Sony has announced that the first major PlayStation 5 hardware update will take place tomorrow, adding in support for PS5 games to be stored on external storage devices. You still won't be able to actually play those titles via the external device — they'll need to be copied back over to your PS5 internal SSD when you want to play — but this does mean you can extend the storage capabilities of the console. You also won't be able to directly download PS5 games to any external devices. They must first be placed onto your internal storage and then copied over.
The hardware manufacturer has also commented on the status of expanded SSD support on the PlayStation Blog: "As previously announced, the PS5 console will support storage expansion via M.2 drives in the future. We’re currently working on this feature and will keep you posted with any updates on PlayStation Blog."
At a Glance
- Store PS5 games on compatible external USB drives
- Cross-generation Share Play
- Request to join Game Session
- Improved Game Base
- Disable Game Chat or adjust players' volume
- Game update pre-download
- Customise and search Game Library
- Screen Zoom
- New Trophy settings and stats screen
Sony's first big firmware update also improves the Game Base feature. "You can now easily switch between Parties and Friends to start chatting with your existing parties or see what each of your online friends is up to. In addition, you can turn notifications on or off for each of the parties you’re in," the blog post reads. Users will also be treated to the ability to pre-download game patches should developers allow them to do so while the Game Library can now be customised. Trophies have also been tweaked, too — you can adjust what type of Trophy automatically takes a screenshot or records a video. Don't want to litter your storage with images of Bronze Trophies? Disable the option from tomorrow.
Elsewhere, cross-generation Share Play lets PS4 users sample a PS5 game on their own screen, and vice-versa. "Options include the ability to share your screen with a friend, pass your controller virtually to a friend, or pass a second controller virtually to play co-op games together." Finally, you can now quickly disable game chat or adjust players' volume, adjust the magnification of the screen, and request to join game sessions.
What do you think to these new additions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source blog.playstation.com]
Comments 130
A big step in the right direction
Some welcome additions, hopefully it doesn't break anything. Really want that M.2 expansion update though and folders next!
Not exactly the system update we were clamoring for right now but it’s progress!
Super nice, can't wait for tomorrow.
Edit: There's also this: "you can now choose to only capture and save images/videos of moments when you earn higher-grade trophies, like Gold or Platinum". Yes, I want video moment only for the plat 😃
An excellent first major update with loads of quality of life improvements and fixes for niggling issues. Great stuff, Sony! 👏
Just make the UI nicer, have folders and/or more games on the Home Screen, and get rid of the rubbish horizontal listing of trophies!
I don’t ask for much, honest.
Great update for me I already have an 8TB external and starting to struggle for storage. Going move few games onto it now.
Been wanting cross-gen shareplay for ageeees so am pleased!
I’m hoping it fixes the Blu-ray drive randomly spinning up every hour when you have any disc in the drive.
I hope it fixes the deleted games bug where a greyed out tile stays on the console after you've deleted it.
Have 2 games sitting there I've long deleted that won't shift.
I wonder if it will allow you to copy PS5 save data to a USB drive?
I must admit, its nice to see some positive news! Very happy about the storage and cross gen share play.
@Zombiesfeelpain Is it just me or has your drive got noticeably louder recently. Like a little whine when it kicks in?. I only notice it when there is a disc in the drive. If I'm playing a digital game. It's silent.
I don't know why this excited me. I still don't have a PS5, lol
Great stuff. I'll buy an external SSD ASAP but for now it's not an urgent purchase. Just having the option is good enough for me atm.
Amazing. Some of these things i asked for in a recent survey. Brilliant stuff. I was hoping an update was on the way.
New trophy stats screen! Looking forward to this. Hopefully it’ll give us a better screen to view trophy progress too, as the horizontal scroll and belaboured process to unhide trophies is a chore.
Don’t care about the storage thing, I’ll never be playing so many games at once that I’ll need external storage. 4 is the max for me and I’m holding far more than that currently.
Oh! I read this quick and I thought it said store PS5 saves externally. Guess not, still waiting. Looks like some nice updates though.
@solocapers Also have this problem and it drives me nuts.
@fluggy
I imagine games are / may be created with the requirement to access information at a certain speed for streaming in assets etc. It’s not just about loading from a save file.
@solocapers least it ent just me that's happening to have to re download them and delete again just to get em completely off the user face
@get2sammyb @solocapers
Little fix for this. Once the 'grey box' shows on the other side of the store, click download. Once it starts to download (actually download NOT calculating... ') then cancel and delete the download, this should get rid of the grey app box. From my experience anyway.
