Support NeoGAF

[EdReedFan20]

So, I was looking on Wikipedia (as I tend to do when I'm bored) and I decided to read the history of the PS4 System Firmware. While doing so, I tried to see if there was a pattern to when major firmwares are released and I noticed (while there haven't been many major releases) they are quite consistent.

The first major firmware released on November 13th, 2013 (two days before the release of the PS4. This is Firmware 1.50. Some major things with this were Remote Play and the ability to play Blu-Rays/DVDs, among other important system functionality.

Five months later, on April 30th, 2014, Firmware 1.70 released. This was ShareFactory update, which also allowed users to disable HDCP and stream at 720p.

Six months later, on October 28th, 2014, Firmware 2.00 released. This was the Shareplay update.

Five months later, on March 26th, 2015, Firmware 2.50 released. This was, of course, the long awaited Suspend/Resume update. It also included the Accessibility features.

So, while I'm not sure it qualifies as a trend, it seems major updates come every five to six months. So if this trend does continue, I would not be shocked to see the next major firmware be revealed (perhaps at TGS) sometime in September.

Edit: 3.00 is releasing on September 30th, 2015 (sixth months after 2.50). So does that mean 3.50 will release in five months later in February 2016 (going by the release pattern)? Maybe a tease at PSX?

 

[The_Dama]

Stability

 

[orochi91]

Stability

+1

It's all I need.

 

[WhoaIsThatMars]

Mmmm stability

 

[Altered Juice]

stability

 

[BrunoM]

Stability

He did say major ...



Well it will have something to do external hard drive
And some changes.to the UI

 

[katsubento]

Hope they fix download speeds. Broken since 2.0

 

[Toki767]

Folders for stability.

 

[EdReedFan20]

He did say major ...



Well it will have something to do external hard drive
And some changes.to the UI

Oh, man. I would love that. That's one thing the XB1 has that I wish PS4 did. If we got that, I would probably use one to install the game discs to it and upgrade the internal drive and reserve that for PSN games.

Folders for stability.

Yup. Folders are needed. Even with the ability to limit the items on the screen, it still is not perfect. I would probably create 4 folders. One would be for PSN downloads, another would be for PS+ downloads, the next would be for Free to Play games, and the final one would be for the disc installs.

 

[panda-zebra]

The thread is to do with predicting the timing of the next major update, not its content. OP observed a ~6 month gap between them.

 

[RK128]

My bet is either external hard drive support (the X1 has it and so does the Wii U....the PS4 should have it too) and/or PS Classics Support.

The former would be very easy to do and while the latter might cost Sony some money (licencing issues and all that) it would be worth it and by default give the PS4 a much, much larger library of games just from the BC with PS Classics alone.

Through them you have:
-PS1 Games
-PS2 Games
-Turbo-Graphix 16 Games
-Neo-Geo games

So, that is a LOT of games .

 

[EdReedFan20]

The thread is to do with predicting the timing of the next major update, not its content. OP observed a ~6 month gap between them.

It's fine. I was actually curious as to what major things are left that people want. As far as I remember, every feature promised in February 2013 is here. We have Shareplay, we have suspend/resume, we have remote play, etc. One thing I still want to see is a way to properly store music locally on the hard drive. I was bummed when I found out the media player could only play music via DLNA or USB. I know there are still codecs people are hoping for, so hopefully those will come. With all the PSN stuff the past week, I wonder if an firmware update would be required for some overhauls.

 

[Goose_7]

I'd love Sony to let us use external HDD for storage. I have 2TB but I know sooner or later i'll run out of space.

Folders for categorizing games would be nice, an option to be invisible to PSN friends would be killer, different colored flow themes, expanded voice commands with PS camera.

There're loads of things I'd like but knowing Sony....it won't happen or not as quickly as I would like.

I don't think the UI needs an overhaul as of yet since I quite like it. Categorizing games would be at the top of my list, sure you have an option that lets you relegate your titles to the library but that's not what I want.

 

[fertygo]

Obligatory

can we get template for multiple remapping setting tho

 

[BrunoM]

Oh, man. I would love that. That's one thing the XB1 has that I wish PS4 did. If we got that, I would probably use one to install the game discs to it and upgrade the internal drive and reserve that for PSN games.

Looks like I ain't the only one that would do the same ..
External for all my disks and the internal would be for psn

And yeah folders would be great idea

The thread is to do with predicting the timing of the next major update, not its content. OP observed a ~6 month gap between them.

The next one will be in or very close to October

 

[RocketRacoon]

I'd say in the first 2 weeks of October, with external HD support for games themselves.

 

[badcrumble]

It could still use some seriously beefed-up codec/container support.

Also, PS1/PS2 disc backwards compatibility would be awfully nice. Maybe with a CDDB/Gracenote-esque database to display on your status the game/movie you're playing even if it's a PS1/PS2 disc or a DVD.

