It looks like there are no wired controllers for the PS4, so before buying a PS4 I'd like to know exactly how wireless controllers are charged, as I tend to play for hours at a time. I take it I need to buy a separate recharging station (there is an official one, that looks to be the best option) but how long does the controller take to charge and can I just connect the controller to the charger and play at the same time, to save having to just charge, when I could be playing because if not I'll need to buy another controller, so that I can have one always recharging, while I'm using the other?

PS4 (like PS3) controllers can be connected to the console via a USB cable. As long as the machine is on, they'll automatically recharge, but you can also effectively use them like a wired controller that way, provided you have a long enough cable.

The controllers will also charge if the PS4 is in standby (when the light bar is orange). When charging the indicator on the controller will glow orange (unless you are in a game when it'll be whatever color the game decides).

^----What they said. Depending on what kind of phone you have, those chargers can work on the PS4 controller as well. But yeah, you can just plug it in and play.

I see that the PS4 comes with a USB cable, can I use this or is it for another purpose?

Sorry but I'm not up to speed on tech issues?

Yep, that's what you can use to charge the controller. My dogs destroyed mine, so I use a cellphone charger, does the job.

I assume the batteries are of better quality than those in the SixAxis and DS3 controllers (the two versions of the PS3 controller), and I can get about 8 hours of constant play out of them before they died. We can only assume that in the past 6-8 years, battery technology has improved a bit and the charge is longer (though with the different tech, maybe they are just stronger and last the same amount of time because of the increased load....touchpad, light bar on the controller, etc).

In short, if you have two controllers, 1 with a full charge and using it, and the other completely dead....that dead one will be fully charged before the first one is more than halfday done being used. I always recommend buying an extra controller, because you never know what might go wrong. I do the same for keyboard and mouse...always have a spare set.

I think the PS4 controller has a shorter life than the PS3 controller do the light on the back. It wastes more juice faster. In at least 4 hours you'll probably get it down to 1 bar. Which is the only problem I have with the controller. But depending on how close you are to the TV, you could always just have it plugged in.

Exactly that, it's much shorter... i would say 3 times shorter. (It's last approx. 3-4 hours of gaming)

You could buy the recharge station as well...http://www.gamestop.com/ps4/accessories/dualshock-4-charging-station-for-playstation-4/111823

Really I don't consider the battery life a problem as I always have my ps4 on standby when I'm not playing it with the controller charging.I've never actually had the controller run out of battery, how often do people play for more that 4-7 hours at a time?

I'm sure you'd be surprised.

You can always buy a standard USB extension cable too for a couple of dollars, if you need.