Eligible PlayStation 5 owners are presently able to register for a chance to participate in the platform's first-ever system software beta program, though specifics about the beta itself currently remain under wraps. This news indicates that a major update is on the horizon, following months of more incremental changes to the system.
Since launch, Sony has deployed a number of firmware updates for PS5, most of which tackled general stability. The first big change arrived in April, introducing the ability to store PlayStation 5 games on external hard drives. In addition, the April firmware changes ushered in the addition of new social and UI features. At the top of most PS5 owners' wishlist, of course, is the advent of expandable SSD storage, a feature the platform-holder hasn't addressed in several months. Rumors from earlier in 2021 suggested such a storage solution would arrive in the form of a summer update, but that much has yet to transpire.
A PlayStation Blog post penned by Hideaki Nishino, SVP of Platform Experience, reveals Sony's plan to host the first PS5 system software beta program. PS5 owners can register now on the official PlayStation website, so long as they're over the age of 18 with a valid PSN account and reside in one of the following territories: the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, or the United Kingdom. Those selected for the beta trial will count among the first to try out and provide feedback on brand-new features, which go live in the "next major system update later this year." If chosen for the program, participants will receive an email with the necessary instructions about downloading the next system software update's beta version.
The PlayStation Blog write-up doesn't specify what exactly the update in question will entail. When Sony intends to begin and end the beta remains a mystery, as well. And, as always, there's no guarantee that everything featured in the trial build will actually rollout with the final version. Simply put, questions abound about what the platform-holder has in store.
While expandable SSD storage arguably constitutes the most coveted feature, there exists a few other changes that PS5 players hope Sony will add in the near future. For instance, a contingent of PlayStation faithful continue to lament the loss of PS4 customization options such as Dynamic Themes and folders. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support counts as another addition that PlayStation 5 users are eager to see implemented; plus, some continue to hold out hope that Sony may amend its decision about a functioning browser.
Source: PlayStation Blog, PlayStation