Sign-ups are now open for gamers who would like to volunteer as beta testers for the next major PlayStation 4 system update, which will take the console to version 5.50.
The PlayStation 4 is currently on version 5.03, with the last major update, version 5.00, rolled out in early October.
PlayStation 4 Version 5.50 Beta Sign-Ups
Through a post on the official PlayStation blog, Sony announced that it has opened sign-ups for gamers who would like to be beta testers for the PlayStation 4 version 5.50 update.
Beta testers will be the first ones to experience the new features and improvements that the next major PlayStation 4 firmware update will bring to the console. The sign-up sheet requires players to answer only three questions: their PlayStation Network ID, their willingness to be a part of future beta tests, and the option to receive news and information regarding future beta programs. Sign-ups are open to players in North America, including Canada for the first time, Europe, and Japan.
The beta registration form for the PlayStation 4 version 5.50 update also noted that players selected into the group of beta testers will receive an exclusive avatar that they can use with their PlayStation network profile.
Users who are selected to participate in the program will receive an email containing instruction on how to download the beta version of the PlayStation 4 version 5.50 firmware. Sony noted that gamers can roll back to the current system version at any time, in case something goes wrong with the beta version of the upcoming major update.
Sony noted that beta testers who signed up for the PlayStation 4 version 5.00 update were the first to experience features such as Family on PSN and improvements to components such as the messaging system.
Unfortunately, Sony did not reveal what PlayStation 4 version 5.50 will contain, which is expected to be smaller compared to version 5.00. The company promised that it will "be back soon" to discuss what gamers can expect from the next major PlayStation 4 system update.
PlayStation 4 vs Xbox One vs Nintendo Switch
The PlayStation 4 was beaten by the Nintendo Switch and the Xbox One in the recently concluded holiday shopping season. This was a surprising result, considering that the console set a new all-time monthly sales record in the previous month.
The PlayStation 4, however, still has a massive lead over the Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch in overall sales, which is expected by an analyst to reach 100 million units in 2019.
