PS5 gets a customizable home screen, 3D audio profiles, and more

The latest system update for PlayStation 5 is now leaving beta, where it was in July, and is now rolling out to all console users. In addition to the new features already being tested, including custom 3D audio profiles, greater Remote Play control, and adaptive charging for controllers (on Slim and Pro models), there are two more new features: a new Welcome Center and the ability to share party voice chat links.

The PS5 Welcome Center is a redesigned version of the Explore tab, turning the console’s home screen into a space that can be customized with interactive modules or widgets to see at a glance the information that is relevant to the user. Players can customize this hub with different modules such as console storage, accessory battery levels, online friends, trophies and more. There is the option to use presets to quickly change the layout and select, organize and resize the widgets to suit everyone’s taste.

The Welcome Center will be launched in phases. It will be available to select users in the United States starting today, and will expand to other regions over the next few weeks, starting with Japan, followed by a selection of European countries, and then a global launch.

There is also a phased launch possibility share party voice chat links via any messaging app or social network. “This will allow you to invite a friend you’re chatting with on any messaging app to join your party voice chat, even if you haven’t added them to your friends list on PlayStation Network,” Sony explains. To generate a party link, open the voice chat card in the control centre, select Invite players and click Share party link to generate a QR code that recipients can open with a mobile device.

The functions that were in beta until now and are available to everyone as of today are:

• Customized 3D audio profiles for headphones: A series of sound quality tests analyze various factors to create an audio profile tailored to the user’s hearing characteristics.
• Enable Remote Play for individual users: Allows you to choose who is allowed to connect to PS5 using Remote Play.
• Adaptive Controller Charging: Adaptive Charging helps save power by adjusting how long power is delivered to the controller based on its battery level. Available now for PS5 Slim, and PS5 Pro when it launches November 7. Works with DualSense, DualSense Edge, PlayStation VR2 Sense, and Access controllers.