The PS5 next update beta is now available in select countries and limited to invited participants, so if you are one of those, you will get a first-hand sneak peek on some of the features that Sony is going to introduce. The official release of this update is planned for later this year globally, make sure you check your email to see if you have received an invite.

The highlights of this PS5 software system beta are tenfold, and yet some of them may not make it to the final cut, as Sony’s Senior Vice President Hideaki Nishino has announced. You can expect new accessibility features, support for Dolby Atmos-enabled audio devices, social feature enhancements, quality-of-life improvements, and more. To some of you, the option to mute the PS5 beep sound may turn out to be the best addition of all, judging by the community reaction to this apparently simple feature.

PS5 Next Update Features:

Here are in a nutshell the major improvements that are planned to launch with the next PS5 update before the end of the year.

Accessibility Features

• Second Controller Assistance – assign a second controller to one account as an assist controller, and use two controllers to operate your PS5 console as if it was a single one. Useful in some cooperative games or to help a younger player overcome a challenging section.
• System UI Haptic Feedback – this option allows you to get additional touch and sound feedback when navigating the PS5 using a DualSense controller, DualSense Edge controller, or PS VR2 Sense controller.

Support for Compatible Dolby Atmos-Enabled Audio Devices

• Players owning compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices such as soundbars, TVs or home theater systems will be able to enjoy 3D Audio powered by Tempest 3D AudioTech, providing the greatest sound immersion in PS5 games.

Social Feature Improvements

• Party UI Update – you can now invite a player into a group without automatically adding the player into the group or creating a new group. Additionally, players can now send open or closed party invitations to groups instead of only individual players.
• Share Screen Preview -When a player is sharing their screen in a party you can join, their Share Screen preview image is viewable even before you join the party.
• Join Friends’ Game Sessions – Players can now easily see which friends are in an activity they can join under the [Friends] tab.
• Game Hub tournaments tile – Now you can see how many tournaments you’ve entered and the highest place you’ve achieved in the Game Hub. You can also select the tile to see the entire tournament list.
• Emoji Message Reactions – You can now react to other players’ messages with emojis.

Ease-of-Use Improvements

• Game Library Search – A very useful function is now planned, allowing you to search your games in the library, especially useful for players with a vast catalog of games.
• Game Help Cards Improvements – Game cards now offer more info, including available, previously available, upcoming, and completed activities.
• Discover New Features – Get more from your PS5 by browsing helpful tips and discovering new features.
• Mute PS5 Beep Sound – A seemingly small option but one that is likely to please a massive crowd. You will be able to mute or adjust the volume of the PS5’s beep sound when you turn the console on or off, or putting it in rest mode.

Larger-Capacity M.2 SSDs Support

• If you’re struggling with your current limit of 4TB storage, you can now use an M.2 SSD with a maximum capacity of 8TB.

The PS5 beta access is available to selected participants in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany and France. Some of the features above may be changed or removed entirely from the final release.

Source: PlayStation Blog