
PS5 beta includes new UI enhancements, party chat options and accessibility features.
Our second PS5 system software beta is kicking off tomorrow with new ways to personalize your console experience across party chat, Game Base and accessibility settings. We’re also rolling out a PS4 system software beta tomorrow for players to try out the community-requested Open Parties feature, which is also coming in the PS5 beta.
In addition, for PS5 beta participants in the U.S. and U.K, we’re previewing a feature that enables voice commands for finding and opening games and apps, as well as controlling media playback (English language setting only).
While access to the PS5 and PS4 betas will be open to selected participants in applicable countries*, the final system software updates will be available globally later this year. If you’re selected to participate in the betas, you’ll receive an email invitation when the updates are available to download tomorrow. As with previous system software betas, some features available during this phase may not make it into the final version or may see significant changes. Here’s a sneak peek:
New Party Chat Options
In response to community feedback, we’ve made some updates to the Parties system:
- Open and Closed Parties (PS5 and PS4 betas)
- When you start a party, you can now select either an open party or a closed party:
- An open party lets your friends see and join the party without an invite. Friends of party members can also join.
- A closed party is only for players you invite.
- Note: 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].
- When you start a party, you can now select either an open party or a closed party:

- Voice chat reporting feature update (PS5 beta)
- 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. You can learn more about this feature here.
- Share Play update (PS5 beta)
- Start Share Play directly from the voice chat card. You no longer need to start Share Screen first to use Share Play.

- Voice chat volume (PS4 beta)
- You can now individually adjust the voice chat volume of each player in a party on PS4, just like on PS5.

PS5 Game Base Enhancements
- Voice chats are now called parties. For easier access, we’ve divided the Game Base menu into three tabs: Friends, Parties and Messages.

- From the Game Base control menu and cards, you can now:
- View all your friends under the [Friends] tab in the control menu, or access the player search feature and friend requests through links on this tab.
- Add a player to a group or create a new group directly from Game Base in the Control Center. You can also send text messages, quick messages, images, video clips, and view a group’s shared media from this card.

- When someone in a party is sharing their screen, you’ll now see the (on air) icon.
- We’ve made it easier to decline friend requests by adding a [Decline] button to your friend request list.
New PS5 UI Features
- Filter by genre
- We’ve added an option to filter your game collection by genre, letting you quickly find specific types of game experiences.
- Keep in Home
- You can now keep the games or apps you choose on your home screen by selecting “Keep in Home” with the (options) button.
- You can keep a maximum of five games and apps on each home screen with this feature.
- You can now keep the games or apps you choose on your home screen by selecting “Keep in Home” with the (options) button.

- Increased apps on the home screen
- You can now have a total of 14 games and apps appear on your home screen.
- Trophies UI update
- We’ve updated the visual design of trophy cards and the trophy list. You can also see suggestions for which trophies to earn on the trophy tracker and access it from the Control Center whenever you’re playing a game.

- Start Share Screen from the Create menu
- From the Create menu, you can now start a Share Screen and stream your gameplay to an open party.

New Accessibility Features
- More Screen Reader languages
- Screen Reader, which reads aloud on-screen text and provides spoken guidance for operating the console, is now supported in six additional languages: Russian, Arabic, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Korean.
- This expands Screen Reader support to 15 languages, including the current ones (United States English, United Kingdom English, Japanese, Italian, German, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, French and Canadian French).
- Mono audio for headphones
- You can now enable mono audio for headphones so the same audio is played from both the left and right headphones, instead of a stereo or 3D audio sound mix. This feature provides an added option to enhance the PS5 audio experience, particularly for players with unilateral hearing loss.**

- Check marks for enabled settings
- You can now show a check mark on enabled settings so you can easily see that they’re turned on.
Voice Command (Preview): U.S. and U.K. limited release
- We’re also testing a feature that enables voice commands for finding and opening games, apps, and settings, as well as controlling media playback on the PS5 console.
- This feature is currently available in English for beta participants with accounts registered to the U.S. and U.K.
- To get started, enable Voice Command (Preview) from the Settings menu. Then, call out “Hey, PlayStation!” and ask your PS5 console to find a game, open an app or setting, or control playback while enjoying a movie, TV show or song.

