A key aspect to running any profitable business is keeping your customers happy and Sony knows all about this when it comes to firmware updates for its highly successful console.
Since the PS4 launched back in November 2013, players have been asking for many features to be added to the console’s software. Update 3.50, released in April of last year, brought with it Remote Play support on the PC, and the ability for the player to appear offline.
The most recent major update released last September, shortly after the infamous PS4 Pro reveal. Update 4.00 introduced High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, the ability to organize games and applications into folders, 1080p streaming and a refreshed interface with new menu options.
With the latest 4.50 update (codenamed Sasuke, and currently in beta testing), Sony has listened to its fans once again—while also following rival Microsoft’s lead—and introduced something that has been long sought-after: external hard drive support.
External HDDs with USB 3.0 and a capacity of up to 8TB will be supported, so no more worrying about filling up the internal hard drive on your console. While nothing has been confirmed, this should also make it much easier for players looking to upgrade from a vanilla PS4 to a Pro. It’s certainly a great alternative to using Cloud saves or an Ethernet cable connection between two consoles.
But that’s not all. Another exciting feature set to debut in update 4.50 is exclusively for the PS4 Pro. A new “Boost Mode” will enable the Pro to increase the frame rates of older games.
While this will improve the look of the game play, it remains to be seen whether this will transfer over to multiplayer as it may cause an imbalance. For example, someone playing a multiplayer game at 60fps on a PS4 Pro might have an advantage over someone else playing that same game at 30fps on a regular PS4.
The final headline feature set to arrive in update 4.50 is the ability to change the background picture on the PS4’s menu to any screenshot the player has taken.
For those with a PSVR headset, support for viewing 3D Blu-rays in a stereoscopic 3D mode directly in the device will also be added, giving those fortunate enough to own the tech a chance to experience movies in a whole new way.
Other small fixes and minor features will also likely be introduced, but we’ll have to wait and see what those are when the update releases fully.
While Sony does admittedly take its time with updates to the PS4 and PS4 Pro, it has a good track record of listening to its fan base and responding with the requested features. Now—and we ask once again—when do we get to change our PSN IDs?
The PlayStation 4’s global sales recently bombed past the 50 million mark. If updates like this are anything to go by, it could sell millions more in the years to come.
Update 4.50 is currently being beta tested by many players around the world and, as of writing, a release date to the general public has yet to be announced. It shouldn’t be too far off but stay tuned to GTPlanet for all the updates on the, er, updates!
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