Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Want to test the latest PlayStation 4 software update? Go sign up right now

Add as a preferred source on Google

The PlayStation 4’s next major software update, 4.5, will soon be available to the general public, but if you want to try out its new bells and whistles in advance, Sony is giving you the opportunity to sign up for a beta test.

By signing up on the PlayStation website, you’ll be entered for a chance to receive a voucher code giving you access to the “beta trial” for System Software 4.5. Your PSN account must use a valid email address for you to be eligible for beta access, and signing up will not automatically guarantee that you’ll be selected.

Recommended Videos

PlayStation 4’s last major update, 4.00, released last September, introduced a number of new features to improve and streamline the user experience. From the “quick menu,” users are able to choose music to perfectly suit the game they’re playing, and a folder system allows users to sort their favorite games for easier access. The update also added PlayStation 4 Pro enhancements and HDR support, as well as the ability to do a complete system transfer between consoles.

The beta test for 4.00 began nearly a month before the update rolled out to the rest of PS4 users, and signups for the test began nearly a month before that. As it stands, we expect to see 4.5 release sometime in March — just as the spring wave of major titles hits, including Mass Effect: Andromeda, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, and Nier: Automata.

Given the trouble users have experience trying to get HDR to work with their PlayStation 4 consoles thus far — particularly when paired with Vizio televisions — we wouldn’t be surprised if the next system update introduces a simpler setup method.

What features are you hoping to see included in the latest PlayStation 4 system software update? Let us know in the comments!

Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Razer’s Barracuda V2 Pro launches with a better mic, longer battery, and a lower price
Razer has also added simultaneous wireless playback, Hybrid ANC, and a detachable boom mic for gaming.
Person wearing Razer barracuda V2 Pro gaming headset

Razer has launched the Barracuda V2 Pro, a new wireless gaming headset that is meant to work just as well away from a desk as it does in front of one. It costs $199.99 and comes with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth audio, THX Spatial Audio+, and up to 70 hours of battery life.

The original Barracuda Pro followed much the same formula. We liked its understated design, balanced audio, and flexible connectivity, but the $250 price, loose fit, and weak microphone made the package harder to recommend. The interesting part here is that Razer seems to have gone directly after a few of those complaints.

Read more
Microsoft is offering 25 free games if you buy an eligible Windows 11 PC this holiday
Fancy some free Skyrim and Halo? Microsoft has a tempting holiday deal, but not every PC makes the cut.
Book, Publication, Person

Buying a new Windows 11 PC could get you more than a hardware upgrade this holiday season. Microsoft is offering 25 free games worth over $500 with eligible PC purchases in the US, celebrating Xbox's 25th anniversary. The collection includes several recognizable titles, making the offer tempting if you were already planning to upgrade.

Which games can you get for free with Windows 11 device?

Read more
Red Magic 12 Pro+ gaming phone launches with Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, 185Hz display, and a gigantic battery
Global buyers will get the same phone under the Red Magic 12 Pro name.
Red Magic 12 Pro+ gaming smartphone

Red Magic has launched the Red Magic 12 Pro+ in China, bringing another round of hardware upgrades to its gaming phone lineup. The new model gets a faster display, a massive 8,400mAh battery, and an updated cooling system that now adds RGB lighting to the liquid-cooling hardware.

Buyers outside China will get the phone under a different name. Red Magic says the device will launch globally as the Red Magic 12 Pro, with pricing, regional configurations, and availability details coming on November 3. The global model may also differ from the China version in some specifications.

Read more