Firmware/System Updates

[Kong Wen]

I thought it might be handy to have a general thread for system updates for the Sony systems. This'll prevent us from having to post new one-off topics that'll only get a couple replies anytime there's an interesting update.

We can also use this thread to post firmware wishlist items. What functionality would you like to see added or changed?

Today, the PS Blog announced several new features for the upcoming 2.0 software update for the PS4. This update is massive. It includes Share Play, uploading videos to YouTube, Themes & BG colours, library organization/sorting, and a USB music player. This solves a lot of complaints people had about the PS4 interface. I still have a couple minor quibbles (I'd like some better trophy sorting options), but this is a huge step in the right direction.

[kitroplious]

I thought it might be handy to have a general thread for system updates for the Sony systems. This'll prevent us from having to post new one-off topics that'll only get a couple replies anytime there's an interesting update.

We can also use this thread to post firmware wishlist items. What functionality would you like to see added or changed?

I wonder if it's possible to make this visible in the other discussion forums (where applicable), or will the Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo systems have their own versions of this topic?

[Kong Wen]

I wonder if it's possible to make this visible in the other discussion forums (where applicable), or will the Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo systems have their own versions of this topic?

I think it's fine for them to have their own topics in their own sections.

[Kong Wen]

I took the new PSTVita themes for a spin this morning. There are three free ones for now (there will probably be more when 3.35 comes out alongside PS4 2.0, the update that'll include themes for the console)—a crystal theme, fall colours theme, and stitched theme—which are all pretty simple and generic. I've always kind of liked the basic PS themes, to be honest, and I'm not likely to change my PS4 theme unless we get a really good one for a property I like.

[Kong Wen]

PS4 2.0 has been dated for next Tuesday, 28 October! This is great news. That means we'll be able to test out Share Play!

[Kong Wen]

Update 2.50 is coming out soon. Its main features are suspend/resume, some enhanced share play & remote play options, and a whole bunch of accessibility functions. It also has some new trophy features, like more sorting options, and the ability to hide games with 0% completion that you're ashamed of.

[Kong Wen]

2.50 is coming out tomorrow. They've detailed the full feature list on the blog:

Suspend/Resume* — Supported by nearly all of your PS4 games, you can jump in and out of your games with just the press of the PS button. Quickly switch from Rest Mode to powered-up so you can pick up where you left off.
Back-Up and Restore HDD to USB — Back-up and restore your hard disc drive data associated with users on your PS4, including settings, saved data, screenshots and video clips as well as games, patches and download data, to and from an external USB drive.
Find and Connect with Friends — “Yukimura” adds to an already robust set of social tools, bringing several updates to continue making PS4 the best place to play with your friends, including:
Facebook Friend Finder — Using your linked account, you can expand your network by searching and connecting with your Facebook friends.
Improved Friend requests — Friend requests and Real Name requests can be sent together in one step when adding a friend on PS4.
Streamlined Party process — The process to create a Party has been streamlined with a reduction in the number of steps required.
Find Friends who play your games — Easily view what friends are playing on each game detail page with a real-time “Friends Who Play This” section, which also highlights which friends are currently online and playing it, and if you own the game, allows you to jump directly into the game.
Join Friends directly from news feed — A new tile will be added on your What’s New feed where you can see what your friends are currently playing, enabling you to join in the game if you own it.
Share Earned Trophies and Optimize Your Trophy List — We know that Trophies are important to many gamers, so we’re bringing more control with how you show them off:
Automatic Trophy Screenshots — A screenshot will automatically be captured when a Trophy is earned, preserving the moment to share with friends.
SHARE Trophies — Players can share Trophy information to Facebook, Twitter or via Message by pressing the SHARE button.
Additional Trophy sorting options — Sort your Trophy list by Earned Date, Not Earned and Grade.
Delete 0% Trophies — Remove games from your Trophy list that have zero percent completion.
Improved and Expanded Accessibility Options — New options added to customize the user experience include:
Customized button assignments for DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller.
Zoom for displayed pictures and inverted colors for all system functions, apps and in-game.
Text-to-speech for all graphical user interface, including Message and Party.
Enlarged text for all graphical user interface, including Message and Party, as well as the system’s browser.
Bolder fonts and higher contrast UI for all system applications (but will not apply to games or third-party applications).
Remote Play and Share Play — For games that support 60 fps, users will be able to automatically enjoy those games with 60 fps for both Remote Play and Share Play** on supported devices.
Automatic Installation for System Software Updates — Enable automatic installation for future system software updates.
Sub-Account Upgrade — Enable users 18 years of age or older with sub-accounts to upgrade to a master account directly on PS4, removing restrictions on chat and enabling users to add funds to their Wallet, purchase content and more.
Verified Accounts — Select game developers, producers, designers and community managers will be verified with a badge.
Dailymotion — Upload video clips directly to Dailymotion via the SHARE button.

[Kong Wen]

The next firmware update, 5.50, is currently in beta, and it's going to have one feature I love: play time management! The intended use for this feature is for parents or addicts to restrict daily play time. Depending on how granular they make the feature, this could be our way of seeing how much time we've spent playing each individual game/app.

[Claytone]

The next firmware update, 5.50, is currently in beta, and it's going to have one feature I love: play time management! The intended use for this feature is for parents or addicts to restrict daily play time. Depending on how granular they make the feature, this could be our way of seeing how much time we've spent playing each individual game/app.

That would be great! I've always lamented that neither Xbox nor PlayStation support this. Hopefully that's what it ends up being.

Side note, I've always found this use as a parental tool to be weirdly draconian. My parents weren't always crazy about my playtime as a kid, but if they weren't, they'd come talk to me like an adult and tell me to go outside. Seems like a tool that at best would be used by lazy parents and and worst by weirdo-strict ones.