Not ideal granted, but does the job until Sony do a fix
@Zombiesfeelpain yeah its so annoying. Particularly in the middle of the night when im watching netflix whilst trying to get my baby back to sleep. It wakes him up as its so noisy!
@fluggy Because PS5 games are designed with the SSD in mind, and weren’t made for the slower access speed of standard HDs.
That’s why. It isn’t a mind-wracking mystery.
@Thrillho Everything you said! I have to turn on my PS4 to look at my trophies if I'm platinum a game. This update is a step in the right direction but yeah I really need folders.
Hopefully they solve the issue with the USB port while in standby: As long as you can use it for charging, the fan runs. My only option to solve this now is to turn off the „charging in standby“ functionality.
I also want to have improvements on Remote Play: With tricks, I can run it with the controller directly connected to the PS5 (and not via USB or Bluetooth to my phone), so the latency is minimal and all DualSense features are active. Please Sony, make this easily accessible to everybody wirhout tricks!
What about deleting games on the trophy list that you don't have trophies on like they added to the ps4?
Excellent news.
Now we just need 1440p, VRR and use of the .m2 slot!
This is all really great but seriously still no VRR support?
M.2 expansion I get, they already said summer so wasn’t expecting it this early.
@Max_the_German I haven't encountered this while charging or any other issues while using USB ports in rest mode
@hoffa007 Can't you already do that?
@normanself Yeah, thanks! That's what I've been doing (although it doesn't work for me every time).
Hopefully they fix it properly, either with this update or in the near future! 🤞
My major issue they can’t fix...
Which is when you have a ps4 disc but are using a Ps5 upgrade and everytime you insert the disk it tries to install the ps4 version as well. Wish you could set to “don’t try and install this” accidentally deleted wrong version the other day. 90gb download later I could play!
There is an issue I have encountered on my ps5 is when I have my external hard drive plugged in, I can play my games installed on it but cannot actually access it on the storage screen it tells me to plug one in with that message that shows when one isn't plugged in, confusing bug.
@normanself Thanks started to experience this issue myself recently. Very annoying.
It doesn’t mention but does anyone know if this delivers the promised fix for the Samsung TVs?
@LiamCroft I don't remember seeing the option when I hit the options button on the trophies screen but maybe its been added and I haven't tried since it was added, I'll have a look later I only remember seeing it being added on the ps4.
Cross gen share play is an interesting concept indeed!
I noticed that whenever my friend's are playing on their PS5's it doesn't say what they're playing, just shows the little PS5 logo and that's it. Hopefully the aforementioned "... see what each of your online friends is up to." fixes that.
@Relygon
VRR? I think I heard a couple of people in the U.K. had capable screens for that. Must have been you and the guy above.
Not being funny, but I’m sure there are things that impact far more people that Sony are, understandably, needing to concentrate on first.
I do understand it must annoy your to have spent big money on a new screen that isn’t currently utilised though. Patience might be required given how vanishingly small are the number of people who could make use of VRR.
Individual player volume controls? AT LAST! I can turn up my super quiet friend and turn down the super loud one! Been hoping for this for years.
Great update. Now I’ll be able to install Returnal without having to delete another game. My internet data cap is now happy.
@hoffa007 I've definitely been able to delete a 0% Trophy listing recently. Worth checking again!
Finally. Some PlayStation news that doesn't make me want to smack the executives with a rolled up newspaper lol
@Zombiesfeelpain and it's SO LOUD whenever it does, too!
Great news. I am most excited about the Gamebase improvements and the ability to adjust players chat volume. Folders would be a nice addition eventually. It would also be cool to adjust the long press and quick press of the PlayStation button. Still getting used to that one and I have had the system since launch. What probably throws me off is the delay that sometimes happens.
@LiamCroft ah that is good thankyou I shall go back and check, thanks for the heads up dude.
Good news about the storage situation but it's a shame you still can't play ps5 from external storage, still gonna take a bit of space
The cross-generation share play sounds fantastic! And what a relief that we'll be able to start moving PS5 games not actively being played to the extended storage.
I would like to have themes back please. That was one of my favorite things about the PS4 was having a customized personal theme.
I would wish they fix the random WIFI drop outs.... and also the random drive activation even if the game is installed on the HDD.
