What took so long? PlayStation 4 finally supports external hard drives

By Gabe Gurwin February 3, 2017

PlayStation 4 Pro review — Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The PlayStation 4 lets users easily replace the system’s internal hard drive from its minuscule 500GB capacity to something much larger, but up until now, the console didn’t allow for users to expand this space with an external drive. In the next system software update, that is going to change.

If you signed up to take part in the PlayStation system software 4.50 beta, you’ll be able to use external hard drives on your PlayStation 4 starting today. Like the Xbox One, the external drive must use USB 3.0, and you’re free to store both saved data and installed applications on the device instead of using your PlayStation 4’s internal storage. Just don’t go over 8TB of capacity, or your drive won’t work.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

While you’re searching for a game to play or an application to launch, the experience will look a little bit prettier, as well. The “quick menu,” which you access by pressing the PlayStation button on your controller, is now even smaller and includes menu options for parties for the first time. On the dashboard, you’re now also free to use game screenshots as wallpapers instead of the “dynamic themes” that we’ve seen over the last few years.

For the first time, the PlayStation 4 will also give you an easy option to share your best gaming moments without having to go through a social network. Simply post screenshots or GIFs to your activity feed for all of your friends to see.

One change that seems somewhat counter-intuitive, however, is a “simplified” notification list. Instead of separating your notifications by download notifications, installation notices, and party-related messages, all notifications will now be part of the same list. However, you will be able to turn off particular types of notifications, assuming that, for example, you already know how to access the system’s power settings(!).

No time window has been given for when 4.50 will go live. The update also lets PlayStation VR users watch 3D Blu-ray discs for the first time.

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Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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Sony’s cloud handheld, the PlayStation Portal, will only stream certain games

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Sony has unveiled the price for its upcoming cloud gaming handheld, as well as an official name for the device: PlayStation Portal. However, one significant caveat to its functionality might sour people's interest in the handheld: It only supports PS4 and PS5 native games that the owner purchased.
PlayStation VR2 games can't be streamed to PlayStation Portal, which does make sense. More bafflingly, though, is the fact that the PlayStation Blog post states that "games that are streamed through PlayStation Plus Premium’s cloud streaming are not supported." That means you shouldn't pick up PlayStation Portal expecting to stream some PS3 and PS4 games available through PlayStation Plus Premium to the device. That's certainly an odd omission when it's currently PlayStation's most notable cloud gaming effort.
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As for what you're getting for that price tag, it's essentially a decent screen attached to two halves of a DualSense controller. The controllers on each side share all the functionality of the DualSense, including things like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. In-between is an 8-inch LCD screen that streams games over Wi-Fi at up to a 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second. All in all, that's fairly solid for a cloud gaming handheld that is this cheap.
Sony confirmed that the PlayStation Portal will have a 3.5mm audio jack, but also used the same blog post to unveil two new wireless audio options. There's the Pulse Elite wireless headset that features a retractable boom mic and a charging hanger and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds that offer similar audio quality in earbud form.
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It's at around this point in a console's life cycle that companies like to release a new, slim model to reinvigorate sales, cut costs, and experiment with a new design. Sony has been trimming down its home consoles since the PS2, with each home console getting a slimmer, sometimes cheaper replacement a few years after launch. We're closing in on the PlayStation 5's third birthday and rumors abound about both a PS5 Pro and a PS5 Slim model, and yet Sony's remained tight-lipped about any iterations on the base unit. Still, some of these rumors and potential leaks may hold some weight and are fun to follow regardless to see how accurate they end up being.
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Before getting into the rumors and leaks, know that until Sony itself confirms the existence of a PS5 Slim, everything that follows is speculative and should be taken as such.

The first rumors of a new PS5 model centered around a diskless version that could be paired with a detachable disk drive you could buy separately in another step away from physical media. This was speculated to be coming out sometime in fall 2023, but has been rolled into the idea of the PS5 Slim. This potentially imminent release date also lines up with statements Microsoft made about a new PS5 Slim releasing this year for $400 during the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) hearing.

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Sony is rolling out the latest system software beta for PlayStation 5 today, and it brings a plethora of helpful new features to the console. One of the most notable is that the PS5 will now support Dolby Atmos-enabled audio devices.
Select PlayStation users will get emails today inviting them to the beta. If they accept, those players will help Sony test out all of these features ahead of the patch's wide release sometime later this year. It's a beta worth opting into if you have any sort of Dolby Atmos-enabled sound system, as this update will make the PS5's proprietary Tempest 3D AudioTech compatible with soundbars, home theater systems, and TVs that utilize Dolby Atmos.
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Under the ease-of-use category, this patch will finally give players the ability to search for games in their library and mute the PS5 beep sound, makes Game Help cards more helpful, and adds a new Discover Tips menu. Finally, for those looking to expand their system's memory, this update will increase M.2 SSD support to 8 TB devices.
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