The launch of the PS5 was one of the most anticipated gaming events of 2020, but it wasn't without its issues. Even putting aside all the gamers that are still unable to find a console thanks to low supply, scalpers, and the like, those with a console noticed a few design flaws early on. Most notably, games with both PS4 and PS5 versions would default to the PS4 version, fooling many into thinking the experience was lackluster.
A recent update to the PS5 console seeks to fix that problem by notifying players when they are using the outdated version instead. Backwards compatibility is an amazing feature that will keep PS4 games relevant even as the world transitions over to PS5, but playing those older versions of the game doesn't make any sense.
The new feature was first discovered by Twitter user Tidux, whose tweet quickly caught the attention of fans that were struggling with the clunky feature. With this new update, players should always be able to ensure that they are playing the correct version of the game without going through nearly as much hassle.
As the image above shows, when players load up a cross-generational game like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, a dialogue box will pop up prompting the player to choose which version they'd like to launch. Before, players had to enter the options menu for a game, click the more options button, and then select the PS5 version, but now it looks like it will be much easier. Notably, this feature still gives players the option to load the PS4 version of the game if they wanted to do that for some reason, but it will also make selecting the PS5 version feel more streamlined and less out of the way.
Some players are noticing the similarity to this feature and the Xbox Series X's Smart Delivery. On Xbox, the newer version of the game is detected and chosen automatically, making even this new approach still less efficient than that of the Xbox Series X. Even so, it closes the gap a bit and provides a nice quality of life change that fans have been dying to see added.
Players should only notice this pop-up window on games that have both PS4 and PS5 versions. Most first party Sony games offer this kind of free upgrade if there's a PS5 version available, and even some third party developers have taken to doing so as well. The difference between the two versions can be stunning, and helps to show how immersive the new PS5 experience can be.
The PS5 is available now.