Cool update. But(isn't there always) I just want to be able
to back-up my PS5 'game saves' to USB like you could on the PS4/3 If my PS5 dies then I'll lose all my PS5 game saves!?!? :-/ Can't believe that basic feature isn't on the PS5 from day one. Hmm.
Does fix the trophy screen layout? That's got to be the worst design I've ever seen, obviously made by someone who never uses it. Massive ugly tiles that don't even show half of the description. It's bad times when the phone app is better than the console UI.
The long delay on the overlay menu appearing after you tap the PS button on the pad is annoying too. I always find myself pressing it again, thinking it didn't register.
Give us folders back you cowards!
But also its nice to start the week off with some positive PlayStation news n for once at the minute.
Some good news at last!!
I'm particularly interested in the Game Library customisations.
@thefourfoldroot it’s not that big of a deal to be honest but it can’t be that difficult can it? I mean even Microsoft pulled it off. Heck, what do I know, maybe it’s real tricky.
And come on mate, I am by no means rich but the VRR-capable LG TV I got was hardly “big money” for your average joe.
@stevie85 I have noticed certain disks spin louder than others but not whine per say
@solocapers @get2sammyb Renew Licenses in Settings and those dead icons will go away.
@Relygon
I doubt it’s a big deal, just not a current priority. MS are different as they are integrating PC releases on all their games day one, and VRR is much more of a monitor thing currently.
And I just assumed the VRR TVs are new and so expensive. Could be wrong. Haven’t really looked as I only got my 4K a few years ago. Out of interest, which one did you go for? If it’s more affordable than I though I might get one and switch my current TV to the other room for the PS4 (I currently only use PS4 for VR so no TV required, but it might come in useful).
Hmmm looks like PS5 is starting to have some shape. ☺️
Question: If I understand it right (based on what is written in this article) I can call my friend, who has PS5 already, and ask him to share his screen and controlling to my PS4, so I can play on his console thru my console (for example when he is not home)? As similar as Remote Play?
@solocapers I’ve had this problem a few times now. The way I fixed it was to start to re-download (or reinstall from disc) the deleted game...then immediately cancel and delete the download. This will remove it from the Home Screen. However yeah it is a ball ache and something that should definitely be fixed
I am really sad for my Ps3, do the same is going to happen with the PS5?
@thefourfoldroot I see, that makes sense. You’re right though, most people don’t have a VRR TV so making it a priority is of course pretty dumb. It’s just that when PS5 was released Sony said that VRR support was coming, so I was expecting it sooner rather than later I guess.
I went for LG CX, got it on sale last year. Very happy with it, feels somewhat future proof.
Its a bit odd you wont be able to download games straight to an external usb HDD you have to download them to internal then move them why not the option to choose?
Sitting here waiting for a firmware update to watch my 3D blurays on the system and in VR xD
Not essential at all though as I can play them on my PS3 and PS4 xD
trophy screen its awful currently
A) why isnt it on the main screen like it was on ps4
B) i just want a horizonal list like it was on ps4 rather than this horizonal mess
@Relygon
Yeah, I forgot they said that, but at least it’s on the horizon then.
Looked at that TV you mentioned but it’s a bit rich for my blood, especially given the minimum advantage over my current set. £1200 on sale for a 55”...I’ll probably wait until they are around £800
I’ve been really trying to notice FPS Differences in different games recently, but I think I’m just not sensitive to it. Switching between 30fps and 60fps in Control for example just doesn’t feel very different. Guess VRR is more for perceived frame consistency than anything else though.
I just want the ps4 UI on my ps5. The ps5 UI is way inferior. Way more clicks to get the the same places. The trophy list is a joke. I never use it, i rather go to psnprofiles for it.
And the PS App is now getting it’s wishlist back!!!!
Quickly filling up that pricey SSD was one of my biggest concerns about getting a PS5, so being able to back up games to external storage is a great addition.
@Perryg92
Yes, I’d like to be able to watch 3D Blu-ray via the PSVR headset again. Unfortunately this is likely way at the back of Sony’s priority list though. In the meantime I’ll just have to keep the PSVR connected to PS4.
@Perryg92
3D Blu-ray is a dead format. Don't hold your breath.
Nice to see an update.
For me though:
Update the UI
Folder Creation (should have been there day one this.
More games displayed on the front end ala PS4.
Remove the black curve stamp on trophy shots.
Remove the horizontal trophy listing, even the filtering doesnt make it better.