- You can help us improve the feature through our feedback program, which will sometimes record your voice commands (in accordance with our Privacy Policy) and let you provide instant feedback from time to time. You can turn this feature off at any time within system settings (see above). This feature never records audio for child accounts.
- We’re in an early testing phase for this feature and will be closely assessing it and listening to your feedback throughout the beta. For more details, check out this page.
(image updated to reflect the beta version)
Thanks to our beta community for helping us test these new features. Which ones are you most excited for?
*PS5 and PS4 beta access will be available to selected participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany and France (same countries as our last system software beta).
**Players can enjoy the mono audio feature through headphones or headsets connected via USB or the headphone jack (Bluetooth is not supported). Mono audio for PS5 is not supported when playing PS VR games.
When can we get folders, though?
Agreed!
100% this!
Seriously, they’re adding a feature to filter by genre? Who cares? Give me the ability to organise my library the way I want to!
I’ll never understand this. When you have the ability to filter and sort, why would anyone need folders? It’s feature I’ve just never found useful on any console I’ve ever owned, and I have thousands of games.
@EarlGrey42
I have a folder of fun multiplayer games that I play with friends, a folder of games that I want to play in the near future, a folder of games that I can play with my children, another folder for games I play and the kids just watch, and another folder of games that I am working on some trophies for. None of that could be done with just filters or genre sorting. At least in the limited forms that Sony has given us.
Why would you need to sort or filter when you can just manage your own folders?
My top request. Please! FOLDERS!!!
Seriously, this is one feature I’m already missing from the PS4. I would love this to be added back, please!
This exactly. Folders would be far superior. Most games’ genres are mislabeled, let me do it correctly.
Never. don’t ever believe Sony or PlayStation when it comes to updates for their Sony TVs or their Sony video game consoles
I can do you one better: NFT folders
LMAO!!
Absolutely useless updates for the worst console made by playstation.
Bet you all can’t wait for mono audio, inconvenient voice commands, and party chat <– which shouldn't be an update.
Hardcore LAZY-ASSES. These updates take no longer than 2 weeks to create, test, implement. Why does it take PS so long to do so very little?
Especially now, since they have gamers work for them for free under the guise of beta tester.
What kind of incentives do you get for the potential risk of bricking your ps5?
Listen to this man Sony!
for me also one of the important missing features. All consoles offer the possibility to create folders, e.g. PS3, PS4, Xbox One/Series, 3DS, Wii U etc.
Probably only Sony knows why they start from scratch with every new console when it comes to features that every operating system is supposed to offer by default, like FOLDERS. And these essential features might then be added some years later.
That’s what I would like to know to
There are features on PS4 that have yet to migrate to PS5 but PS4 has had over 8 years to implement them. Sony is very slow with their updates but rest assured they are coming. The SSD expansion took forever but it beats proprietary storage..
I love the negativity in literally every article though. There are good things here. Microsoft has made a living advertising accessibility options but not one person mentions it lol. Ppl have been clamouring for more games and the option to choose the games in your home screen. The ability to stream to specified parties is useful for me or anyone who uses Twitch. Voice command isn’t my thing but an interesting update. Then we have Discord rolling in. These are positive additions but all I see is negativity. There are things I want as well. Like the PS4 wall that shows friends activities or the ability to thumbs up Pol’s activities. The ability to post pics. But I won’t trash decent additions because it’s not exactly what I want. Everybody is concerned with everything but actual gaming nowadays.
@alkaline
Your daily PS5 trolling is something we can count on. Pick an avatar though, we all know your profile is a sham. At least try to fool ppl.
PS5 is the worst console ever? If u owned one u might appreciate the DualSense, Kraken compression, best in class SSD performance, Tempest 3D audio, and quiet/cool performance. Also, the games. U know, the reason we play? A solid launch, quality exclusives year round, and oh btw a killer 2022 lineup. Three first party monsters and a likelihood that FFXVI will stay exclusive. U scoff at 2022 as if these are all timed exclusives. Four of the biggest 2022 games will likely never be on another console. Unless God of War, Gran Turismo, Horizon, and Final Fantasy aren’t a big deal? Even Forspoken is two years minimum. Timed or not, ppl are loving Sifu. Three great exclusives in less than a month’s span. Technically four exclusives but I’ve been bullied into not talking about Platinum Games offering because it doesn’t look as good. Like that stops ppl from mentioning CrossfireX lol..
