Select users in Canada, the US, Japan, UK, Germany, and France will be getting a new beta firmware update for the PS5.
We don’t know for sure how long this update will remain in beta, presumably till Sony sees that it is working fine without any major bugs. But, it’s a major update we’re sure a lot of PS5 users will appreciate.
With the regular enhancements, customization options, and overall experience tweaks that come with every firmware update, we now have M.2 SSD support. This is excellent news, given that the PlayStation 5’s internal SSD has only 825GB total.
Sony has revealed to those who have access to the beta how they can install a new SSD, but those who do not have the beta should refrain from doing so for the time being.
If an SSD is installed before having the beta software, it will have to be removed before the software can be updated. Also, only M.2 SSDs that are PCIe Gen4 with read speeds of 5,500aMB/s or faster, effective heat dissipation, and a few other qualifiers would work.
Give that this is a beta, requirements and recommendations are likely to change in the future.
Sony has also stated that they cannot guarantee performance from playing games on expandable storage even if it meets the requirements, as it still greatly differs from Sony’s internal SSD.
Whether Sony only means this for the beta or the full launch of M.2 SSD support is not clear yet, but it stands to reason it’s for the latter. But keep in mind, things can still change between now and the official release of the update.
The second biggest change this update brings is clearing the confusion between PS4 and PS5 games. Games on the home screen and game library will now mention if it is a PS4 or PS5 game, and each version will also appear separately.
This beta software includes 3D audio support for built-in TV speakers, which uses the PS5 DualSense controller to measure room acoustics. This is then used and applied to a 3D audio setting.
There are many other details, customizations, and tweaks that are coming with this PS5 update, including a Trophy Tracker.
This will allow players to focus on 5 trophies per game through the Control Center. Players will also be able to pick between 720p and 1080p for PlayStation Now games, a new automatic video clip for high scores, and many more features in the same vein.
Some new personalization and customization options are also coming with this beta update, like the ability to rearrange controls in the Control Center; the Friends tab in Game Base will be getting better management options and allows you to see which friends are online.
Users will also be able to read and write messages to friends and parties from the Game Base in the Control Center.
All of this seems to be just the tip of the iceberg regarding the new features coming with this update. Only time will tell what more is going to be added.
About Sony
Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Kōnan, Minato, Tokyo. The company operates as one of the most comprehensive media companies on the planet and also holds the distinctions of being the largest video game console company and the second largest video game publisher in the world.
Its gaming and network services arm Sony Interactive Entertainment (formerly Sony Computer Entertainment) is best known for producing the popular line of PlayStation consoles.
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