PS5 Firmware Update Beta Includes Unannounced Changes

Sony has released the full changelog for February 2022’s PS5 firmware update beta (3.0-05.00.00) revealing some smaller unannounced changes, including child account safety features and some visual changes like pinning the PlayStation Plus icon to the left of the home screen. By doing the latter, Sony recons that players will find it more convenient to redeem their monthly games and will find it easier to their PS Plus collection.

What’s new in February 2022’s PS5 firmware update beta

If you restrict a minor from playing a purchased or installed game, they now won’t be able to view the background image of that game either. Additionally, Activity Cards of restricted games will no longer be displayed in the control center or game hub. The PS5 also supports more emojis now and there’s apparently a button guide that shows you how to reload and zoom while using the internet browser.

The full changelog is as follows:

Main features updated in this system software beta program version

• In (Game Base), we’ve updated the following:
  • Voice chats are now called parties.
  • For easier access, we’ve divided Game Base into three tabs: [Friends], [Parties] and [Messages].
  • Now when you start a party, you can select either an open party or a closed party.
    • An open party lets your friends join without an invite. Friends of party members can also join.
    • A closed party is only for players you invite.
• From the Game Base control menu and cards, you can now do the following:
  • View all your friends under the [Friends] tab in the control menu.
  • Start Share Play directly from the voice chat card. You no longer need to start Share Screen to use Share Play.
  • Add a player to a group, or create a new group directly from the messages card. You can also send video clips, images, quick messages, and view a group’s shared media from this card.
  • Now when someone in a party is sharing their screen, you’ll see the (c )) on air icon. You can check this in the [Parties] tab.
  • The player search feature and friend requests are now under the [Friends] tab.
  • We’ve made it easier to decline friend requests by adding a [Decline] button to your friend request list.
• In (Accessibility), we’ve updated the following:
  • We’ve updated the following for the screen reader:
  • The screen reader is now supported in six additional languages: Russian, Arabic, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Korean.
    • The screen reader can now read aloud notifications.
    •  You can now enable mono audio for headphones, so that the same audio is played from both the left and right headphones.
    • While your headphones are connected, go to [Settings] > [Sound] > [Audio Output], and then turn on [Mono Audio for Headphones]. Alternatively, go to [Settings] > [Accessibility] > [Display and Sound], and then turn on [Mono Audio for Headphones].
  • You can now show a check mark on enabled settings so you can easily see that they’re turned on. • Go to [Settings] > [Accessibility] > [Display and Sound], and then turn on [Show Check Mark on Enabled Settings].

• In (Trophies), we’ve updated the following:
  • The visual design of trophy cards &  the trophy list has been updated.
  • You can now see suggestions for which trophies to earn on the trophy tracker when you’re playing a game.
• For the features available from the Create menu, we’ve updated the following:
  • You can now start Share Screen and stream your gameplay to an open party.
• We’ve added a new feature: Voice Command (Preview). Voice Command (Preview) understands speech commands for finding and opening games and apps, as well as controlling media playback.
  • To get started, go to [Settings] > [Voice Command], and turn on [Enable Voice Command (Preview)]. Then, call out “Hey, PlayStation!” and ask your PS5 to do something.
  • You can use this feature to help you find and open games and apps, control your media without even touching a button, and much more. • Currently, Voice Command (Preview) is only available in English for players with PSN accounts in the US & UK.
• We’ve added Ukrainian language support.

Other updated features

• We made the following improvement in game library:
  • Under the [Your Collection] tab, you can now filter your games by genre to find the games you want to play more quickly.
• We’ve pinned PlayStation Plus to the left edge of the games home screen.
  • You can now redeem monthly games more quickly.
  • Get easier access to the PS Plus game collections from home screen.
• We’ve added a button guide to show you how to reload and zoom while using the Internet browser.
• If you want to report something that someone in a party said, there are now visual indicators for you to identify who was speaking. This will help PlayStation Safety take appropriate action based on your report.
• We’ve made the console safer for child accounts:
  • When viewing a purchased or installed game they’re restricted from playing, the background image of the game is hidden.
  • Activity cards, such as those displayed in the control center or game hub, won’t be displayed for age-restricted games.

• Now you can keep the games or apps you choose on your home screen.
  • When focused on a game or app, press the options button to open the options menu, and select [Keep in Home]. The games and apps you choose to keep will stay on your home screen.
  • You can keep a maximum of 5 games and apps on each home screen
  • You can now have three more games and apps appearing on your home screen.
• We now support more emojis.
• We changed the keyboard layout for Polish.
• We’ve updated the DualSense wireless controller device software to improve stability.

Beta limitations

• In Game Base on PS5 and Party on PS4, if you select [Open Party] when starting a party, only players using the beta version of the PS5 or PS4 system software will be able to join. To start a party that players who aren’t using the beta version can also join, select [Closed Party].

In other news, Horizon Forbidden West accessibility options have been detailed, and Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition Remaster has been announced.

[Source: MP1st]