Image: Sony
This morning, Sony announced that it will be releasing a beta to test a collection of fan-requested new features for the PlayStation 5. These features include curated playlists, the ability to play games in 1440p output, and some quality-of-life features for those who who like to play games with their friends.
Although this version of the PlayStation 5 software is still in development, Sony has given the community a preview of what to expect. The biggest improvement would be the appearance of 1440p output, which will bring PS5 games closer to what they look like on PC. This is only available for games and screens that support 1440p mode, but will allow players to downscale from 4K to improve details such as anti-aliasing. Once the new version is released, you can check for screen compatibility directly in the system menu.
The PS5 also introduces game folders, which Sony calls “game lists.” In previous years, there simply weren’t enough games on the console to justify having folders. Beta testers will now be able to create up to 15 game lists with up to 100 titles each. You can add physical, digital and streaming games and they can be added to multiple lists. The update also adds other interface features, such as the ability to compare 3D with stereo sound and the ability to select your preferred setting. And helpfully, if you’ve wandered off from a massive AAA game midway through your campaign, the PS5’s hub will tell you which mission or activity you last stopped at.
New social features are also coming in the update. You’ll be able to ask friends to share their screens, get game join notifications when someone in your group starts a matching game, more easily view new friend profiles, and send stickers and voice messages.
While these multiplayer features aren’t groundbreaking for anyone who plays games on PC, they do show that Sony is making more serious strides in the world of live service gaming. Its efforts haven’t been without problems, but the company is spending big to make the console a better ecosystem for games other than the big-budget single-player blockbusters the publisher is known for. On a financial call this May, Sony told investors that the Bungie acquisition would help the platform bolster its live-action capabilities.
Only pre-selected players will be able to test these features before the global release “later this year”. If you’ve been selected for the beta, you’ll find an email in your inbox sometime today.
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