Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4) has finally received the biggest software update ever, and the slew of improvements should make console gaming even more fun for their owners.
First and foremost, the interface was simplified, with the addition of folders and tweaking of menu screens. Secondly, but not less important, gamers will get HDR output support for their PS4.
The latest 4.00 update is called Shingen and paves the way for the two upcoming PS4 hardware: a PS4 Slim, which will be launched this week; and the PS4 Pro, a more powerful console variant that supports 4K resolutions. The PS4 Pro is scheduled for release on Nov. 10.
Most users will reap the benefits of the update's enabled High Dynamic Range capabilities.
The PS4 Pro will be able to see games in full 4K, but the Shingen update will allow current PS4 consoles to play games in HDR also. The only caveat is that you need a TV that supports the technology.
The update opens the way to 1080p streaming on the social channel of your choice (Twitch or YouTube) and for remote play.
The update comes in handy to those who plan to upgrade to PS4 Pro or want to go for the thinner PS4 Slim, as they comes packing the code for a wired LAN connection. This means that after the update you can easily transfer the relevant data from your old console onto the new one.
PlayStation veterans will probably notice the revamping of the console's UI first. Despite having a better user interface (UI) than the Xbox One, Sony felt that its console UI could use some extra polishing.
No longer will PS4 owners have to browse through endless pages or menus to find what they are looking for. With the Shingen update comes the possibility to create folders, making it easy to organize and classify options, files and videos. You can add them to either the main home screen or the library, where you can store or remove games and apps as you wish. The revamping of the UI makes it look like Sony actually built an OS for its console.
The quick menu also got overhauled, and with it come a series of changes to the share screens, too. Both were resized (read: shrank) so that instead of covering the gaming area, video, or app, they now occupy a tiny fraction of your screen.
The Communities size limit was upped to 100,000, which should come in handy to the swarms of fans who are dying to share screenshots and achievements directly on the Community wall, with as many people as possible.
Sony has also toyed with the info screens that showcase game content, so that trophies, DLC and trending images and videos taken by players can be enjoyed with lesser clicks and fumbles of the controller. Notably, access to playing songs from Spotify has been streamlined. This means that gamers can now play, skip, pause, repeat, shuffle and save songs while still in the game.
At the time of the writing, a number of regions had already received the update, which include the UK.
Which one of the myriad of features and enhancements packed in the Shingen update appeals most to you? Let us know in the comments section below.