 

[EdReedFan20]

It could still use some seriously beefed-up codec/container support.

Also, PS1/PS2 disc backwards compatibility would be awfully nice.

There was that Eurogamer article last year about such a thing. If I recall, Trophies would somehow be added. Don't know how that would work and who would take the time to do so.

 

[badcrumble]

There was that Eurogamer article last year about such a thing. If I recall, Trophies would somehow be added. Don't know how that would work and who would take the time to do so.

Also, who the shit needs Trophies for those older games? I mean, neat if you can do it, but don't hold them back so only the ones with Trophy support are playable, k fucking thx.

 

[EdReedFan20]

Also, who the shit needs Trophies for those older games? I mean, neat if you can do it, but don't hold them back so only the ones with Trophy support are playable, k fucking thx.

I just don't see how they can be implemented well. Especially, the PS1 games.

 

[Nuke Soda]

I'd say in the first 2 weeks of October, with external HD support for games themselves.

Yes please.

 

[Endo Punk]

Whenever it comes just make sure it's with PS1/PS2 support. I can finally retire the PS3 then.

 

[EdReedFan20]

Yes please.

Yup. This and folders are the two things I want to see. Anything else is gravy. I'm sure something will come that I'm not even thinking of that I will think is incredibly awesome, but I definitely want to see full external drive support (the ability to boot PS4 games from it) and folders.

Whenever it comes just make sure it's with PS1/PS2 support. I can finally retire the PS3 then.

I'd love that as well as (I don't know if this would need a firmware update or be feasible at all) the ability to put it a PS3 disc into your PS4 and play it via PS Now. Not as a rental, but as the game you own, with all your purchased DLC compatible (DLC is not featured on PS Now yet).

 

[iamsirjoshua]

This seems incredibly minor but I would love for it to track how long each game has been played. The Xbox One, WiiU, and Steam all do this at the system level. I'd love the PS4 to do it too.

 

[Cheat Code]

PS1/PS2 classics support is probably/hopefully gonna be announced at PSX, so I'd wager around January/February for 3.0.

 

[Neff]

Please, please, please let me disable Trophy screenshots this time, Sony.

This seems incredibly minor but I would love for it to track how long each game has been played. The Xbox One, WiiU, and Steam all do this at the system level. I'd love the PS4 to do it too.

I'd really like this one too.

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Sony stopped with the frequent updates because they said ps3 players were complaining. Now they are going in the complete opposite direction!

 

[big_z]

these are the things that bug me the most.

-let me remove shitty app icons I never use from the recent play list or make two lists one for apps and games, show the 5 recent and have a library icon at the end.
-fix the fucking store. having to log out or restart the console so the store will load is some bullshit.
-youre media player is garbage sony.
-add smoother stepping to the fan speed. it sucks when a game is tickling the next fan speed up and you hear that already loud fan speeding up and down.

[/Hope they fix download speeds. Broken since 2.0

that's not a console issue its a lack of money in the network issue which is not going away unless sony wins the lotto. oddly download speeds have been better for me lately when they were extremely bad before. however I still get random drops much more often than my xbox does.

Sony stopped with the frequent updates because they said ps3 players were complaining. Now they are going in the complete opposite direction!

I think the frequency of the sony updates is fine the problem is they rarely do anything that the player will notice. That's the reason people want more of them, theyre hoping one will finally add something to the system.

 

[alexbull_uk]

Improved UI, external HDD support for game installs, and uncompressed screenshot captures.

 

[Ran rp]

Let me store and transfer my gat dang vita/psp/ps1 games.

edit: and ps1/ps2 emulation!

 

[EdReedFan20]

Sony stopped with the frequent updates because they said ps3 players were complaining. Now they are going in the complete opposite direction!

The problem was, most of those updates never added much (mostly they were everybody's favorite stability updates). Not to mention, the firmware updates were a pain to download, especially the first few years when you were forced to wait for it to download and install (plus there always seemed to be a risk in downloaded them when they first released). Things got better as that generation continued, but installing firmwares on PS4 are so, so painless compared to PS3.

 

[Jason Frost]

Backward stability.

 

[stryke]

I'd love that as well as (I don't know if this would need a firmware update or be feasible at all) the ability to put it a PS3 disc into your PS4 and play it via PS Now. Not as a rental, but as the game you own, with all your purchased DLC compatible (DLC is not featured on PS Now yet).

That's a sure way for them to lose money.

 

[EdReedFan20]

That's a sure way for them to lose money.

Hence the feasibility part.

 

[Cathcart]

I would like some hdmi 2.0 stability and also 4k blu ray support stability, please.

 

[Floody]

More cloud storage space (at least 5GB, 1GB just isn't enough), folders and the ability to appear busy or offline is all I want.

