it as the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show at the time of the page’s publication. Audience records can change as later shows are measured.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Bring gaming worlds to life, Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Find your voice, share your passion, chat online with the built in microphone (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Multi-device connectivity, connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices
Rank #4
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- 🎮【Wide Compatibility】AceGamer wireless controller compatible with PS4/Pro/Slim/Windows PC. ❗*Attention*❗: Only when connecting for the first time, you must activate the device with the USB cable for the first pairing and connection. After that, the normal wireless connection of Bluetooth can be made, and USB data cable is no longer needed. ❗*Note*❗: Connecting to PC(without Bluetooth) needs to install receiver, not included.
- 🎮【Function Highlights】360° Refined analog sticks, the new touch pad on the face of the game controller offer players precise control. Controller which built-in 6-axis gyro sensor has dual motor vibration, excellent dual shock effect design makes the tactile sense more sensitive. The optimized buttons and triggers, ergonomic design non-slip grips, which offer you fantastic gaming experience.
- 🎮【Turbo Setting】You can customize any key as a turbo key. First, hold down the 'share' key, then click the turbo key you want to set up successfully. Secondly, you can adjust the turbo frequency. First, hold down the 'share' key, then touch the joystick on the right up and down. There are three gears to adjust in total.
- 🎮【To Be AceGamer】You can get: 2x AceGamer for ps4 controllers wireless; 1x Charging Cable; 1x User Manual; Professional after-sales service. We focus on the design, production and sales of custom controllers. If you have any questions, please contact us in any time!
Rank #3
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
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