The current console generation may be about to start its last year as the top dogs before new consoles arrive in holiday 2020, but that doesn't mean there isn't still room for improvement. Sony is releasing the newest PlayStation 4 update this week, 7.0, and delivering some long awaited feature upgrades for owners of the incredibly profitable Sony console.
The Sony PlayStation 4 has a stable of console exclusives that boasts many of the best games of the current generation and the machine isn't done yet. The Last of Us 2 is still on the way, so players won't be putting their PS4s into storage anytime soon. The latest software update to the popular console focuses on improvements to Party Features and Remote Play, which aim to offer new functionality and some quality of life improvements.
The improvements to Party Features come just in time for this fall's big multiplayer FPS releases and are sure to be very popular with fans of multiplayer games and big matches. The boost of Party users from 8 to 16 is something that fans have been requesting for a long time, so it's great to see this feature finally arrive. The improved network connectivity and audio quality sound great as well, but we'll need to experience those firsthand to see what kind of difference they really make.
Party Feature Update
For PS4 fans who love to play alongside their friends or other community members, the Party feature has been rebuilt to include new features and services including:
Maximum number of Party users increased from 8 to 16
Network connectivity improved
Audio quality improved
Accessibility support with Chat Transcription has been added (US Only)
Within the Party feature, you will experience better network connectivity and audio quality. The improved back-end now improves network connectivity and allows users to overcome connectivity issues previously experienced when connecting with other users.
Lastly, the Party App will also offer a new Chat Transcription feature for US users via the PS4 Second Screen App on your smartphone or other mobile devices. The new feature supports US English and converts party voice chat to text, or enables you to enter text that is read aloud to other party members. If using your mobile device to connect to your PS4 during a Party, you will now see a new Party tab has been added where the new functionality is available.
Remote Play
For those who want to stream select PS4 games on mobile devices, Remote Play can now be used on smartphones and tablets running Android 5.0 or higher. Just download the PS4 Remote Play App from the Google Play store to use the feature.
Meanwhile, for iPhone or iPad users, the Remote Play App has been updated so you can now display the controller at all times and lock the screen orientation.
Also, players will be able to use their DualShock 4 wireless controllers via Bluetooth for Remote Play on an Android, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. All you need to do is update to Android 10, iOS 13, iPadOS 13, or macOS Catalina (releasing in October) to use this feature.
This upgraded Remote Play support is great news for gamers who like to get some gaming in off of the big screen. The rollout of support to additional mobile and tablet operating systems is a great step forward and hopefully the streaming process continues to be improved, so that a similar feature can rollout with whatever the Sony next-gen console is, as well.
Be sure to check back for more news and updates in the coming days. Until then, go get ready to download that update!
Source: PlayStation Blog