Upcoming PlayStation 4 update readies the system for streaming to YouTube

By Kris Wouk September 2, 2015

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Twitch may be the reigning king of game streaming, but that hasn’t stopped YouTube from doubling down on its live-streaming efforts. YouTube Gaming launched last month, showing the company’s renewed dedication to streaming game footage, and Sony has taken notice.

Sony announced today that the next update to the PlayStation 4 will include support for streaming to YouTube, among other things. “Livestreams will be viewable across YouTube, including on the new YouTube Gaming mobile app and website,” Sony VP of platforms marketing John Koller wrote.

Support for YouTube streaming is far from the only new feature included in the 3.00 firmware update, codenamed “Kenshin.” PlayStation 4 cloud storage has been increased to 10GB, up from 1GB previously. In order to keep track of the increased storage, a usage meter has been added to monitor storage activity.

The update as a whole seems to focus on making the PS4 a more social experience. Users will now have the ability to share gameplay clips up to 10 seconds long to Twitter instantly. The new Communities feature will allow users to create communities around specific games, genres, or shared interests. “If you want to tackle a big multiplayer raid, but don’t have enough friends available, this could be a great way to connect with other players who are looking for the same thing,” Koller wrote.

Last month we reported that Sony had taken a cue from Microsoft and was looking for beta testers for PlayStation 4 updates. Users who have been accepted to the beta program will be able to test the update “very soon,” Koller writes.

If you’ve been accepted into the beta program, make sure not to get too attached to any new features. Koller warns that some of the content might not make it into the final version, adding “that’s why we’re having a beta, after all.”

There are many more features coming in the update than what is detailed here. For a full list of all the changes, see the post on the PlayStation Blog.

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Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

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