Good news for PS5 console owners: a big software update has been announced by Sony, one that opens up the console for power gamers and those with great home cinema sound setups.
Let’s start with these two big upgrades. The new software lets PS5 owners use Dolby 3D Audio to bring advanced sound effects like overhead positional sound to compatible games.
You will need a Dolby Atmos-capable sound system or soundbar to make this work, and the effect will naturally rest on how good your speakers are at separating these “3D” sound channels.
Sony says this Atmos audio will be possible in film and TV apps further down the road, too, but not with this particular release.
The other big upgrade is support for up to 8TB SSDs, the storage for your games.
Until now, 4TB was the limit, and that was fine for almost everyone. However, we’ve seen the cost of these SSD drives tumble in the past 12 months. And, unlike an Xbox Series X, you don’t have to buy a specific drive to make it work, just one fast enough and with sufficient cooling.
Are 8TB SSD drives still too pricey an upgrade for the average PlayStation 5 player? Absolutely. Put it on the Christmas list if you’re feeling bold enough.
How to get PS5 beta updates
The other snag is this software is a beta release, for select countries. The UK is one of those countries, but you’ll have to sign up for the beta software programme to get access. It also sounds like not all of those signed up may get access.
“If you’re selected to participate in the beta, you’ll receive an email invitation today when it’s available to download,” reads the Sony PlayStation blog.
Still, it’s worth signing up if you are interested in test-driving these features.
There’s more coming, too. “Use a Second Controller for Assistance” lets two controllers act as one, the PS5 equivalent of a driving instructor with a second set of controls.
This one should be of interest to parents with younger kids who are keen to try out games, but don’t yet have the manual dexterity required.
The beta software update brings numerous interface tweaks, too. You can rifle through your games more effectively using a search function, and there’s optional haptic feedback when moving through the interface.
This means you’ll feel buzzes and clicks from the controller’s haptic motors, through a DualSense pad or PS VR 2 controller, when you reach the end of a menu, receive a notification or start a game.
The update also includes a bunch of tweaks to the social side of the PS5, which you can read about over at the PlayStation blog. We think the one you’ll find most useful is the ability to react to friends’ messages with emojis, rather than full replies.
As with any beta, you may encounter the odd bug or issue with this PS5 update. “Please note, the PS5 system software beta test is still under development. The feature set may be incomplete and may not reflect the final system update experience,” as Sony explains.
This major software release arrives amid a PlayStation 5 sale, in which Sony is offering £75 off consoles. It has led some to suggest this prefaces the announcement of a PS5 Slim which, according to Microsoft court documents seen in US hearings this year, is due before the end of the year, as reported by The Verge.
