New Update Adds PlayStation 5 UI Upgrades & PS App Improvements, Hints At VRR Support Coming In Next Firmware Patch

Among the improvements that the base PlayStation 5 offered at launch back in November 2020, the team over at Sony is adamant on expanding on that blueprint moving forward as time progresses. However, the hardware did go on to add features that were already present on the previous PlayStation 4 later on such as USB storage support. The update also included cross-gen share play then.

In a more recent update this past fall, Sony welcomed a slew of improvements to the overall tech on PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5. This included an update Trophy Tracker feature alongside 3D audio implementation for television speakers. Elsewhere Sony launched the latest beta firmware which includes voice chat party alongside voice commands.

The latest update that went live on Wednesday this week officially delivers the beta features with voice commands being added to United States & United Kingdom players for now.

Thanks to support from our beta participants, we’re introducing some fan-requested features to our global community today, like the ability to create or join Open and Closed Parties on PS5 and PS4 consoles. On PS5, we’re also bringing UI enhancements to Game Base and Trophy cards, as well as accessibility features like mono audio for headphones.

PS5 players with accounts registered to the U.S. or U.K. will be able to test drive a Voice Command (Preview) feature that lets them find and open games, apps, and settings, as well as control media playback with their voice (English language setting only).

Additionally, the firm even brushed upon the long-requested variable refresh rate (VRR) being added to PlayStation 5. “We’re also pleased to share that Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is planned to release on PS5 in the coming months. On HDMI 2.1-compatible TVs and PC monitors, VRR dynamically syncs the refresh rate of the display to the PS5 console’s graphical output,” Hideaki Nishino, Platform Experience Senior Vice President writes.

“This enhances visual performance for PS5 games by minimizing or eliminating visual artifacts, such as frame pacing issues and screen tearing. Gameplay in many PS5 titles feels smoother as scenes render instantly, graphics look crisper, and input lag is reduced. Previously released PS5 games can be fully optimized for VRR through a game patch and future games may include VRR support at launch.

“As an added option, you can also choose to apply VRR to PS5 games that don’t support it. This feature may improve video quality for some games. If this results in any unexpected visual effects, you can turn off this option at any time. Both VRR and this secondary option can be turned on or off.”

Which feature are you most excited to try first from the new update?

Source: PlayStation Blog