PS5 Is Getting Multiple New Features, 4 Years Too Late

New features for the PlayStation 5 system software are on the way, and while some are much needed improvements, it's hard not to feel like these particular additions should have been part of the console's user experience from the beginning. Sony's PS5 is approaching its fourth anniversary, and while the system software itself rightfully takes a back seat to the actual games available on the hardware, its home screen and system navigation have always been a sticking point. Recent updates for the DualSense controller improved audio input and output, and similar incremental changes for the PS5 are on the horizon.

Perhaps the biggest downgrade from a system software standpoint coming from the PlayStation 4 to the PS5 was the discontinuation of themes. The PS4 lets users download dynamic themes to reinvent their home screen, altering the background, icons, and music. There's no such customization option on PS5, largely because each downloaded game has its own background and music for when it's selected. Themes are not included in the upcoming PlayStation 5 system software update, but a half-measure is, alongside some more interesting, albeit small, additions.

As detailed by YouTuber Mystic, the beta version of the PlayStation 5 system software has a handful of new features to improve the Explore page, the landing for users logging in when a game is not already open. In a major change to the appearance of the Explore page, the wallpaper can now be changed, and widgets have a new layout. Additionally, there are brand-new widgets to display the battery life of currently connected peripherals and the console's available storage. Unfortunately, these are not fully customizable; the new PS5 system software has a few preset arrangements for users to choose from.

The biggest disappointment, however, is that changing the background affects only the Explore page, and any changes will not be visible when scrolling to a game on the PS5 home screen. There are a handful of default