Summary
Sony has started rolling out yet anotherPlayStation 5beta update. The latest software release adds some new functionality to the DualSense controller, in addition to introducing several other quality-of-life improvements to thePS5.
ThePS5 beta program was officially launchedin mid-2021, some half a year after Sony’s ninth-generation console hit the market. Much like its name implies, the initiative provides PS5 owners with an opportunity to test new system features before anyone else. That privilege requires the testers to accept that some functionality may not perform ideally, as tends to be the case with experimental software updates.
Sony began sending out invites for its console’s latest beta update on February 6. The new software release introduces a trio of novelties, starting with some audio improvements for thePS5 DualSense controller. Specifically, the gamepad’s maximum speaker volume has now been raised, while its noise cancellation is said to be more efficient. As a result of the former change, some users might find the new default DualSense volume to be too loud for their liking. Sony is advising those PS5 owners to adjust the controller’s audio levels from the console’s control center.
AnotherPS5 beta feature that Sony is now testingarrives in the form of Share Screen interactions. Specifically, the new OS update supports emoji reactions and pointers in this mode, allowing users to interact with the host’s screen while watching them play any given game. This particular functionality is excluded from the Share Screen preview window, meaning it only works in the full-screen view.
The third and final change introduced in this release is the option to adjust the brightness of the console’s power indicator. To do so, participatingPS5 beta testersshould navigate to the System section of the Settings menu and then select the Beep and Light tab. The new option will be located at the bottom of the following screen, allowing them to switch between Dim, Medium, and Bright (Standard) brightness levels.
PS5 beta access will be available to selected participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany and France.
As was the case with the latest PS5 beta update, this February 2024 release is only available to testers in the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Users from those countries can register their interest in the PS5 beta program via thePlayStation website. Signing up to participate in the initiative does not guarantee access, as each new beta release comes with a finite number of tester invites that Sony sends out via email as it sees fit.
Sony PlayStation 5
The Sony PlayStation 5 console is one of the most popular gaming machines currently with a fast SSD, a custom AMD APU, and 16GB of GDDR6 console memory, making it one of the best options on the market. It also happens to have a surprising number of console exclusives and currently trades at a discount at multiple retailers nationwide.
