PlayStation 4 PS4 Firmware Updates Sony

Republished on Wednesday, 17th February 2016: We're bringing this feature back from the archives following the news that Sony is about to beta test PS4 firmware update v3.50. The original text follows.

Originally published on Tuesday, 5th January 2016: Pipe down at the back – the PlayStation 4 certainly isn't a turd in its current state. There's a growing sentiment throughout the industry that because Microsoft's been playing catch-up for the past couple of years, Sony has been standing still – but it ignores the fact that the Japanese giant launched a quality console to begin with. Despite that, the device is not above criticism, and there are some firmware features that should have been implemented a long time ago. Here are five that we reckon the manufacturer should make happen in 2016 – or get in the flubbin' sea.

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Bleedin' folders

We like the PS4's user interface: it's fast, fluid, and very functional. The only problem with it is that it tends to ignore the fact that many people tend to play more than ten or so games. Sure, you can now hide your least played titles in an ever-expanding library, but wouldn't it be great if we could organise our releases using a novel innovation named folders? The funny thing is, the system already has this functionality, as catch-up channels are filed away under a neat and tidy tile. Can we have access to this feature, too, Sony?

Online notifications

Ever since the days of AIM's creaky door wavefile, online notifications have been a mainstay on instant messaging services. Sony apparently sees them as old-fashioned, though, as the PS4 still doesn't boast pop-ups to tell you when your buddies come online. To be fair, the system's ability to support up to 2,000 friend connections makes this a touch more complicated, but couldn't it devise a 'Best Friends' system where you only receive notices for close associates?

Better library control

The PS4 library is a good feature – after all, there should be a way to see all of your licenses. But surely it should come with a little more control: filters and search, for starters. We don't know about you, but we're fed up of having to scroll through countless demos and betas just to get to the title that we're looking for. All of that stuff needs to be available should it be needed, of course, but if you could just hide the bloat, it would make things way, way easier to navigate.

Redecorating

We love the PS4's dynamic themes, we really do – but sometimes you just want to be greeted by a 1080p shot of Johnny Depp in guyliner when you boot up your big box. At the moment, Sony's system doesn't allow custom wallpapers, which seems kinda crazy when you consider that it would literally just entail a .PNG image overlaying the ordinary backdrop. Surely we won't have to wait too much longer for this simple but necessary feature?

Name changes

Part of us thinks that it's your own problem if you were short-sighted enough to pick a silly PlayStation Network name, but then we consider that those who were ten-years-old when they got a PlayStation 3 are now almost old enough to vote – and we all go through changes as we grow up. Sony really needs to find a way to allow people to alter their names, then. Look, we get it – the PSN is held together with paperclips and string. But there has to be someone out there with a brain big enough to come up with a solution. Heck, the platform holder could even charge – we doubt that many would complain.

Are there any PS4 firmware updates that you think are long overdue? Which of the ones on our list do you think need to be implemented ASAP? Shout really loud in the comments section below.

Which of the following firmware features do you most want? (235 votes)

  1. Give me folders or fold36%
  2. I need to know when my pals come online11%
  3. The library needs a spring clean12%
  4. I want to pick my own wallpaper, please11%
  5. I beg to be relieved of my awful PSN name22%
  6. Other9%

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