PS5: social news and storage via USB in the new update

PS5: social news and storage via USB in the new update

PS5

After several months of the PS5 launch, tomorrow will be a particularly important day for Sony's ninth generation console. In less than twenty-four hours, in fact, players will be able to install one of the first important updates for the console. The one defined as one of the most important updates will add to the PlayStation 5 experience a whole series of improvements and innovations that will make the stay on the game system even more social and comfortable for players.

First of all, by tomorrow it will be possible to add a fundamental option to data storage on your PS5. With the addition of compatibility between the console and USB storage devices, it will be much more convenient for players to transfer their games to a USB memory rather than to the console's internal memory. It's a great way to extend the storage capabilities of the PlayStation 5 and it also allows you to seamlessly copy games to the platform's internal memory.

The second big news that the new update will bring concerns a series of social features that will make sharing game moments with your friends even more fun. The Share Play feature goes cross-generational, with PS4 and PS5 players finally being able to share games together while chatting as a group at a party. This includes the ability to share the screen with a friend, virtually pass the controller to the same friend, or virtually pass a second controller to play co-op games together.

In addition to these two great new features, the PS5 update improves and speeds up the Game Base menu, also adding the ability to switch from one party to another at full speed. Finally, the PlayStation App will also receive changes along with a myriad of new additions that will allow the companion app to become even more convenient to complement your console experience.

While waiting for new PS5 stocks, you can keep take a look at the Amazon page of the console, or, if you already have one, you can book the next games coming out at these addresses: Returnal and Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart.





Sony's April update gives PS5 new external storage options

ps5-playstation-5-sony-hoyle-promo-12Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Running out of room on your PS5? A fix is finally coming. On Tuesday Sony revealed that its April software update will add the ability to store games on external USB drives. 

Sony says the new update, announced in a blog post, will begin 'rolling out globally tomorrow.' While games can be stored on external storage, the company notes that you can't actually play PlayStation 5 games off of external drives. Instead, it envisions this as a quicker way to hot-swap games on the PS5's built-in solid-state drive.


'It is faster to reinstall PS5 games from USB extended storage than to re-download or copy them from a disc,' Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation's senior vice president of platform planning and management, writes in the post. 'Because PS5 games are designed to take advantage of the console's ultra high-speed SSD, PS5 titles can't be played from USB extended storage.'


Nishino adds that while 'PS5 titles also cannot be directly downloaded to USB extended storage' the 'games that you transfer or copy back to internal storage will automatically update when applicable.'


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Sony's newest console ships with an 825GB SSD, but only around 667GB is actually available to users. With games quickly getting larger in size, gamers can quickly find themselves running out of space with only a few titles on their console. 


Microsoft's Xbox Series X has a 1TB SSD while the Series S sports a 512GB. As with the PS5, Microsoft's consoles don't make all of that storage available to users, but the company does have a special 'Storage Expansion' slot in the back for easily adding additional space. This (pricey) option mimics the speedy internal storage and allows for not only storing but also playing games, including next-gen titles designed for the Series X or Series S, off the external drive. 


You can also use a traditional USB-connected external hard drive or SSD, but as with the PS5, you won't be able to play next-gen games off of that storage. 


Other new features in the April update include the ability to predownload game updates automatically and 'cross-generation Share Play' that will allow those on a PS5 to share their screens with friends on PS4. Sony adds that this includes the ability for those on PS4 to be able to 'try out the PS5 games through Share Play' by virtually passing your controller or playing a co-op game together. 


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