The PlayStation 4 is getting a firmware upgrade soon, thanks to an update that’s going to hit beta testing tomorrow. Sony’s John Koller has outlined the features that’ll be coming in the new updated – and some of them make me very happy indeed.
Here’s what’s coming in PlayStation 4 update 3.50.
New Social Features
- Friend Online Notification – Want to know the moment your friends come online? With this update, you can, as we’ve added an option to be notified when members of your friends list sign on the network.
- Appear Offline – Sometimes you want to play a game or watch a movie without being bothered by friends. Now it’s easier to go incognito as we’ve added the option to appear offline. You can designate if you would like to appear offline when you log-in or at any time from your Profile or the Quick Menu.
- User Scheduled Event – Time for a play date! We’ve added the ability to schedule a future gameplay session with your friends on the system. When your event starts, users who registered for the event will automatically be added to a party so you can start playing right away.
- Play Together – This features allows all members of a Party to see what each person is playing so that you can easily join a friend’s game, or start a new game together.
Other New System Features
- Remote Play (PC/Mac) – We’re bringing PS4 Remote Play to Windows PC and Mac. This feature won’t be available to test in the beta, but you can look forward to it soon.
- Dailymotion – With this update, you’ll be able to live stream directly to Dailymotion on PS4. We’ll also support archiving live broadcasts, like we do for other streaming services.
Yes, many of them are things that’ve been available on Xbox for ages. I’m particularly happy about being able to appear offline, because I’m an anti-social hermit. If you’re not though, you can now see when friends come online. There are also new options to schedule play dates, and new ways of playing games together.
Interestingly, this new update also renders the PlayStation TV redundant, allowing for remote play direct to PC. Still no folders or the ability to change PlayStation Id’s though – which are two of the most requested features.
Last Updated: March 1, 2016
Umar
March 1, 2016 at 13:12
“Yes, many of them are things that’ve been available on Xbox for ages.”
Been available on PS3 as well. Sony is so wierd
Hammersteyn
March 1, 2016 at 13:55
It’s not weird if you’re Japanese. I think I could be Japanese… I really think so.
eXpZA
March 1, 2016 at 13:18
Remote play to PC is excellent.
konfab
March 1, 2016 at 13:23
Where are scheduled downloads?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 1, 2016 at 13:30
HA! What are those!?
konfab
March 1, 2016 at 13:44
echos from the world of yesteryear.
Captain JJ the "saviour"
March 1, 2016 at 13:31
PS4 update 3.50: Closer to being a pc than console gamers ever would admit they wanted it to be
konfab
March 1, 2016 at 13:44
Will the PC remote play allow keyboards and mice to be used? 0__o
AfricanTime
March 1, 2016 at 13:51
i just want to change PSN name thats all really, no need for more apps to watch other people playing video games
Hammersteyn
March 1, 2016 at 13:54
Remote Play! FFFFFFFFFFFFFF Me!
Hammersteyn
March 1, 2016 at 13:58
Friend Online Notification is nice as well
*SPAMS Division invites!
Vernon Jonker
March 1, 2016 at 14:12
unlock it so i can plug my external hard drive to store games on
BlackM@tter
March 1, 2016 at 14:17
After all this time, it still can’t play a music CD…
Jan Prins
March 1, 2016 at 14:44
Wot’s a CD???? 😛
Darren Peach
March 1, 2016 at 14:35
Yeah, The ID thing is a interesting one, But I guess when your user name could be something like Ismokeweed17timesaday, I could see why this is requested option.
oVg
March 1, 2016 at 15:21
“Appear Offline” bwahahahahaha
RinceThis
March 1, 2016 at 15:56
You do that without trying! HAHAHA