Sony has confirmed via the PlayStation Blog details of the upcoming system update for the PS5, which includes several major improvements, including a significant upgrade to the SSD and other features that have been wanted since launch

The system software beta period will begin today for select participants, with a full rollout to all PS5 users expected within the next few weeks The biggest update in this new patch is support for large capacity SSDs Previously, PS5 could only use M2 SSDs up to 4TB, but with this update, PS5 now supports up to 8TB

Of course, any M2 SSDs added to the PS5's storage expansion drive will need to meet all of Sony's specifications and will also need a heat sink for cooling However, if you want to install almost all of the PS5's best games at once, an 8TB SSD should be sufficient However, it will be more expensive Choices that meet Sony's criteria are limited, and even the best internal PS5 SSD, the 4TB model, currently costs $329 on Amazon!

Another major feature included in the new system update is Dolby Atmos support In a blog post, Sony explains, "3D audio with Tempest 3D AudioTech can now be enjoyed by anyone with compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices, including soundbars, TVs, and home theater systems Tempest 3D AudioTech renders specifically to the Dolby Atmos audio device in use, including the overhead channels, further enhancing the immersive experience of the PS5 game audioscape

While the above SSD and audio upgrades are appreciated (and will make headlines), the feature I am most excited about in this new PS5 system update is the ability to search the game library

Between digital store purchases and PlayStation Plus rewards, I have over 400 games in my library, and navigating this vast collection has frequently caused me personal frustration Fortunately, the ability to search directly makes finding a specific game much easier Yes, Sony took far too long to implement this seemingly basic feature, but after years of waiting, the search function is finally nearly complete

The latest system update also includes several new accessibility features, including the ability to assign a second gamepad to one account for use as an assist controller Sony describes this feature as "a new way to collaborate with others, enjoy a game, or help a friend or child navigate a particularly challenging section of a game"

UI feedback via haptics on the DualSense controller will also be added When turned on, this feature will trigger feedback when navigating between system menus, receiving notifications, or when the user reaches the end of a scrollable section This feature is designed to assist players with some form of visual or hearing impairment Additionally, if you dislike the infamous beep that occurs when the console starts up or shuts down, you can now disable it or adjust the volume as needed

Finally, the PS5's social features are further enhanced with this new system update For example, you can now invite people to closed parties without adding them to a group, you can view previews of shared screens without joining a party, and you can use emojis just as you do on popular messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Messenger to You can also respond to messages using emojis, just as you can on WhatsApp, Messenger, and other popular messaging platforms

Overall, this is a fairly substantial system update that adds some major upgrades and many minor tweaks and improvements that help streamline the user experience As mentioned, this new PS5 update is currently only available to beta testers, but will likely begin to fully roll out within the next few months