Play Time Management, custom wallpapers via USB, enhancements to notifications and the Quick Menu, and more.
Update: PS4 System Software Update 5.50 is now available! Update your PS4 system to enjoy the features outlined below.
The beta for the PlayStation 4 system’s next major system software update 5.50 (codenamed KEIJI) rolls out today. If you signed up and were selected for the beta program, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to download and get started.
Even if you are not in the beta program, we wanted to give you a sneak preview of features you can expect in this update. In 5.50, we’re introducing Play Time Management, Library UI updates, further enhancements to the Quick Menu, and much more.
Play Time Management
We’re introducing Play Time Management, which will allow family managers (and adult family members who are set as guardians) to manage PS4 playtime for child family members on family on PSN. Managing Playtime is easy; go to Settings > Family Management on your PS4, or log into your PlayStation account on your web browser from your PC or smartphone, to check and manage your child’s playtime each day. If needed, the family manager/guardians can apply playtime restrictions to make sure that the child is only playing for a set amount of time or within set playable hours. Notifications on PS4 will be sent to the child during gameplay so that he or she knows when they should save and quit. The family managers/guardians also have the option to add extra game time via their smartphone or PC. In addition, the family manager/guardians can choose whether or not to automatically log the child out of their PS4 once their playtime is over.
Library UI Updates
‘This PS4’ and Name/Avatar tab
Two new tabs are being added to Library to make it easier for you to see which apps you’ve installed and purchased. The ‘This PS4’ tab lists all the applications that are installed on the PS4 system, and the tab with your name/avatar lists all the apps that you purchased with your PSN ID. This feature also makes it easy to search and find games you’ve already purchased but have not yet installed.
PS Plus tab
This update also adds a new PS Plus tab to the Library, which clarifies what games you own from PS Plus’ Monthly Free Games. If your PS Plus membership is expired, a PS Plus icon with a lock will appear next to your game so you’ll know you cannot play the game until you’ve re-subscribed.
Hide apps
We’re adding a function that will allow you to hide certain applications under the ‘Purchased’ tab in the Library. In ‘Options,’ you can hide content including betas, trials or demos of games that you probably won’t be going back to.
Quick Menu Enhancements
If you ever want to quickly access specific friends in your custom list, you’ll be able to do so via the pulldown menu under the Friends tab in Quick Menu. You can also see who’s currently online.
Whenever you’re listening to music on PS4, you’ll be able to access certain shortcuts from the Quick Menu. If you’re using Spotify on PlayStation Music, the ‘square’ button will serve as the shortcut for volume control. And when you’re on the Media Player or the USB Music Player, ‘triangle’ will work as the shortcut for play or pause, and the ‘square’ button as the volume control.
Background Music on PS Now
With Background Music on PlayStation Now, you’ll be able to listen to your favorite tracks while streaming a game on PS Now. Just keep in mind that, similar to when playing a game locally on PS4, background music may not always be available.
Notifications Update
This update will give you the ability to delete old notifications for better organization and management. Just go to Notifications and press the ‘triangle’ or ‘Options’ button to open up a menu that will allow you to select a single or multiple notifications you’d like to delete.
Import Custom Wallpapers via USB
Love customizing your PS4 Home Screen? Well, this new update will give you even more options. You can import your own images to PS4 from a USB stick and set it as your wallpaper. You can also zoom and crop your images so they look perfect on your dashboard. Just go to Settings > Themes > Select Theme > Custom > Select Image > USB Storage Device.
Customize Tournaments Team Pages
Following the 5.50 update, you’ll be able to customize your Tournaments team page with your own team logo or background that you can import from a USB stick. Represent your team by customizing your team page with something unique and original! To set your logo and background, head over to Events > Teams > select your team > Edit Team Profile.
Supersampling Mode on PS4 Pro
PS4 Pro users will see a new ‘supersampling mode’ under Settings, which enables those with HDTVs (i.e., 1080p or less) to enjoy an enhanced visual experience when playing some PS4 games. With supersampling mode, games that render to a higher resolution when connected to a 4K TV will downscale to match the HDTV – allowing PS4 Pro owners to leverage the benefits of an image clarity boost even if they don’t own a 4K TV. Certain games already have ‘supersampling’ benefits as part of their ‘PS4 Pro Enhanced’ feature set, but this new mode can enhance the experience for those games that don’t already have the feature. Because PS4 Pro’s added power and modes benefit different games in different ways, please note that certain games’ image clarity may not improve with this new feature.