@Jester1701one I wouldn't go as far as wanting the whole PS4 UI but yeah parts as everything now seems to take more effort to get to the places you want. I also agree that the PS5 trophy layout and UI is unusable and inferior to the PS4, PS3, PS Vita, App and PSN profiles layouts.
Well good to see some QOL improvements.
Would have liked to have seen the folder option being added but good that I can now store PS5 games on an external drive, hopefully we will have the ability to play them from there at some point.
Hopefully the mute option for Game Chat will be a good thing, I have found a few annoying moments in my Ps5 library where I have other players voices recorded even though I have the settings for myself muted.
Will be testing that out certainly!
@get2sammyb @solocapers "Restore Licences" should do the trick, and if it doesn't, "Rebuild Database" will definitely get rid of the icons.
@solocapers it sounds like you can hide them now, i think
i would love to see an update that lets you use more then 1 expandable storage at a time
There is more to it than what is announced I believe so it's going to be interesting to see what changed.
@solocapers
Had exactly the same problem, found a way to get rid of them easily, start by redownloading game from the tile, let it get to around 1%, head over to the library and find the downloading game, then from the library screen delete the game once again, you should find that the game will be deleted and no gray square on the home screen.
@get2sammyb did they adress bugs in thus update. Particularly wi fi 6G bug.
In a weird way, Sony has pushed the PS5 completely off my radar. I'm now completely preoccupied with all the PS1/PS2/PS3+DLC/VITA digital games that I need to buy before Sony closes the store. For me, it only makes sense to focus my time and money on the games that will soon be lost. The PS5 will be cheaper and better in the years to come anyway. Nice work Jim Ryan.
@B-I-G-DEVIL - Its Storage space not memory.........ther is a difference
Question: can you have two external disks, one for playing PS4 games and the other to store PS5 games?
I was just thinking on trophy customisation the other day... Why has there never been an option to rearrange the order in which games display then synch back up? I get it if they don't want you to outright delete trophie lists for games you don't play anymore, but it's kind of annoying seeing it so mish mashed. I have games I never got on with (and therefore deleted to never be played again) cluttering between my platinums and 80-99 percent lists.
@Hatsune_Miku - Why would you want to play PS5 games from external USB drive, you wouldn't benefit from the SSD speed at all.(Thats the reason its only for storing PS5 games)
@marty8370 yes my bad misspoke fixed it
I may be mistaking this but does the share play thing mean someone could use a ds4 (on a PS4) controller to coop on my ps5 from the other side of the world but my kids can’t use a ds4 to coop on the same sofa?
@Robinsad correct. Odd aint it?
D-did... did good news for Playstation happen today??
Looking forward to potentially being able to boost some of my friend's terrible mics enough to hear them without having to drop everything and focus on their voice alone xD
It's a good starting point. Pretty happy with this I've got a 4tb hardrive hooked up so this is going to help a lot
Well done, Sony. I hope they're able to keep up the momentum, because last week was a PR nightmare for Sony.
@Stocksy they did fix that...like a month ago
@get2sammyb if you start the download again and then cancel it the grayed out tiles should disappear that's how I have been getting rid of them
@Rondoooo9 Samsung TVs?!?!? To 120 and to be recognised as Ps5?!?
@get2sammyb just start the download and as soon as it moves past 'calculating' cancel it. Pain in to have to do it but better than nothing
i fully expect compatible NVME drives to be around the £200 mark for 1tb
still waiting on that 1440p and VRR support... progress is progress all the same. can't complain about good progress after all.
@solocapers
Ref: greyed out tiles
Press and hold the PS button on the Dualsense for 7 seconds to turn on the PS5, select “rebuild database” (OPTION 5) all gone 😇
Had the tile issue for ages and this fixed it 👍🏻
Being able to store PS5 games on the ext SSD. I just bought a Samsung T5 SSD for the PS5 but maybe I should’ve got a T7 instead?
A much needed first step that should have been available at launch.
Let’s get that expansion SSD option fired up and I’ll go back to selecting 3rd party on the system it will play better on.
Overall a pretty good update. Gives me an excuse to pick up a 1TB SSD so I can save on bandwidth usage.
Still needs a few things fixed.
1. The issue with PS4 versions installing instead of PS5 versions or the game trying to install both. Ain’t got space for that nonsense.
