PS5 Beta rolls out voice commands, better accessibility and open party support | Digit

Sony’s new software beta launches today for PlayStation 5 users and includes some new features based on the feedback received by the players. The new features include new party chat options, game base enhancements, accessibility options, and UI features. It will also begin testing for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles but the new features will only be available to players who make it into the beta. 

PlayStation Beta: New features

In their blog, Sony explained that they have added support for Open and Closed parties. Players can now start an open party that can be seen and joined by their friends, or they can start a close party and send invites exclusively. All players should have a beta version of the game to join the party. 

Changes have also been made to the Game Base, which is the menu where you can set up these parties and invite friends to join. Now players get it divided into three different menu tabs – friends, parties, and message, making it easier to access.

The new UI also includes the ability to filter by genre, unlike the previous options which were only limited to recently played games and alphabetical orders. The new “Keep in Home” button supports up to 14 games and applications on the home screen and allows to pin up to five games and applications on the home screen. 

Another feature that is limited to gamers in the US and the UK is the new voice command feature which allows players to open games, apps, and settings using the built-in microphone on the PS5’s DualSense controller. It can be launched by saying  “Hey, PlayStation!”. The feature only works with the English language setting and can be turned off at any time in the system settings.

The new beta software feature also supports six new Screen Reader languages – Russian, Arabic, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Korean, adding the total number of languages to 15. Players with unilateral hearing loss can enable mono audio on their headphones. 

PlayStation 4 players are now allowed to control individual voice chat volume at a party, a feature that was only available on PS5.

Further in their blog, Sony mentioned that they will soon begin testing Open Party support for groups on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. Gamers can volunteer to sign up for testing on the PlayStation website, and the company will select the players when a beta version is rolled out later this year.