Sony Announces Next PS5 Beta Update

Summary

The upcoming PS5 system software beta will test new features.
Remote Play settings for individual users and adaptive charging for first-party controllers are included in the beta.
Testers may encounter some issues with the new features, so feedback will be crucial for Sony to optimize them.

Sony has announced that a new system software beta for the PlayStation 5 is set to release imminently, bringing with it some all-new features that players can expect to see in the console's next major firmware update. This announcement comes right after the PS5's July 2024 firmware update went live on July 23.

Sony launched the PS5 system beta program back in 2021, which allows users in supported regions to try out upcoming firmware features in advance and report any potential issues back to the company. For now, the system software beta initiative for the PS5 only extends to owners in the US, Canada, Japan, UK, Germany, and France, but as adoption of the current-generation console grows, Sony may consider opening it up to more regions in the future.

With the newest update for the PS5 now out, Sony has revealed that the next system software beta for the console will start rolling out on July 25. Participants only in the aforementioned regions will receive invites to access the beta over the course of a few months, and be able to try out brand-new features such as personalized 3D audio profiles for headphones and earbuds. This will allow users to create a profile that suits their individual hearing levels by analyzing several factors via sound quality testing, possibly resulting in clearer and more immersive soundscapes while gaming.

Next PS5 Firmware Beta Release Date and New Features

Personalized 3D audio profiles for headphones and earbuds
Enable Remote Play for individual users
Adaptive charging for first-party controllers (only available for PS5 Slim)

The upcoming PS5 system software beta will also add new Remote Play settings for individual users and let owners choose who connects to their console, which makes it easier to manage for those with multiple PlayStation Network profiles on their PS5. The last headline inclusion of the beta is adaptive charging for all first-party controllers, namely the DualSense, DualSense Edge, PlayStation VR2 Sense, and Access controllers. This feature is exclusive to the newer PS5 Slim that was released last year, and will apparently help save power while charging when the console is in rest mode by "adjusting the length of time" between supplying power to the controller, depending on its battery level.

Testers might experience less-than-ideal functionality at times with some of these new features, which is normal as far as experimental software goes. Like with prior firmware betas for the PS5, Sony will be looking for feedback to polish and optimize any potential mishaps.

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