PS4 firmware version 5.50 has officially entered beta, which means the very first details about the new update have been revealed. This download is pretty much a can’t miss, Especially if you’ve got a PS4 Pro hooked up to a 1080p TV. Push Square offers the full rundown.
What makes this update so particularly attractive to 1080p PS4 Pro owners, though, is the addition of a system-wide Supersampling Mode. This essentially means games that didn’t offer supersampling with their PS4 Pro updates before can now receive it on a system level. Titles like Dishonored 2 and Metal Gear Solid V, for example, will render 4K textures down to a level that looks better on your 1080p set. This doesn’t mean every non-Pro game can use supersampling, only that all games with PS4 Pro support will be able to take advantage of supersampling if it wasn’t implemented already.
This qualification applies to a fairly small collection of titles overall, but it still shows a continued commitment from Sony to provide all PS4 Pro customers with a better experience whether they own a 4K TV or not. You could say the same thing about Boost Mode, which made improvements in frame rates and load times on the PS4 Pro since last March.
In addition to system-wide supersampling, beta testers have also discovered an expansion of the Events feature called Teams. It allows groups of gamers to squad up and compete in tournaments across specific games. It’s unclear how often developers will take advantage of this feature considering Events are barely used today, but it’s still nice to offer parties a fresh way to play.
Beyond the two biggest fixes, 5.50 offers an assortment of quality-of-life fixes too. For example, you’ll at long last be able to delete items from your purchase library, including betas or demos that no longer work. Pesky notifications can also be fully deleted in the notifications menu with a simple press of the triangle button.
With beta testing still underway, it’s possible some of 5.50’s finer features have yet to be discovered, but we imagine these are the major ones. If any further findings are disclosed, we’ll do our best to update this article. That being said, like most recent PS4 firmware updates, it doesn’t look like the next one does too much to reinvent the wheel. The Supersampling Mode is truly great for 1080p on Pro, but basic system functionality remains mostly the same.
The 5.50 firmware update is in beta now and will likely be released to the public in early March or late February.
Are you excited for the PS4’s next big update based on this list of features? What's one feature you’d still love to see? Tell us in the comments section!
