Sony has released a new beta update for the PlayStation 5, hot on the heels of their URL game session linking feature. This update brings several quality-of-life improvements; read on to discover what's new and who can participate.
Sony Announces New PS5 Beta Update: Personalized 3D Audio and More
Key Features of the Beta Update
Yesterday, on PlayStation.Blog, Sony's VP of Product Management, Hiromi Wakai, announced a new PlayStation 5 beta update. This update introduces personalized 3D audio profiles, enhanced Remote Play settings, and adaptive charging for controllers.A major highlight is the ability to create personalized 3D audio profiles for your headphones or earbuds. This allows for a truly customized audio experience, tailored to your individual hearing. Using compatible devices like the Pulse Elite wireless headset or Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, you can run sound tests to generate a profile perfectly suited to you. This results in more immersive gameplay, making it easier to pinpoint in-game sounds and enhance your spatial awareness.
[1] Images taken from PlayStation.Blog The update also refines Remote Play settings, giving users greater control over who can access their PS5 remotely. This is particularly helpful for households with multiple PS5 users, allowing the primary user to restrict remote access to specific individuals. To manage this, navigate to [Settings] > [System] > [Remote Play] > [Enable Remote Play] and select your authorized users.
For beta participants using the latest slim PS5 model, adaptive charging for controllers is now included. This intelligently adjusts charging times based on the controller's battery level while the console is in rest mode. Enable this by going to [Settings] > [System] > [Power Saving] > [Features Available in Rest Mode], then selecting [Supply Power to USB Ports] > [Adaptive]. This ensures efficient energy use by cutting power to the USB port after a period of inactivity if no controller is connected.
Global Release and Beta Participation
Currently, this beta is limited to invited participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany, and France. However, Sony plans a global rollout in the coming months. Invited users will receive an email today with download instructions. Remember, some beta features may not appear in the final release, or may change based on user feedback.
Wakai stressed the importance of community feedback: "Thanks to feedback from our PlayStation community, we’ve introduced many new features and refinements over the past few years to enhance your gaming experiences on PS5." Sony is keen to receive feedback from beta testers to refine the update before its wider release.
Previous Update and New Features
This beta follows the recent Version 24.05-09.60.00 update, which introduced URL-based game session invites. To invite players, open the game session action card, select "Share Link," and scan the QR code with a mobile device to share the link (for open sessions only). This new beta builds upon this improvement by adding further personalization and control options.
