Sony's gone ahead and revealed what you can expect from the PlayStation 4's upcoming firmware. The 4.0 download - codenamed Shingen - will finally bring folders to the system, allowing users to sort and organise their games and applications. A good start.
To coincide with this new feature, the user interface itself is getting something of a refresh. The What's New tab is being overhauled, while icons and popup notifications are also being reworked. "The overall look and feel of the UI remains the same — it just has a fresh coat of paint," the PlayStation Blog states.
Next, we can look forward to a brand new quick menu - that's the one that pops up when you hold down the PS button. The biggest change here is that it'll no longer take up the whole screen and interrupt your gameplay entirely. What's more, you'll even be able to customise your quick menu however you want, allowing for faster access to things like group chat and your friends list. Convenient!
The improvements don't stop there, though. Like the abovementioned quick menu, the revised share screen - which comes into view when you use the share button - will only cover a portion of the screen. It's also being streamlined so that you can share your screenshots and videos to social media a little faster, and we'll finally be able to upload videos to Twitter that are over 10 seconds long. The cap is now a much more reasonable 140 seconds.
Trophy hunters should also find something to like in this particular update. Firmware 4.0 will allow you to view Trophies offline, and if you're really stuck on nabbing a hidden Trophy, you'll now have the option to reveal that trinket's name and information.
Last but not least, user profiles are being redesigned. You'll also have the ability to decorate your profile with a background image. Neat, eh?
So, what do you make of Firmware 4.0? Are you hoping for any other features that haven't been mentioned yet? Give us a thumbs up in the comments section below.
[source blog.us.playstation.com]
Comments 61
Holy poop sauce! This is exactly what I've been waiting for! So hope I get selected for Beta again, OK, I'm getting a tad giddy this is awesome!
good updates to be sure but STILL no external HDD support, the size games are now-a-days not even a 2TB internal will be enough in the futre
@FullbringIchigo I really do not understand why this feature is taking so long to put in.
The whole point in hidden trophies are that they are a suprise. Being able to uncover what they are about makes the hidden trophy pointless. I was hoping they would have the option to turn off trophies. The firmware already does what I need it to.
My first folder: DELAYED GAMES
FFXV
R&C
Uncharted 4
Horizon Zero Dawn
No external HDD support is a massive fail IMO. Folders is OK, but I never understood why it's so important to people. Not that bothered!
Super sweet update!
Offline Trophies at last and the customisable quick menu sounds useful!
@rjejr Haha!
Folders! Hallelujah!
A reworked UI? Sounds like Sony want the PS4 looking fresh in time for the new console. Sound like a great update though, really looking forward to this one.
Good stuff but WHERE ARE THE PINS SONY
MY VIDEO SECTION IS FILLED WITH NEVER INSTALLED APPS
@dryrain Well you don't need to reveal them, do you? It's down to you to resist pressing the button to show them.
Folders. Sweet baby Jesus, folders!
Gone are the days of my home screen having icons strewn across it in no order more logical than how recently I used them. Finally I can say goodbye to the PlayStation Video icon trying to sneak onto the dash every time it updates despite me never, ever using it.
Folder for games. Folder for apps. Folder for the TV things I actually use. Bin the rest. Heaven.
Decent update. External HDD support would be awesome, but I'm not holding my breath. Same for changing usernames.
Really like that uploads to Twitter can be more than a measly 10 seconds, and I'll definitely be making use of folders.
@get2sammyb true although i probably will look at some so i know what i need to do to get them especially on games i'm really invested in
All good changes. Kudos to Sony.
FINALLY!!!! Offline trophy support!!
No external hdd, no use for me just fluff
All I want to do is make a Folder called 'Retro Arcade Games' and hopefully now I can (well when this comes out of beta) Sounds an excellent update but did it really have to take nearly 3 years to get Custom Folders SONY!?!? Hmm, i hope the PS5 has these basic features on day 1 because it's starting to get a bit irritating waiting for basic things like this each Gen really :-/ Oh well.
I don't see why they would add external HDD support right before releasing the 2TB* Neo. You want more HDD space, buy a new console. It will be a selling point September 7th.
*based on the 2TB X1S. Sony may have been thinking 1TB but MS may have forced their hand. 500GB old model, 2TB Neo. Your choice.
@rjejr and why should current PS4 owners spend up to £400 just for more space that to be fair the system should have had to begin with 500GB was NEVER going to be enough and Sony knew it
I'm curious on the background profile additions. Can they be uploaded pics or screenshots? Will it be part of your avatar or just when looking at someone's profile?
Getting folders is nice and useful, but I'm not thrilled at the quick menu being changed to half screen. The full screen provided a very nice way to quickly (no pun intended) clear the screen, which is useful for a variety of reasons (kids walking into the room during an inappropriate sequence, etc). Would much prefer this to be an option, rather than the new reality.
HDD support not gonna happen,
Finally, folder and updated library
@rjejr You do know that ps4 user can add internal hdd themself?
Some great updates there, happy days. The measly 10 seconds for Twitter videos was pretty pants. The boost is huge.
My PS4 will just gather dust until Sony adds external HDD support. It's as simple as that.
Meanwhile, Valve will gladly take my money for anything multi-platform.
Folders?its about time!
Man I'm over the MOOON! One of the main reasons as to why I don't buy digital is that I easily lose track of what I own & what I still need to play. Think I'll be giving that summer sale a second look now...
Color me impressed. I never thought Sony would re-touch the UI.
