After months of waiting Sony have finally released the anticipated 2.0 update for PlayStation 4, which promised to add many fan requested features. The update is now live and, in my opinion, it is rather disappointing when compared to other consoles.

PlayStation 4 Update 2.0, code named Masamune, is an update that Sony says brings unique, “forward-looking” features to its new console. Highlights of the update include the following:

Share Play: allows players to ‘share’ their current game with another friend with a PlayStation 4 console, even if they do not own the game. Share Play essentially creates an online local co-operative environment between two PlayStation 4 consoles whereby the primary console streams the video game to the secondary console. Each Share Play session is limited to 60 minutes of gameplay as well as Internet bandwidth. Bandwidth here is the keyword to focus on because it effectively renders this feature useless for anyone who does not have an upload speed greater than 2Mbps.

YouTube integration: PlayStation 4 now has a dedicated YouTube application (which needs to be downloaded from the PlayStation Store) and the ability to share video directly to YouTube via the DualShock 4 ‘Share’ button.

USB Music Player: the PlayStation 4 can now read music files from a USB drive. The music can be played in the background during gameplay. Music cannot be copied from the USB to the PlayStation 4’s internal memory.

Themes and colours: the PlayStation 4 now has support for themes, backgrounds and the ability to change the systems default colours on the homescreen.

Usability enhancements: new search filters and archived broadcast support for ‘live broadcasting’, the ‘Content Area’ and ‘Library’ have been redesigned with new sort functions and filters, and the ‘What’s New’ section has been updated with suggestions for ‘Players You Might Know’.

PS4 Theme: Paper Scalpture (Bottom)

Alas, many features such as ‘suspending a video game when placed in standby’ (a feature that was promised at launch) and the playback of video content from external storage or over a network via DLNA are still missing from the console. However these features, and many more, have been available on the Xbox One for quite some time (game suspend/resume has been available since launch).

Sony promised a large and substantial update for system update 2.0. The update has added some nice features for PlayStation 4 users, YouTube in particular, but the update, on the whole, is rather disappointing; especially when compared to the monthly update cycle that Microsoft have for the Xbox One.

Hopefully the next update for PlayStation 4 will be significant in terms of useful features instead of constantly reminding gamers that “Greatness Awaits“.

View Press Release

Major PS4 system software update v2.0 launches
Share Play, YouTube integration, Themes and USB Music Player are among the additions                    

Johannesburg, South Africa, 27th October 2014 – PS4′s system software v2.0, codenamed Masamune, is making its arrival and we can’t wait for you to check out all the new enhancements it’ll bring to your PS4. This update adds unique, forward-looking features like Share Play and addresses some of the most highly requested features from the community including YouTube integration, music player, ability to find players you may know, sorting options for PS4′s game library, and themes that change the look of your home screen. This is the biggest update we’ve delivered to date for PS4.

For a look at what you can expect, check out our walkthrough video on key Masamune features. And don’t forget to watch the walkthrough video of the Share Play feature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCpLDYJXRgc

Here’s a recap of some top features you can expect with Masamune:

·         Share Play: PlayStation 4 will create an online local co-op experience by allowing you to invite a friend to join your game – even when they don’t own a copy of it

·         YouTube: A dedicated app for YouTube is coming with v2.0, along with the ability to upload gameplay highlights directly from PS4 to YouTube by clicking the ‘Share’ button on DUALSHOCK 4. Be sure to check the PlayStation Store to download the YouTube app

·         Themes and colours: Personalise your home screen background with select themes and colours

·         Live broadcasting enhancements: Search filters, archived broadcast support and more have been added to Live from PlayStation

·         Content Area and Library: Find and access your content quicker with a redesigned Content Area and improved filter and sort functions for the PS4 Library

·         USB Music Player*: Insert USB memory with music in your PS4 and start playing your favourite tunes in the background

·         Players you may know: Get suggestions for gamers you may know in the ‘What’s New’ section

 

PS Vita and PS TV update

Also available is a new system software update (v3.35) for PS Vita and PS TV, which includes four-player Remote Play support for PS TV, as well as the Live from PlayStation app, which allows you watch game streams from PS4 on both your PS Vita and PS TV devices. A full features list and instructions for updating PS Vita and PS TV can be found here after the update goes live.

PS App update
Lastly, don’t forget to update your PlayStation App on your mobile devices to the latest version. The new 2.0 update will include a redesigned home screen, and a new layout for tablets.

*You can play music files stored inside USB storage but cannot copy music files to PS4 HDD. This application cannot be used at the same time with Music Unlimited. USB Music Player will appear once USB storage is inserted, and will disappear once USB storage is removed.

Hide Press Release

View Author Profile

Owner, founder and editor-in-chief at Vamers, Hans has a vested interest in geek culture and the interactive entertainment industry. With a Masters degree in Communications and Ludology, he is well read and versed in matters relating to video games and communication media, among many other topics of interest.