I know it’s popular to troll PS5. It’s absurdly large and Sony can’t make them fast enough. Updates have been slow as usual and everyone is concerned with headlines and propaganda. They hated Activision before the acquisition but not now. Instead, the Bungie deal is being perpetrated as the greatest evil in gaming.
What clowns such as yourself fail to realize due to the fact that u don’t actually own a PlayStation let alone a PS5 is that the product IRL is exceptional. U can cry because the system software update wasn’t your favorite or u can downplay the games current and coming. U can pretend that DualSense is a gimmick or whatever else u parrot from the legion of hate. I’m surprised u didn’t shoe horn in Ryan/Hulst propaganda. But none of that can erase the quality in ppl’s hands or the upcoming games.
Ppl attacked 10tfs and variable frequency. They said PS5 would run 8-9tflops mostly and SX would annihilate it. They killed 825gb and boasted about 1TB. They called Miles tiny DLC and Demon’s Souls a needless PS3 remaster. Returnal was an “indie” and Ratchet’s SSD implementation was no better than TF2. Deathloop didn’t count because it’s a MS game. Kena and Sifu we’re meaningless indies. Then of course 2022 is all timed console exclusives that will soon be on XB. The script is old and been disproven every step. Unfortunately nobody keeps receipts and you just move on to the next propaganda.
Reality:
PS5 has outperformed expectations and the 8 teraflop performance u claimed has equaled the world’s most powerful console at 12. Meanwhile, excuses about tools persist.
The 825gb of storage has largely been made up for by Kraken compression. If anything, ppl have probably gotten more out of PS5 base storage than SX. But 364gb of game storage on Series S is ok?
Miles Morales went from DLC and propaganda about sales disappointment to being a great game running RT60 and continuing to be a sales juggernaut while still charting regularly. DLC don’t win GotY. Demon’s Souls was a ground up remake and the highest Metacritic of any Souls title. It’s still one of the best looking next gen games with some of the best SSD performance, 3D audio, and even solid DualSense implementation. Ratchet’s SSD performance surpassed expectations. In fact, the game on release was far more impressive than the announce trailer. Particularly the ray tracing and performance. The anti Watch Dogs. Returnal was AAA and has 21 GotY awards. Deathloop like it or not rounded out PS5s year and regardless of publisher, it’s adding to the PS5 lineup. Kena won indie of the year and Sifu absolutely beloved. Sony has a strong of these quality, indie exclusives times or not. We’re not talking 2D.
2022 is loaded and already bearing fruit. It’s early February and PS5 has more first party AAA exclusives scheduled than XB all of last year. By March PS5 will have had a better lineup than SX 2021 and somehow critics praised XB last year. They ain’t all timed dear. Even the ones that might be, either have a chance to stay exclusive/console exclusive or have windows of two years.
We already have God of War, Horizon, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo, and new AAA IP from the likes of Square/Platinum/beloved Bethesda along with AAA Indies from Annapurna and SloClap. So many more from Gran Blue to Salt & Sac and so on. Then the possibility of VR this holiday? Could be later but we’ll see. Surely more games are getting 2022 releases as well. It’s Feb and the projected games are almost too much. Downplay all u want, I’ll just play the actual games.
Yeah, folders would be bare minimum to this useless interface. The mess they did with library and shop is unbelievable in this times; i felt like i jumped few decades back in time when i moved form ps4 to ps5.
Filter by genre would be the only useful feature on the list above, but genres are assigned by random apparently, and this filtering doesn’t work properly even in the store now.
And yes, I’m passionate about gaming and in particular PlayStation. However, I own a PC and XB Series + Gamepass as well. I actually own the competition’s systems yet I don’t go on their sites and troll. I criticize here as a reaction to the trolling and hatred that occurs on this Blog. I use examples for the purpose of comparison. I would never go on another platform’s blog to attack them daily like alkaline does here. And she doesn’t even own a PlayStation.
Also, there is a disproportionate amount of hate ATM for Sony in general and none of it is based on actually gaming IRL. I’m so happy with the product over the past several years. The next couple years look immaculate. I can’t get with the hate train unless the product severely diminishes. I have concerns and criticisms. I hate the JP Studios move but understand the business aspect. I’m not a huge Bungie fan but the deal does nothing to negative. It’s not a sign Sony is becoming a multiplat pub and exiting the hardware biz. It’s not a sign they no longer care about PS5 or exclusives. You don’t work for years on brand new hardware set to release late 2022 or 2023 if you are exiting the hardware business. If Sony wanted to become Sega they would have just struck a deal to make games for Oculus instead of launching their own highly developed VR hardware. Particularly considering the fact of that VR has not been a lucrative business as of yet. The quest is the only positive sign but even then Oculus in nowhere near profitability in totality considering the money that was spent to get here. VR is still a long play and a bet on the future. If PSVR2 comes with legit exclusives you can take your multiplatform fear mongering and shove It. It would truly be wise for Sony to publish for the Quest. At least timed. PSVR was easily the most successful HMD during its primary run yet Sony lost money or made very little on many games. Even great exclusives like Blood n Truth struggled to break even.