I'm not getting another PS4 until they add External HDD support. Get it together Sony, this is really sad!
@FullbringIchigo "why should current PS4 owners spend up to £400 just for more space "
Well I never said it was fair, just that from Sony's point of view they could be offering you a choice.
And as these guys both said, @wiiware @SanderEvers you don't need to buy a new PS4k Neo, Sony has always had the option to upgrade themselves. I've upgraded the HDD on 2 PS3. 80GB to 500GB, then a 12GB w/ the old 80GB as that PS3 is moslty used for streaming in my bedroom and some download games, nothing I want a big screen tv for.
A lot of this stuff should have been in since launch, but I'm glad they're finally adding it.
Yep, still not happy. I won't be either until external HDD storage happens. Maybe the Neo will have it... Ha!
Im a big fan of this! Folders and the quick menu are great additions!
Good things, now about the ability to change PSN account name...
Absolutely NOTHING of any relevance or importance to me!!!
@Longaway ?? Then just quickly tap the PS Home button! That's quicker than holding it down anyways you goof.
@Mickael486 Never underestimate the psychological difference between seeing the main menu with the icon of whatever you were/are doing, and a calming blue screen of boring options. One begs questions, such as, "What is that game," or, "Are you actually listening to me, or just waiting to start your game." The other is an obvious indication that your have stopped what you were doing, and the blue screen adds a calming element that supports your interest in the other person.
Even if you're simply waiting for them to shut up and go away as quickly as possible.
Finally a great update.About time we got folders and especially offline trophies!But that cheating on the secret trophy option is pointless..
But yeah I'm with others that are after external hdd support,could really do with this.other than that I'm very impressed.
"and if you're really stuck on nabbing a hidden Trophy, you'll now have the option to reveal that trinket's name and information."
Yaaaahooooooooo fu hidden trophies the pain of gaming life. Why are you even hidden?
"allowing for faster access to things like group chat and your friends list. Convenient!"
Bang Boom Smash what an update! Anyone who plays rocket league in our group knows the importance of this.
"Last but not least, user profiles are being redesigned. You'll also have the ability to decorate your profile with a background image. Neat, eh?"
Yes the endless picture contest on the ps4 pushsquare communities will be a source of my backgrounds! Who took the picture of the tea making stuff from the order 1886 - send it over!
NEED EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE SUPPORT SONY!!! CMON!! 500 gig is nothing!! My Xbox one is loaded with 4.5 TB!! I guess I'm gonna download more stuff on my One!!
@rjejr oh very true and it's great they are offering a choice, i just think they should have ALWAYS offered that choice from day one
Another update, still no external harddrive suport... It's like Sony wants me to go back to Xbox as my primary platform.
I just want to be able to turn the PS4 off without having to go into secondary menus, not asking much !
the folder option is the biggest thing and it's long overdue, so much so that I really wonder what took them so long to implement this feature, it makes absolutely no sense why it took this long when the internet was raving about it.
Great changed in the update, but I still would like that external harddrive support. Maybe next update.
the only problem with this update is that it is 3 years too late
Most exciting for me is trophies. I hate secret trophies. If they are story related reveal them after you beat the game, or put ??? Next to the characters like HW did.
Also offline trophies at last!
Still hoping for external HDD.
Custom wallpapers and avatars would be cool too.
Sony don't realise how important ext hdd is, especially if you gone to buy the neo, the ability to transfer your games from the int hdd to ext hdd and plug that straight into the neo will save you from re-installing/downloading the games again especially if you want all digital or like me you have crap internet.
Exteranal drives. External drives. External drives.
Hard capped 2TB limit. "Only on PLAYSTATION"
Just let me change my god damn PSN ID!
thanks ily
Edit: Nice changes though. 4 thumbs up
I wonder what will happen if the Neo doesn't support ext hdds, that's a deal breaker for me.
@N4LIFE @JaxonH @N4LIFE @ISTARGAZERI @Deadlyblack @Gamer83 @joey302 @Wazeddie22 @JesWood13 @Link41x @Gryzor @gingerfrog @XurAgentofthe9 @FullbringIchigo Why don't you guys just install a bigger/larger Internal HDD instead?
It's super easy and you're not going to hurt your PS4.
@ToddlerNaruto
See post #53
@ToddlerNaruto i already have and i'm still running out of room and besides while being able to upgrade the internal to about 2TB is great, External HDD support would give users virtually INFINITE room as long as you buy new HDD's of course
@ToddlerNaruto
As stated in my post, I already did upgrade. It's maxed out.
2 terabytes. Maxed out.
So is my Vita. 64gb maxed out which seems to indicate it's a recurring issue.
Over sounds a good update and about time too!
For those disappointed with the lack of external hard drive support, it really is super easy to upgrade your internal drive, I did it and I’m a total idiot! I realize some of you have already upgraded and still want more space, but if you haven’t upgraded your hdd it is very simple.
Also I’m sure I read somewhere a previous update had increased the software side of the PS4 to accept a 4TB hard drive, while hardware it won’t be go beyond 2TB, could the Neo have a 4TB hard drive?
PSN name changing would be my biggest wish for the UI, but I don’t think it will happen.
All this means squat to me. Could care less abojt folders, just a cosmetic thing that really changes nothing. All we NEED is external HDD support, amd we still dont have it. At least i can kick back and enjoy NMS.
@JaxonH @FullbringIchigo You can always trash older games that you've beaten or don't play anymore.
That's what I'm doing with my 500GB Super Slim PS3.
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