The new Audio Focus accessibility feature can only be used with headphones and headsets connected through USB or the 3.5mm jacks.
Sony has announced that it has started rolling out a new firmware update for the PlayStation 5. The update, for players that have gotten it so far, brings with it a new feature – Audio Focus – as well as the return of the classic PlayStation-inspired themes for the home screen.
With Audio Focus, players will now get the ability to pick from a variety of different presets depending on their preferences. The feature, primarily meant for headphones and headsets, can be enabled by going to Settings, Sound, Volume, and Audio Focus. As part of the feature, players will have access to four presets to choose from:
- Boost Low Pitch: Amplify low-frequency sounds like roaring engines and rumbling noises.
- Boost Voices: Amplify voice chats, character voices, and other middle-frequency sounds.
- Boost High Pitch: Amplify high-frequency sounds like footsteps and metallic noises.
- Boost Quiet Sounds: Amplify low-volume sounds in a wide range of frequencies.
Along with the presets themselves, players can also pick the level of support for each preset between Weak, Medium, and Strong. Through this new feature, players will get the chance to more easily distinguish between different sounds in a game. This can range from enhanced dialogue volume over background music, or even more subtle things, like being better able to listen out for enemy footsteps in a multiplayer game.
PS5 users will also now have the ability to partake in some nostalgia for classic PlayStation consoles through four new looks available for the PS5’s home screen. These options change the background visuals of the home screen, as well as the accent colours for some of the UI elements.
For example, picking the PlayStation appearance shows off a classic PlayStation in the background, with grey coloured accents in the UI. The PS2 option, on the other hand, shows off the blocky graphics of the PS2’s home screen, with purple accent colours. The PS4 option gives us the classic default PS4 background, along with sharp, blue accent colours.
“During our 30th anniversary celebrations, we surprised our fans with a limited time selection of nostalgic customization features for the PS5 System UI to honor the four PlayStation consoles that paved the way for PS5: PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4,” wrote SIE’s VP of product management Shuzo Kikuchi on the PlayStation Blog.
It is worth noting that the update may not be available to everyone just yet, since Sony has stated that it is being rolled out to all PS5 users gradually.
Earlier this month, Sony had announced that it would be raising the prices of the PS5 console in certain regions across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The price hikes came shortly after similar price hikes were announced for PlayStation Plus subscriptions in several different regions, including Australia, Southeast Asia, and 15 Latin American countries.