Make PSN parties hold more than 8
I agree, too many teams my friends have had to compromise when we have more than 8 people. Xbox and PC both allow for more people so Ps should as well
Please delete games that were things like beta’s so the library is less cluttered. I don’t care that i have the original Beta for Destiny as a download, its worthless now.
“We’re adding a function that will allow you to hide certain applications under the ‘Purchased’ tab in the Library.”
So, you’re letting us hide things we probably don’t want to hide (the things we’ve purchased ourselves), but still not letting us hide the things we don’t want to see (All of the icons for paid services like Vue under Video). You’re also still not letting us order our own Video section so that we can get directly to the apps we use the most. Brilliant.
Can anyone tell me when the beta comes out in the united states
We should be able to send video clips to friends!!!!
I find it stupid that when your PS PLUS expires, you can’t play those free games anymore. Even single player games like Batman you can’t play for free
Io vorrei vedere il cambio di nome del PSN lo aspetto da un po’
SilentHunter – You think it is stupid that you can not play the PS+ games that are part of the PS+ benefits because you no longer have PS+? That is like saying it is stupid that Netflix will not let you watch movies because you don’t pay for the service anymore….
What ever happened to video chatting? Last we heard was that the Oovoo deal fell through. Video chatting worked great on the ps3. This is why I have not purchased the camera.
Still waiting for a long time now voice changer, and a much needed friends list in alphabetical order, because but what I’d like to see and soon is everything is on that Plus Members list like Spotify with Play Now, kinda like what XboxLive was Sony!
Dear PlayStation can you guys please add a local game share like if a friend or family relative brought there PlayStation over on another television. Then both PlayStations both can play one game on separate PlayStation in case they don’t have either psn or the game it’s self.
Thanks for reading
Sincerely the biggest PlayStation fan
Kiingbossgamiing
I would agree with most of the update ideas. Their all pretty good and adding to the touch and control of the owner. Especially the imported backgrounds for the home screen. But I think we also all want to be able to change our gamer tags atleast once.
Still no option to change our gamer tag. Xbox charges 10.99 to change our gamer tags why can’t Sony do the same. I think I’m more mature now than the one I created way back then. Although (although people do find if funny)
I love PlayStation, but sadly I truly think Xbox is winning the race between the two. PC will always be superior. But still… I think I might have to buy an Xbox. Nothing is really being added to make it a better gaming/entertainment experience. They are more powerful, better with external drives, more features, better apps, better dashboard, less mod restrictions, and tons of others. It could be fixed and ps4 could be wayyy better. I think you guys just have to take real consideration when reading all your customers ideas and actually implement them.
Notifications is probably the best thing in this update that is posted.
Now I will be able to delete over 4000 of them.
Thank you.
I agree with a lot of people about a username change feature. It would also be an advantage to not have to pay 10 bucks for a simple username change. Please playstation dont let our dreams be dreams…
Sign me up I would love to try out the new PS4 update plz
Love it !
Make playstation 4 parties hold more than 8 people. Maybe 12-16 people
When will there be a video output for 1440P displays?
I got my avatar code over two weeks ago and still haven’t been able to update to the beta
Another update with endless options for social media…
“Now you can upload screen shots of you in your underwear with the VR headset on inadvertently to more social media sites with a quick, accidental button push”
“Now you can update facebook and instagram in real time with what game you are playing”
But what about now it fully supports 3D ?
Where is that?
What about ” drift in cinematic mode is now fixed , after 2 years”
Where is that?
I don’t need more social media – this is not a phone I use it to play games!
If my TV can convert to 3D I want that in this VR HMD.
I want the media player to … play media – is that so much to ask?
Gah another update of all features no one requested, while ignoring the actual requests of users.
I may as well be Xbox where your whole screen is filled with ads.
They should pay us to use these things, since the benefit seems to be all on the side of the company, same as the bloody xbone.