2. The built in video player app sucks. Like seriously. The PS4 wasn’t great either, but the PS5’s is yet another step down from the wonderful player that was the PS3. Codec support is so so, but it doesn’t like to recognize subtitles. I’ve got a pretty big anime collection on an external harddrive and most of it is subbed. So very annoying.
3. Change the disc based game install process. As it stands it’s a bit of a mess. The PS5 downloads and applies patches while installing. That’s great for people who pull down 300 megabits a second. That sucks for me, where I typically pull 35-60 mbps depending on network traffic (over the air LTE fixed wireless). What I do for now is install the game offline then go back online and download the updates. It’s significantly faster for me to do it that way for some ungodly reason.
@Sealightbreeze
I really miss the PS3 themes. You could build them yourself and because it was open standard there were hundreds of artists that specialized in building custom themes. Didn’t have to go through Sony. Simply navigated to the site on your PS3 and downloaded the file. Or you could use your pc, stick it on a flash drive, and transfer it over. There were dozens of sites that hosted custom PS3 themes and they were optimized to run on the PS3’s less than stellar web browser.
I still think the PS3 is Sony’s best console from an operating system standpoint. Yeah the thing was slow but it was feature packed.
My main PS5 complaint is that it crashes about 30% of the time a PS5 game is put in rest mode. It doesn't happen with PS4 games, only PS5.
Anyone else have this issue?
i keep forgetting the ps5 is even a thing
maybe if they actually existed within the general public or just the world...
They need to bring back ability to back up saves to USB..
@Stocksy they fixed the ps4 disc to p5 upgrade issue a while back. Not sure what the samsung tv issue is, I use a Samsung and its pretty flawless as far as I can tell.
@B-I-G-DEVIL would love a 8TB external drive but they are like 350AUDs... too expensive man
@KippDynamite yep.. same here. I dont do it no more because of this reason. Some weird bug there
@djape wow yes mine was no where near that much. I got it in sale and had some vouchers through work as well so was great deal but even at normal price it’s like 100AUD cheaper in UK.
@B-I-G-DEVIL yeah for 100AUD, I wouldnt have a problem at all. For 100AUD you can get 2TBs, 4TBs is around 120-150AUDs
Bunch of updates that I'll never use or even notice, great XD.
Jokes aside, I am happy they are still working hard on the updates we do want.
Now for a return of the whats new feature!
@The_New_Butler - Think Sony waiting on prices of PS5 compatible drives to fall(also not many to choose from)
@LiamCroft How does the cross-generation Share Play work? Assuming the PS4 owner has a DualShock 4 how is that supposed to control the PS5 game when Sony can't even seem to get that working on the PS5 itself?
@sanderson72 basically what I just said. So the rules are, if you are trying to entice your friend in another location to buy a ps5 then use of a ds4 is allowed. If you are trying to do couch co-op on a ps5 you already bought, well you need to spend an extra £60 a person
@nomither6 Its outsold the WiiU and Vita here, it exists its just something called demand.
@marty8370 idk maybe some people have PS4 games they want to play on the limited shared storage with ps5 games? 🙄 Your ignorance is unblistfull 😤
@thefourfoldroot when? Did you see it in the ps app today?
@Carl-G yeah reason being that ps5 saves are locked down to ps+ cloud is due to paranoia on Sony's part, it's uncertain if Sony will ever bring it back or not.
@Robinsad Sorry, missed your comment!
Yes, they won't allow the use of a DS4 on the PS5 but they do if it's through Share Play? Something's not right.
@stevie85 it's called coil whine
@huyi
Sorry mate, lost the thread. When what? And did I see what in the app? (My app hasn’t updated incidentally).
@Sladey69 Strange though that it only happens when a disc is in the drive.
Because its trying to read the disc and the mechanism makes a whine sound
@huyi What you post makes no sense.
@Robinsad lol , it outsold two flops , thats not saying much. if anything , it just shows how scarce they are ; because if they were readily available , then maybe it would've outsold the switch by now.
@fluggy I think you don’t understand that PS5 games are designed with ONLY the SSD speeds in mind.
But please, feel free to rant more if it makes you feel better.
@marty8370 I don't care about SSD speed put simply.
Game loading times are not a big issue for me and I have elected I will not be expanding the SSD storage when that is enabled during the summer so I will opt for using the external drive to store the game and copy them to my console as required now we have that facility.
Unless SSD drives become cheaper this is a far more manageable solution for someone who has limited funds like me.
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