Tomorrow, April 14, Sony plans on deploying the first major system software update for PlayStation 5, which will add in a few new social and user interface features. It's been over two months since the console received its last software update. PlayStation 5's 20.02-02.50.00 update went live earlier in the year on February 3, notably fixing a PS4 disc installation issue that kept users from installing the PS5 versions of certain titles.
Several months after its fall 2020 release, PS5 still suffers from more than its fair share of issues. The baked-in storefront isn't as reliable as many would hope, the UI often feels inelegant, and users continue to report firmware troubles that Sony has yet to address. Questions about external SSD storage persist as well, though tomorrow's update should tackle the console's storage problem to a certain extent. Specifically, the update will introduce the option to store games on an external hard drive. Such a solution does have limitations, however, given that users cannot play games from the new external storage options.
Other major changes are scheduled to arrive with April 14's PS5 system software update. In a PlayStation Blog post, SVP of the brand's Platform Planning and Management department, Hideaki Nishino, shared details regarding cross-generation Share Play, game session requests, and fresh personalization options. PS5's Share Play feature, which allows users to look at their friends' game screen, is being extended to PS4. Thus, PS5 players can let PS4 friends look at their screen and try out PS5 titles via the built-in sharing feature, and vice versa. Moreover, a selection of joinable game sessions from friends will appear across PS4 and PS5. Tomorrow's addition of the "Request to Join" option should further streamline game invites, acting as an shortcut and reducing the time it takes to team up with friends.
PS5's Game Base is receiving enhancements of its own, thanks to the advent of "quicker access to important content and features." Switching between Parties and Friends should prove much simpler, for example. The new software update will also allow users to quickly disable in-game chat, adjust the volume of other players, magnify the screen, pre-download game updates, and customize their game library. There's good news for Trophy Hunters as well, especially those who aren't pleased with the setup of Trophies on PS5, thus far. Following tomorrow's changes, players will be able to adjust the Trophy grade at which PS5 captures footage and images. If a player only wants to capture shots of Gold and Platinum trophies, they can toggle those options in settings. Plus, an all-new Trophy Stats screen will give players the opportunity to check their Trophy level at a glance.
This all seems a small but, hopefully, effective step towards improving the PS5's baked-in features. Whether or not these adjustments are enough to truly transform the experience remains a mystery, so it'll be interesting to see how users respond once the update rolls out globally.
Though the April 14 system software update will usher in a slew of major improvements, players remain curious about even bigger changes that Sony has yet to address in any real depth. As noted above, external SSD storage options continue to fly under the radar. Reportedly, a PlayStation 5 storage upgrade of this caliber won't arrive until summer.
Source: PlayStation Blog