During its latest State of Play broadcast, PlayStation announced a new wireless fight stick currently known as Project Defiant. This marks the company’s first in-house arcade-style controller designed specifically for the PlayStation ecosystem.
The announcement came shortly after Digital Eclipse revealed Mortal Kombat: Legacy Collection, a compilation of nine classic Mortal Kombat titles scheduled for release in 2025. The collection will launch on a wide range of platforms, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, the upcoming Switch 2, and PC.
Project Defiant is described as a wireless arcade fight stick that utilizes PlayStation Link, Sony’s proprietary wireless technology that aims to offer “ultra-low latency.” While designed for wireless play, the fight stick will also support wired connections, making it suitable for competitive settings where input delay can be a factor.
A brief trailer shown during the presentation highlighted the fight stick’s design, which follows the familiar white and black aesthetic of the PlayStation 5. The controller will also ship with a dedicated sling-style carrying case, which should appeal to players who travel to tournaments or local events.
In terms of features, Project Defiant appears to offer several quality-of-life enhancements. According to the official PlayStation Blog, the device includes a custom-designed digital stick and tool-less interchangeable restrictor gates—available in square, circular, and octagonal configurations. The buttons are built with mechanical switches, which are typically preferred for their responsiveness and durability. A built-in touchpad, similar to the one found on the DualSense controller, is also present.
Sony has not provided a price or finalized name for the product yet. Both of those details are expected to be revealed closer to the stick’s full launch in 2026. Despite the popularity of fighting games on PlayStation platforms, this will be the company’s first official entry into the fight stick market.
The State of Play also included another major fighting game announcement. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Soul, a new 4v4 tag-based fighter from Arc System Works, is in development and set for release in 2026. The game will feature a mix of characters from across the Marvel universe and is being developed by the same studio known for Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Project Defiant’s announcement signals a growing interest from PlayStation in supporting the fighting game community with first-party hardware. With titles like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Mortal Kombat 1 already available and new games on the horizon, the timing of this release could align well with the competitive circuit in the coming years.
