Sony is releasing a new PlayStation 5 software update featuring new settings improving everything from headphone audio to controller charging on the PS5 Slim.
If you’re signed up for the PS5 beta programme, you could get invited to try the update today (July 25). Otherwise, Sony says it will be available to everyone in the coming months.
Here are the details on the update, including how to activate its new features and sign up to become a beta tester and get it first.
What is 3D Audio on the PS5?
The moment you plug your headphones into the PS5 jack, everything changes. Suddenly, the audio sounds more distinct, especially if you’ve got crap TV speakers and no soundbar. On Call of Duty, the gunshots ring louder and the patter of enemy footsteps can rise and fade based on their proximity.
It’s all thanks to the PS5’s 3D Audio technology, a special surround sound found only on Sony’s console, and the company’s answer to Dolby Atmos.
The technology is designed to create a lifelike “soundscape” by making it seem like noises are coming from all around you.
It’s made possible by the PS5's powerful graphics chip, which can quickly calculate and produce hundreds of different, object-based sounds that appear to come from various distances and directions.
How to set up a 3D audio profile
With the latest update, the PS5 can whip you up a custom 3D audio profile that tailors the sound to your individual hearing preferences and abilities. It’s not too different from the settings available on AirPods and many other headsets and earbuds.
Sony says the new feature works with wired and wireless headphones, so hopefully it should support a long list of devices. However, Sony’s plug of its Pulse headphones in the official blog makes us a little nervous about its widespread availability.
To create a personalised 3D audio profile on your PS5 console, go to [Settings] > [Sound] > [3D Audio (Headphones)] and follow the sound quality tests to analyse your hearing. Your audio profile will be saved to your PS5 user account.
How to set up Remote Play for individual users
Also in this update is a new Remote Play setting that lets you permit or restrict other accounts from using the game streaming feature. That way, if someone signs in to your console, you can allow them to connect to it remotely (on their phone or laptop) when they leave.
To adjust these settings, go to [Settings] > [System] > [Remote Play] > [Enable Remote Play], and choose which user you want to share your PS5 with.
How to set up DualSense adaptive charging (PS5 Slim only)
Lastly, a new energy-saving mode is for Sony’s PS5 Slim console models released last November. With Adaptive Charging, your system will adjust how long it supplies power to a compatible controller based on its battery level, thereby saving juice.
To use it, go to [Settings] > [System] > [Power Saving] > [Features Available in Rest Mode], and then select [Supply Power to USB Ports] > [Adaptive].
Once your PS5 enters rest mode, if a controller isn’t connected, the power supply to the USB port will stop after a certain period.
How to become a PS5 beta tester
If you like the sound of the update, there may still be some time to snag an early access invite. Just head to the dedicated website and register using your PSN account details.
But, bear in mind that beta software is not the finished product and therefore may contain some niggles. If you accept it, your job is to tell Sony about these bugs so it can squash them before the public release.
There’s also a PS5 firmware update
If you’re wondering, this beta update is separate from the firmware update Sony issued to all users earlier this week.
That contained minor additions, including inviting players to game sessions using a URL, and improvements to the system and DualSense stability.