The fear mongering and propaganda (I use the term often) is bothersome and I’m pushing back. If u don’t like it that’s too bad. This is PlayStation Blog and excitement for the platform should be celebrated. If things even out and become balanced I won’t feel the need to play devil’s advocate or remind people of the good. I absolutely support constructive criticism though. It’s necessary to improve a product. But the garbage from girls like @alkalinetp every single day becomes too much. I’ll balance it out until it stops. Until a Forbidden West article can drop without overwhelming attacks over PC and Jim Ryan. Until a PS+ lineup is met with appropriate criticism/praise. Or until a benign system software update can release without ppl laughably calling PS5 the worst console ever.
If u want to dispute me, at least use facts and information. I’m passionate, I rant, I know. “Sony employee” or “shill” whatever. Leave the name calling and keep it on wax. Let your information do your work. And if the day comes where I feel the product vis garbage I won’t defend it. But I’m loving it ATM and I can’t ignore the Insomniac, Bluepoint, Housemarque, PSVR2, Wolverine, and other positive deals under Ryan’s tenure. Sony ain’t perfect. Even before Ryan I was mortified at Evolution Studios and the lack of support for devs like RaD and IP like The Order. Sony had no understanding that Driveclub was now beloved or that Day’s Gone had an enormous disconnect between critics and gamers. They let RaD be gobbled by FB after a long and fruitful relationship because they had no cojones to stand up for a dev or IP. They care too much about critical reception and they don’t have their ear to the surface. They weren’t perfect before Ryan was in charge and they aren’t after. But this is life. Good and bad. You balance it out and decide if the ecosystem has enough positive things to keep you invested. I just can’t boycott games I love because I’d prefer old games not come to PC. I can’t stop playing a console that I think is fantastic due to the fact that people are making things up and telling a horror stories about the future. I won’t pretend that a charismatic CEO (uncle Phils) can cover up for a legacy of lies or that a less charismatic CEO like Jim Ryan is somehow ruining my gaming experience. The $10 increase criticism has merit but at the same we aren’t getting ganked with MTX as bad as most and the games feature best in class next gen support and are generally very high quality. I hate the price increase but I also don’t want next gen editions like Dying Light and Halo. I’m not justifying it but there are two sides to everything. Ghost of Tsushima was killed for the $10 increase on the DC but that game had no MTX and free $20 value with Legends. On top of a great and robust game already. The PS5 upgrades were nice but i get the criticism for the $10 if the game hadn’t been so wildly consumer friendly before. Two sides. I fell into the Legacy of Thieves hate as well. But I never owned Lost Legacy and plan to see the movie. The deal was great for me. Ppl called it a port. Nah. After playing I realized why DF and other sites were so glowing. It has visual upgrades from LOD to textures to contrast to shadows. The 60/120 frames, DualSense, and 3D audio are wonderfully implemented. It’s not a significant remaster but it’s not a port and even IF u own both games and no plans to see the movie u are paying $5 per game. At best it’s a virtual steal valuing a $40 surplus. At worst u pay $5 per game for a soft remaster. It’s reality.
Tyler, I skimmed over your posts quickly because they were ranty looking, and you have been known to lie all the time and repeat bs.
Anywoot – So, now all-of-a-sudden you have an imaginary gaming PC? How convenient. 🤡
The same person who posted that sifu, plus many other games are ps exclusive, when a very, very quick google search would reveal that they aren’t. <–That should show how big of a gamer you are.
VERY passionate
@JediOniram dang, now that’s intricate. I just organize from A-Z, and I split between games I paid for and Plus games. In the case of a game that I end up getting on Plus that I already owned on disc, I just delete the disc and move the Plus version to the “owned” folder.
Yeah, FOLDERS are the top missing feature. Also why the context menu in LIBRARY doesn’t have ‘Update history’ item? If I want to see the history info I have to run the game first then open the menu on home screen…really bad UX.
Agreed!
I simply can’t understand why a feature that was constantly asked for on the PS4 wasn’t included on the PS5 at launch.
Seriously, who thought…”eh, we don’t need folders on PS5, nobody will miss them.” 🤦♂️
I love it looks really good I love how on the ps5 cards you can see the trophy rareity and not have to click on it and to see it you can just go threw the cards
No Folders for PS5? Oh dear me I never knew that. This is like deja vu with PS4 all over again.
I shouldn’t be surprised really, this is Sony after all.
While visually pretty, it seems that doing most actions on PS5 take more button presses than on PS4… I don’t understand this.
Yes foldes on homescreen would be fantastic again..make it for ps5..
I, too, would enjoy folders or some way to organize my collection. I have both PS5 and Series X, and the X is _way_ better at this.