Whilst Japanese gamers have been able to rumble along with their PS3 games since November, the Western market has to date had to make do with the rumble-less Sixaxis – but it’s all change from next week.

Sony has announced via its US blog that the Dualshock 3 pad will be shipping to retailers in the territory next week, and that it will cost $54.99.

Though the current motion-sensing Sixaxis pad is expected to stay in circulation for some time, the Dualshock 3 (which retains the motion-sensing functionality) is expected to permanently replace it in time.

When Sony first announced the PS3, it claimed that rumble was a redundant technology, However, following the firm’s legal settlement with rumble patent holder Immersion, talk soon emerged of an upgrade to the console’s pad.

It was then confirmed last September that a revised version of the PS3 pad was in the works, and it was in Japanese stores two months later.

There’s still no word on a European release date for the Dualshock 3.

The following titles will offer rumble gaming from the off, though those marked with an * will require an online update:

    * SCEA - Formula One Championship Edition*
    * SCEA - MotorStorm*
    * SCEA - PAIN
    * SCEA - High Velocity Bowling
    * SCEA - MLB 08: The Show
    * SCEA - Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
    * SCEA - Resistance: Fall of Man*
    * SCEA - Go! Sports Ski*
    * SCEA - Folklore*
    * SCEA - Heavenly Sword*
    * SCEA - Warhawk*
    * SCEA - Super Stardust HD*
    * SCEA - Snakeball
    * SCEA - Toy Home
    * SCEA - PSOne Emulation
    * SCEA - Piyotama
    * SCEA - PixelJunk Monsters
    * SCEA - Blast Factor*
    * Sega - Condemned 2: Bloodshot
    * Ubisoft - Lost: Via Domus
    * Ubisoft - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2*
    * EA - Burnout Paradise
    * KOEI - Dynasty Warriors 6
    * Capcom - Devil May Cry 4
    * Atari - Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit
    * Disney Interactive - Turok