The next major system software update for PlayStation 5 will go live tomorrow, September 15, introducing M.2 SSD expansion support, UX enhancements, and 3D audio for built-in TV speakers. The SSD expansion counts as the most notable of additions; to the chagrin of many a PS5 customer, extra internal storage options didn’t launch with the console in late 2020. Thus, those who quickly ran out of space were forced to rely on external means such as USBs and external hard drives.

Sony rolled out a beta for the forthcoming update in July, allowing beta testers to go hands-on with PS5-ready SSDs from the likes of Seagate and Western Digital. Since then, the internet has been inundated with discourse about which drive will work best for the needs of PS5 users. While the Aorus Gen 4 7000 series SSD from Gigabyte may offer the least expensive option to date, PS5 system architect Mark Cerny referenced Western Digital’s WD_BLACK SN850 as his expansion drive of choice.

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Tomorrow, September 15, Sony will unleash what’s arguably the biggest PS5 firmware update yet. M.2 SSD support constitutes the biggest new feature, enabling users to store and play PS4 titles, PS5 games, and media apps from “expanded high-speed storage.” Because compatible M.2 SSDs must meet specific requirements, the PlayStation Blog notes that PS5 owners should closely study the instructions listed on PlayStation’s official website. The imminent update additionally ushers in UX enhancements that will allow players to rearrange the Control Center icons freely. Plus, improvements such as writing and viewing messages from the Control Center in Game Base should make messaging friends and Parties far simpler.

3D audio support for built-in TV speakers serves as another significant add-on. Come tomorrow, users can enable this feature in the Sound menu, then test their room’s acoustics for optimization purposes using the DualSense controller’s microphone. PlayStation Remote Play App and the PlayStation App are receiving boosts of their own, chief among them being the ability to utilize the Remote Play App over mobile networks for both PS4 and PS5 games. Sony is also deploying a Trophy Tracker; better still, PS5 Trophies will finally be accessible on PS4.

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These various changes have been a long time coming and should work wonders in terms of improving the overall PS5 experience. The M.2 SSD support will prove especially game-changing for countless owners of Sony’s latest console.

This major update aside, some users still boast high hopes for future firmware changes. A few of the common requests, in fact, revolve around the return of PS4 features such as folders and themes. If and when Sony will follow through on these wishes is not yet known.

The SSD storage expansion update rolls out for PS5 on September 15.

Source: PlayStation Blog

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Brianna Reeves
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A Senior Writer on Screen Rant’s Game News team, Brianna Reeves graduated from Sam Houston Statue University in 2018 with a Master of Arts in English Literature. Brianna’s enthusiasm for games dates back to Mortal Kombat Trilogy on PlayStation 1, along with classics like MediEvil, Syphon Filter, and THPS2. However, Red Dead Redemption reinvigorated her love for the medium; hopefully, that passion reflects in the work she has contributed to Comic Book Resources, PlayStation LifeStyle, GVMERS, and Screen Rant.

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