PS5 is getting a major new accessibility feature
In addition to the release of a new accessibility controller, PlayStation 5 is getting a major accessibility feature this year: the ability to use a second controller as an assist controller, similar to Xbox’s Copilot mode.
The assist controller feature is part of a system software update that has just entered beta testing and will be released worldwide “later this year”. Also included in the update is support for Dolby Atmos audio devices and support for larger replacement storage drives, the ability to search your game library, and a volume control for the console’s beep sound.
The new assist controller feature allows two controllers to be used together to control the PS5 as if using a single controller. This can be used to create new control configurations for people who have trouble using a standard controller, as well as for two people to play together, for example a parent helping a child with a difficult aspect or part of a game. It seems to work exactly like Xbox’s Copilot mode, which was released in 2017; After a few years behind, PlayStation seems determined to catch up with its rival in accessibility.
Another accessibility feature of the new system update is the addition of haptic feedback for the system’s UI, which provides an alternative form of feedback to sound effects when navigating the PS5’s menus and receiving notifications.
Elsewhere in the update, the PS5’s 3D audio capability has been expanded to support Dolby Atmos HDMI devices such as soundbars and home theater systems. And if you want to expand your PS5’s storage, you can now do so with an M.2 SSD with a capacity of up to 8TB (up from the previous limit of 4TB). That’s quite a lot of games!
Perhaps the simplest yet biggest quality of life update in the new system software is the ability to search for games in your game library. Other new features and improvements include the ability to mute or change the PS5’s beep volume, improved Game Help, and some social improvements, including a streamlined way to join friends’ gaming sessions.
The system software beta is limited to invited participants, but a full release should not be far off. While Sony hasn’t dated the update beyond releasing it later this year, it usually takes between one and two months for a major system update – like the previous one, which introduced Discord voice chat and wireless controller updates – to come out in beta testing and see release.