KEY POINTS

  • Sony announces the release of the first major system update of the PS5
  • The update will be available on April 14
  • Sony addresses PS5 issues and introduces a lot of new features in the latest update

Sony rolls out the first major system update of the PS5 just over six months following its launch but still missed the major point users have been complaining about--to play PS5 games on an external hard drive.

Sony announced that the first major PS5 system update is set to roll out on April 14 and one of its major highlights is the users' ability to store PS5 games on the external hard drive. This is definitely good news especially for those running into the gaming system's limited storage space. New generation gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X feature a new type of solid-state drive (SSD), which allows them to enjoy their favorite titles at a much faster loading time.

Interestingly, the PS5 only has 825 GB storage with 667 GB of usable space. This means that massive titles like the "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" could eat up large portions of the storage space. Sony tried to resolve this concern by enabling players to save PS4 backward-compatible games on external storage.

While a PS5 normally costs between £360 and £450 ($500/$627, 420/525 euros) depending on the model, its median resale price on sites like eBay is £650-750, according to US researcher Michael Driscoll.
While a PS5 normally costs between £360 and £450 ($500/$627, 420/525 euros) depending on the model, its median resale price on sites like eBay is £650-750, according to US researcher Michael Driscoll. AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU

While this is a good workaround, this functionality is not available to PS5 games. The latest update only allows players to save their PS5 titles on external hard drives but not actually to play them. Moreover, while players can save PS5 titles to external storage, they still need to copy them back to the gaming system's main SSD before playing them.

According to Sony, "PS5 games are designed to take advantage of the console’s ultra high-speed SSD, PS5 titles can’t be played from USB extended storage." The company also notes that "PS5 titles also cannot be directly downloaded to USB extended storage." Additionally, players "can select which game modes you want to install (such as campaign or multiplayer) for select titles that support the option."

Other changes that the firstPS5 major system introduce include Cross-generation Share Play, Request to join Game Session, Improved Game Base, Disable Game Chat or adjust players' volume, Game update pre-download, Customise and search Game Library, Screen Zoom and Trophy settings and stats screen.

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