Beginning today, users that are enrolled in Sony’s PlayStation 4 Beta program that serves to test upcoming system updates and patches for the consoles system software; will be receiving their first preview for the next major system update which is 4.50, currently code-named Sasuke.
System updates are always a bitch sketchy, as you never know how many bugs could be present among release; luckily, with this new generation of consoles, companies have begun to do more active beta where console owners can signup to be apart of these programs, ultimately being able to test some of the new features before their are officially rolled out to everyone else.
In the upcoming PlayStation 4 system update, Sony has packed in quite a handful of new features, many of which you will likely make things a hell of a lot easier to deal with.
External HDD Support
Amazing! Thank you Sony! In the upcoming update, PS4 owners will finally be able to expand their storage space by finally being able to hook up an external HDD to their PS4 console! This is amazing considering only one HDD can be implemented inside of the console, and also much more user friendly as not everyone is comfortable installing a brand new HDD inside of their console. The external HDD can be easily installed so long as you have a 3.0 external HDD. The PS4 is compatible with HDDs up to 8TB in size, with easy-to-manage setting surrounding which drive you’d like you games and applications to go to.
Custom Wallpapers
This feature will allow users to change their wallpaper to any of their favorite in-game screenshots. You’ll also have the ability to edit the picture using the Photo-mode.
Quick Menu Refresh
This update brings a few adjustments and improvements to the Quick Menu which was recently introduced in the last major system update. Sony will be improving this function by ensuring the Quick Menu feed covers less of your gameplay screen, while also enabling you to handle other things such as creating parties, inviting friends, joining parties, etc; all without having to rely on opening up the friends application.
Simplified Notification List
If you like to be able to see all of your notifications in one place, you are more than likely to enjoy this new feature. Sony will be updating the notifications app a bit in the next update, and will be condensing all of the notification tabs into one, single, simplified list. You’ll also be able to turn off pop-up notifications completely, and or set it to only show prioritized notifications, if you so desire.
Post on PlayStation Network Activity Feeds
Sony will be making the Activity Feed much more social in this update, as the ability to post directly into the activity feed will be a new options. Users will be able to post things such as text status updates, screenshots, and gifs, directly onto their activity feed. You’ll also be given the ability to tag games so players of those games can checkout your latest updates and activities regarding those games.
3D Blu-Rays on PlayStation VR
PlayStation VR owners will soon be able to view 3D Blu-Ray movies directly on their PS VR headset in the next update! (This actually sounds totally awesome.) It’s definitely a feature that was highly requested, and now PS VR owners will soon be able to sit back, relax, and watch their favorite movies in stereoscopic 3D!
Several more features are soon to be announced for the PlayStation 4.50 update, but things are already seeming a bit packed as is! Both Sony and Microsoft have been stepping it up, loads, when it comes to implementing new features into their consoles, so I cannot wait to see what else is on the way!
