The launch of September’s PS5 system software update was the second major revision to the console’s firmware, adding a number of big features and changes, including enabling the PS5’s SSD expansion bay. But Sony is far from complacent as the company works on the next system software update. In fact, according to SVP of Platform Experience Hideaki Nishino, they have an “interesting, exciting, fantastic” list of ideas for future PS5 updates, both from before the console even launched and based on community feedback.
In an interview with the PlayStation Blog, Nishino revealed that they have a big list of things they want to do in future PS5 system software updates, much of it from learned behaviors and data gathered across the eight years of the PS4’s life. “So, we had a gigantic list of things before PS5 launch that we wanted to do. Actually, we dreamed of doing everything,” Nishino said. “Did I digest the whole list? I don’t think so, yet. But, there are interesting, exciting, fantastic ideas on the list.”
But it’s not just about internal data. The launch of the PS5 has also given the team a wealth of feedback about how players use the system and what they want from it. “We are receiving a bunch of feedback from the community through social networks or system telemetry, as well as the media, my family, my friends,” he said. “We have tons of lists of the feedback.” Some of those changes won’t come as major firmware updates though. Nishino says that it’s become more dynamic.
“Our updates aren’t just about the [major] firmware updates. If you carefully look at the PS5 system, over the network we are changing the UX behavior quite often,” he said. “Sometimes we do some customization for a certain group of people to see how these features are used. So, it’s dynamic now.”
So what’s next on that exciting list of ideas for the PS5 system software updates? Nishino isn’t specific, but he does say they are working diligently on features that the community is asking for. “When I look back at the list of things we need to do, there’s a lot. There’s a lot the community is asking for as well,” Nishino said. “I want to say in the Japanese way, I’m diligently working on these lists and there will be more coming out in the future.”
He reiterated that these aren’t just the team’s own desired features, and that there are working for the needs of the community.
I also want to say thank you to the community. We are not just whiteboarding our desired features. We work for customer needs. We really want to solve the problem in a delightful manner. That’s our core passion. We are here for the PlayStation [fans]. I’m always amazed by the feedback, how much the community loves PlayStation. It’s really great to hear player feedback, and at the same time, we get great feedback from creators as well.
Finally, Nishino believes that the firmware updates are about more than just what his team is doing behind the scenes, but on the feedback and passion of PlayStation players. “I believe this firmware update is not just about us doing it; it’s the whole community doing things. So, I’m really excited to hear more from the community. And I [and my team] will diligently deliver the new features in an exciting way.”
What do you hope is on this list of ideas for future PS5 updates? Let us know in the comments below.
[Source: PlayStation Blog]
