I am not especially enamoured with the PlayStation 4 system interface. I’m not quite sure why, as it’s easy enough to use – but it could certainly use a little tweaking and refinement. That’s happening soon with the release of PlayStation 4 software version 4.0. While the release date for that isn’t quite known, the beta starts rolling out to those who opted in today.
It brings with it some much welcome interface tweaks, including the much-requested feature to organise games and other apps in to folders. As somebody with what seems like a billion digital games, being able to categorise them is a godsend. Other new and fun features include the ability to tweet out 140 second-long clips of gameplay right from the comfort of your couch, a nice new quick-menu that doesn’t require leaving the game and the ability to view trophies offline. Finally.
Here’s a look at what’s in the beta (via PS blog).
UI refresh
We’ve made a lot of adjustments and improvements to PS4’s main UI. That includes a range of changes, like revised pop-up notifications, updated system icons and new system backgrounds to choose from. As a whole, it all adds up to a more refined and easy to use UI.
Quick Menu
As you know, pressing and holding the PS button on Dualshock 4 brings up the Quick Menu. We’ve overhauled this menu to make it faster and easier to use. One big change is that the menu now only covers a portion of the screen, meaning you don’t need to leave gameplay entirely.
While still offering a range of feature options such as viewing trophies for the game you are playing, you can also customise the Quick Menu to add shortcuts for the features you want immediate access to. For instance, you can add Online Friends to your Quick Menu that will show the online status of your friends, as well as shortcuts to your Favourite Groups and Communities and lots more.
Share Menu
We’ve given a similar overhaul to the Share Menu, which appears once you press the Share button on Dualshock 4. Like the Quick Menu, it only covers a portion of the screen. It will save the last social network you shared video clips or screenshots to and allow you to share screenshots directly to a Community wall, making the process of sharing a screenshot or video a bit faster and more streamlined
You can also upload longer video clips to Twitter (was 10 seconds, now up to 140 seconds).
Folders and Library Organisation
One of the big requests we get from you is for more options to organise content on PS4. With this update, we’re adding functionality to create folders on PS4’s content launcher and library. This will help collect your favourite games and select apps in one place for quick and easy access.
We’re also making some pretty big changes to the Library. We’ve added a new tab called Purchased Content, which will show all of the content you own while your main library will only show content that is currently installed on your PS4. If you’ve downloaded a lot of games, demos, and game betas over the years, this should really help de-clutter your Library.
There are some new sorting tools for your Library as well allowing you to sort content by purchase date or install status. Also you can search for specific games and apps via text input.
Trophy Improvements
This update brings the ability to view Trophies offline. You’ll see a new ‘offline mode’ option if your system is unable to connect to the network, letting you view your entire trophy collection without an internet connection.
We’ve also added a button that will let you reveal the content of a Hidden Trophy. The trophy will still be hidden by default, but you can now choose to show the trophy name and info.
Lastly, we’re changing the icons that show how rare a trophy is. Instead of four boxes that fill, the icon looks like a pyramid with the ultra-rare trophies at the top.
User Profile
We’ve updated the look of the User Profile, making it easier to see relevant info for a player at-a-glance. For instance, you can now see your trophy progress compared with another player right from their profile. You can also add a background image to your own profile selected from the screenshots you took in your favourite games.
There’s even more coming in the final release of the update that’s not present in the beta too – so hopefully your most requested feature makes it in.
Last Updated: August 16, 2016
Ottokie
August 16, 2016 at 13:09
Yes! now I can finally organize the 5 games I have 😛
PS: seeing the Ratchet and Clank icon just makes me want to replay that game again in one go.
RinceThis
August 16, 2016 at 13:30
So much fun!
Fox1 - Retro
August 16, 2016 at 13:26
This is the Alpha. The Beta is the final version.
Brian Lee
August 16, 2016 at 22:53
Uhh Betas are not final versions.
ihavetopickastupidname
August 17, 2016 at 03:56
Oh, so close, thanks for playing, here’s your sign…
miaau
August 16, 2016 at 13:36
The Xbox 360 Quick menu still makes, in my opinon, both the Ps4 and the Xbox One look stupid and slow to navigate in comparison. Really. Press the Xbox icon and bang, you could, quite simply, move and go almost anywhere. Still, after two years of Xbox One, miss that.
By the way, do we sell old Xbox 360’s, with games? If so how much? where? What?
AfricanTime
August 16, 2016 at 13:40
just give me username change option, and let me have full access to the data. thats it…
konfab
August 16, 2016 at 13:41
They need to increase the compatibility of the media player. It is pretty silly that my TV is a better media player than a PS4.
miaau
August 16, 2016 at 13:50
I often wonder about that, devices playing media and royalties. My Xbox 360, when we first got it, could natively play many different media types and with subsequent patches lost the ability to play the same media it played pre-patch. Very, very annoying.
konfab
August 16, 2016 at 14:12
If there are royalties needed, I would quite happily pay R20 for a media player that can play as many formats as VLC on PC.
miaau
August 16, 2016 at 15:02
I think it is so much more complicated than that. I think these big companies keep that very close to their chests, who owns what formats and all that.
Skittle
August 16, 2016 at 14:28
Any idea what size this update is going to be?
Zubayr Bhyat
August 16, 2016 at 14:29
44gb. Nah I’m talking kak, probably 1-2gb.
ihavetopickastupidname
August 17, 2016 at 03:54
313MB
Robert Eckman
August 16, 2016 at 18:48
I wish Sony would add full generic bluetooth audio support, instead of forcing us to purchase proprietary PS4 “approved” headsets. Yeah yeah, I know I can plug in earphones into my controller, but seriously, why can’t I just use my regular bluetooth headset that I use for music on the go?
ihavetopickastupidname
August 17, 2016 at 03:54
Hear, Hear!!
fredzy
August 16, 2016 at 20:40
Huh, I might have to fire the old PS4 up once this rolls out. I forgot I even had one. Quietly waiting for Gran Turismo Sport… (very lonely existence.)
ihavetopickastupidname
August 17, 2016 at 03:54
Hmm… I thought you had to agree to the non-disclosure clause before you could install the beta?
Gavin Mannion
August 17, 2016 at 15:42
This info was taken from the official Playstation blog.. as referenced in the article 🙂