PlayStation 5 owners will help improve the console through Sony’s beta program

By Andrew Zucosky Published June 17, 2021

Sony announced on its site that it is inviting PlayStation 5 owners to the PlayStation 5 System Software Beta Program, which will allow users to test out new software in development for the PlayStation 5. Users can register on the PlayStation site to see if they are eligible to be part of this program.

In order to take part in the PlayStation 5 System Software Beta Program, users will have to make sure that they qualify. PlayStation owners must be 18 years old or older and must live in the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada, France, or the U.K. They must own a PlayStation 5 and have a stable internet connection and a valid PlayStation Network account.

Playstation 5 users can now sign up for the beta testing program for new software. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Once accepted into the program, users will be asked to submit feedback to Sony about their experience. All communications from Sony will be sent to beta testers in Japanese or English. Users will have to send their feedback to Sony in those languages as well.

After getting accepted into the program, users will be entered into the pool of candidates for beta testing. When the program begins, a software update will be emailed by Sony with instructions on how to download the beta program. Users will then have to download this software to their PS5.

Sony has stated that these beta trials will be for software still in development, so beta testers should be prepared to run into a number of bugs and bumps along the way. Once the beta testing is completed, users can restore their console to the official PlayStation 5 retail version.

Topics

Andrew has been playing video games since he was a small boy, and he finally got good at them like a week ago. He has been in…

Gaming

To build a PS5 controller for anyone, Sony had to reinvent the wheel

A PlayStation Access controller sits on a table.

When Sony took the stage at CES 2023, PlayStation fans didn’t know what to expect. The company had a history of using the tech expo to showcase new gaming hardware, like the PlayStation VR2, but its plans for the show aren’t ones that tend to leak beforehand. Left in the dark, eager PlayStation fans tuned in to the CES live broadcast to see what the future of PlayStation might hold.

But nobody expected a UFO to touch down on stage.

Gaming

You’ll finally be able to play Half-Life: Alyx on PlayStation VR2 this summer

Half-Life Alyx being played with a PlayStation VR2 headset.

Sony has finally unveiled its PC adapter for PlayStation VR2, which will be released this August and finally enable players to try games like Half-Life: Alyx with the headset.

PSVR2 sports some impressive tech, but it's no secret that Sony has failed to support it with compelling games for the PS5. Earlier this year, it was teased that Sony was working on PC compatibility for the headset; now, we've learned that this will come in the form of a PC adapter that people can use with a DisplayPort 1.4 cable in order to play VR games through Steam. These are the minimum specs your PC will need in order to get the PSVR2 up and running, straight from the PlayStation Blog.

Gaming

Sony just put one final nail in the PlayStation VR2’s coffin

The PlayStation VR2 sits on a table next to Sense controllers.

PlayStation VR2 has been murdered. The culprit: Astro Bot.

My favorite announcement of Sony's May 30 State of Play was Astro Bot, a new 3D platformer from Team Asobi that celebrates PlayStation history. It looks incredibly charming and stands out from the typical narrative-action games like Stellar Blade that Sony tends to release these days. That said, my excitement also comes with disappointment as it does not appear that the game will support PlayStation VR2. (Digital Trends reached out to Sony to confirm that was the case but has not gotten a response at the time of publishing this story.)