Sony’s firmware update for their PlayStation 4 game console will release on Tuesday, October 28. This significant update will include SharePlay, YouTube sharing options, music files playable via external storage, and background visual themes. This update will prime players for the holidays and follows recent significant updates on the PlayStation Vita, Xbox One and Nintendo 3DS.
The Share Play feature will connect players into gaming sessions online even if they don’t own a copy themselves. Players do not need to download or buy anything and this feature using the same technology PlayStation Now and the PlayStation Vita’s existing PlayStation 4 remote play feature.
Players will also be able to upload content to YouTube and select/play music from external storage including supports MP3, MP4, M4A and 3GP audio files.
PlayStation Plus members will get an “Add to Library” button in the PlayStation Store next to their entitled free games.
New voice commands will include saying ‘All Commands” to see every available voice command plus several additions for broadcasting actions.
Players will also have selection options for featured channels when broadcasting via the Live From PlayStation app plus the ability to search by game being streamed.
The content area also expands with new search options and the following details from Sony:
– Content Area and Library: PS4’s Content Area, which shows the latest games and apps a PS4 owner has used, has been redesigned to help make it easier to quickly find and access content. It now shows 15 of a player’s most used apps or games, and additional items will be added to a player’s Library. The Library on PS4 has improved filter and sort functions to help organize contented by type (game / app / TV & video), name (a – z or z – a), recently used, or install date.
The visuals will be more customizable with themes and background colors (seven to choose from). There will also be no more long horizontal scrolling. The home screen will display the 15 most-used games and apps with the rest viewable in the Library section.
This PlayStation 4 update will also include friend recommendations list in the “players you may know” portion of the What’s New section.