 

[OuterLimits]

Increase cloud storage. Bring Playstation classics to the system. Obviously improving the atrocious download speeds would be nice.

If they are only doing 2 major updates a year though, then it seems ps classics may be added in 2017. Please do it soon Sony. Thanks.

 

[Shining Sunshine]

He did say major ...

Major Stability

 

[EdReedFan20]

Major Stability

Your avatar makes me sad. I miss LocoRoco. There needs to be a PS4 and Vita one.

 

[Everdred]

It's hard for me to think of anything I would want them to add besides doing something to the main list of games and how they are presented.

 

[HUELEN10]

The next major thing that NEEDS to happen is the ability to add storage and not merely replace it; the fact that the competition has been for it since day one and Sony hasn't budged irks me. There is NO GOOD REASON why Sony needs to be lagging behind its competitors when it comes to storage.

They have the opportunity, the unique opportunity, to offer what the competition offers and then some with their console, but they choose not to do it.

My biggest wish right now is that this dream becomes a reality by the time Uncharted 4 comes out.

 

[barit]

I hope UI improvements is the next big thing on Sony's list but I somehow doubt it. I wish we would have more options in customization like folders, friendlist with different categories etc. And more sorted informations would be nice. Why can't I see easly what new videos or screenshots my friends have uploaded when clicking on their profil? The What's New section is a mess and everyone with more than 100+ friends knows this because it's spammed with useless shit like "XY played Batman for the 20th time". Who the fuck gives a crap about such nonsense? Make it more intriguing.

 

[Morning Star]

Wasn't custom themes supposed to be coming?

 

[LordOcidax]

It could still use some seriously beefed-up codec/container support.

Also, PS1/PS2 disc backwards compatibility would be awfully nice. Maybe with a CDDB/Gracenote-esque database to display on your status the game/movie you're playing even if it's a PS1/PS2 disc or a DVD.

Did the PS4 read CDs... ?

 

[RdN]

I think will see something at TGS releasing in October.

Personally, I'd be happy with a revamp of the current store. It's slow, crashing, confusing mess that really needs to be sorted.

 

[gtj1092]

Kind of off topic but didn't want to make a thread. But my playroom disappeared and you can't download from the play store. It's not in my library folder or the main menu. I can see on the play store that I have the DLC but instead of saying "start" it just says installed.

Thanks an advance for any help.

 

[Floody]

Kind of off topic but didn't want to make a thread. But my playroom disappeared and you can't download from the play store. It's not in my library folder or the main menu. I can see on the play store that I have the DLC but instead of saying "start" it just says installed.

Thanks an advance for any help.

Same here, but when I searched for it on the store, it closed itself, never had it do that, no error message or anything either. (UK)

 

[bombshell]

The next major thing that NEEDS to happen is the ability to add storage and not merely replace it; the fact that the competition has been for it since day one and Sony hasn't budged irks me. There is NO GOOD REASON why Sony needs to be lagging behind its competitors when it comes to storage.

They have the opportunity, the unique opportunity, to offer what the competition offers and then some with their console, but they choose not to do it.

My biggest wish right now is that this dream becomes a reality by the time Uncharted 4 comes out.

That's revisionist history and not a fact.

 

[autoduelist]

PSX is my guess. Mainly for PS1/2 classics... thought we'd get it last psx... then thought e3 (no reason for it, though, since they already had tons of nuclear bombs)... so psx 2015 it is.

Library folders -- made sense at launch to keep it simple. It's time for organization now.

I want store store -- wish lists. gifting. improved download list (on vita, too, obviously).

Friend grouping. It would be nice to both set up groups, and perhaps easily see a list of friends that have played (with last play date) any given game.

The next major thing that NEEDS to happen is the ability to add storage and not merely replace it; the fact that the competition has been for it since day one and Sony hasn't budged irks me. There is NO GOOD REASON why Sony needs to be lagging behind its competitors when it comes to storage.

They have the opportunity, the unique opportunity, to offer what the competition offers and then some with their console, but they choose not to do it.

My biggest wish right now is that this dream becomes a reality by the time Uncharted 4 comes out.

You might as well say "the Xbox 1 NEEDS the ability to replace internal harddrives, the fact that the competition has been for it since day 1 irks me. There is NO GOOD REASON..."

Etc., etc. In other words, there are two ways of doing it. Some (like me) prefer internal, some (like you) prefer external. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Acting like one side has it over on the other side is kind of silly.

Besides, Sony seems to firmly believe in limiting the number of 'ins' to being hacked - limiting usb activity, proprietary storage with the vita, etc. So I doubt it's likely they'll add being able to store games on external. There are valid reasons to not allow external, even if the competition does.

 

[jobboy]

reduce OS reserved ram and free up resources to devs!