Update: New PS5 Update Includes Dolby Atmos, Larger SSD Capacity, And More Following Beta Period

Update, 9/13/23:

Earlier this summer, a forthcoming PlayStation 5 update entered a beta period for select users to try. This beta update featured Dolby Atmos support, increased SSD capacity, and more. Now, that beta is over and the update has begun rolling out to all PS5 users. Alongside the previously mentioned Dolby Atmos support and increased SSD capacity, this update also features new accessibility features, like being able to use a second DualSense controller for assistance, new voice command options, the ability to mute the console's start-up/boot-down beep sound, additional social features, and more PS App functionality. 

Let's break everything down: 

Dolby Atmos

PlayStation says 3D audio powered by its Tempest 3D AudioTech "can now be enjoyed by those who own compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices such as soundbars, TVs, or home theater systems." It says Tempest 3D AudioTech specifically renders to the Dolby Atmos audio devices in use, including overhead channels, which should allow for "even greater levels of immersion in the audioscapes of PS5 games." 

New Accessibility Features

• With this new update, players will be able to assign a second DualSense controller to one account as an assist controller, and use both controllers as if they were only using a single DualSense. 
• You can now turn on system haptic feedback effects for use while navigating PS5 menus using a DualSense, DualSense Edge, or PSVR2 Sense controller. 

Social Features

• You can now invite a player into a closed party without automatically adding the player to the group or creating a new one. Plus, players can now send open or closed-party invitations to groups instead of just individuals. 
• When someone's sharing a screen in a party that you can join, you will see a preview image of their Share Screen before you enter the party. 
• You can now see which of your friends are in an activity you can join in on under the Friends tab. 
• In the Game Hub, you will now see how many tournaments you've entered, the highest place you've achieved, and the start time for the next tournament. 
• You can now react to messages with emojis.

Increased SSD Capacity

You can now use an M.2 SSD with a capacity of up to 8TB (the previous limit was 4TB) to get extra storage on your PS5 console. 

Quality of Life Changes

• You can now mute the PS5 beep sound that plays when turning the console on or off or when putting it into rest mode. 
• You can now search for games in your library.
• Game cards have been improved.
• The Discover Tips section has been improved. 

The following features are hitting the PS App "in the coming weeks," according to PlayStation: 

• PS Remote Play support on additional devices (Chromecast with Google TV [4K Model] and Bravia XR A95L model) 
• New Voice Command options in the U.S. and U.K. 

The original story continues below...

Original story, 7/31/23:

Sony has revealed a new PlayStation 5 system software beta rolling out today that brings the highly requested audio format, Dolby Atmos, to the console alongside a larger SSD capacity, accessibility features, and more. 

Since the launch of the PS5, audiophiles have asked for Dolby Atmos audio support on the console. Without diving too deep into the nitty gritty, Dolby Atmos is one of the best audio formats when adequately supported. While the PS5’s 3D Tempest audio tech is impressive, players have also wished for Dolby Atmos support. And now, with the latest system software beta, it has arrived. 

“3D Audio powered by Tempest 3D AudioTech can now be enjoyed by those who own compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices such as soundbars, TVs, or home theater systems,” a PlayStation Blog post reads. “Tempest 3D AudioTech specifically renders to the Dolby Atmos audio devices in use – including overhead channels – allowing for even greater levels of immersion in the audio scapes of PS5 games.” 

Dolby Atmos will be a new setting in the “Audio Format (Priority)" section of the PS5’s Audio Output menu, alongside Linear PCM, Dolby Audio, and DTS. 

Elsewhere in the update, the PlayStation 5 can now support M.2 SSDs with a new maximum capacity of 8TB, which is double its previous 4TB limit. You still need to use an SSD with a heatsink, so don’t forget that if you upgrade your SSD. 

On the accessibility side, this system software beta brings two new features to the console: second controller assistance and system UI haptic feedback. With this update, you can now use a second DualSense controller to count as an “assist controller” and use these two different controllers as if they were one. 

With system UI haptic feedback, you can now enable the DualSense’s haptic feedback when navigating the PS5’s various menus and UI. Essentially, the sound effects you typically hear when navigating the menu will also be reflected physically through haptic feedback now. 

This new system update features even more, too, like improved party UI, share screen preview, a Game Hub tournaments tile, and more so head to the full PlayStation Blog post for more details. 

To access this PS5 system software beta, you must receive an invite from PlayStation. Those invites are rolling out today. 

For more about the PS5, read how it recently surpassed 40 million units sold, and then check out Game Informer’s PS5 review. After that, read Game Informer’s list of the top 10 best PS5 games.

Are you excited about any of these system software update features? Let us know in the comments below!