PlayStation 4 Major System Software Update 4.5
This is the biggest and most anticipated update coming to the PlayStation to-date. Software update 4.5 brings the most requested features to PlayStation Owners. Here’s what to expect when the update rolls out on March 9th, 2017:
External USB 3.0 HDD support
Immediately increase storage on your PS4 Consoles (e.g., Vanilla, Slim, Pro) by adding an external USB 3.0 Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Once connected and formatted, begin to download or easily transfer your games and other content to the new drive.
For anyone needing a low profile drive that doesn’t require an extra power adapter, the Western Digital My Passport drives are perfect and very portable.
Custom Wallpapers
Take an amazing in-game screenshot in Horizon Zero Down or your favorite game? Use the built-in Photo Mode in Sharefactory to create your one-and-only custom wallpaper and background image on the PS4 home screen. Drop-shadows on text, and dimming options to the Function Area, will further enhance the system icons and texts on the home screen noticeably visible even if the background image selected is bright.
Quick Menu
Quick Menu will now cover even less of your gameplay screen!
Online Friends now includes new party features that allows: new parties, inviting friends, and joining parties, all without switching to the separate Party app.
Simplified Notification List
Notifications are presented in a singular simplified list for: Game Alerts, Downloads, Uploads, and more. Easier than ever to see your notifications all at-a-glance.
Customize your pop-up notifications that appear on your screen so you’re only notified about top priorities. To enable this, go to Options, then Notifications settings to turn off certain notification types.
PS Messages and Communities app Updates
PS Messages App(Android/iOS):
New quick replies to your friends: “I’ll join later” or “Sorry, I can’t join,”
PS Communities App (Android/iOS)
New Badge app icon (the number in a red circle at the top-right corner of the app’s icon) help iOS users tell at-a-glance if there are any new posts in their community.
Quickly check the PSN service status: under Settings > View Status of PSN Services.
Boost Mode (for PlayStation 4 Pro only)
A number of developers have added updates to their titles to maximize their game’s potential on a PS4 Pro.
List of Games offering up-to 4K resolution, better visuals, and potentially higher frame rates with PS4 Pro support through updates:
- Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
- Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection
- Batman: Return to Arkham
- Battlezone
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
- Diablo III
- Fallout 4
- Farming Simulator 17
- Gran Turismo Sport
- Hitman
- Horizon: Zero Dawn
- Infamous: Second Son
- Killing Floor 2
- Mafia III
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- NBA 2K17
- Nioh
- Paragon
- Ratchet & Clank
- Rez Infinite
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Rocket League
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- The Last of Us Remastered
- The Witness
- Thumper
- Titanfall 2
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
- Viking Squad
- World of Tanks
What about the other legacy PS4 games that haven’t received a developer patch? Answer: Boost Mode
Boost mode can be turned on with one checkbox in the System settings. This feature can turned on or off ad-hoc.
- Noticeable frame rate boost
- Provide frame rate stability
- 30 Hz or 60 Hz
- Increased CPU speed may also result in shorter load times, depending on the game
Remote Play Gets Voice Chat
A new microphone icon on the Tool Bar of the Remote Play App, switches your mic on and off. This great when doing a quick game session with friends while you’re away from your console. Or you want to add your party chat voices into your stream if you don’t have a capture card.
Off Console Availability
Indicates a player is logged into PSN but away from their system. The icon will resemble a mobile phone.
Improved resolution on 2D images in PS VR
The resolution of the system screen displayed on your TV is significantly better when you’re out of VR mode. Improvements to the Cinematic Mode on PS VR goes up from 90Hz to 120Hz with this update — PS VR screen size that is set to Small or Medium, will benefit from the increased frame rate of content viewed in Cinematic Mode.
3D Blu-rays on PlayStation VR
If you’re a fan of 3D movies, and you own PlayStation VR, we’ve got good news — this update adds the ability to view 3D movies in stereoscopic 3D directly on the PS VR headset. Time to make some popcorn and enjoy our 3D movies!