PS4 System Update 2.50 Set To Be Released March 26 According to Sony

Written by Brandon Hofer on March 25, 2015

News: Sony’s next big update is almost here and brings some heavily requested features such as suspend/resume and being able to upgrade your account.

Sony has just announced that they will release a big firmware update for the PS4 tomorrow which has been codenamed “Yukimura.” This update is set to include the suspend/resume feature that Sony revealed two years ago, as well as partial use of an external hard drive, being able to connect with friends easier and more. The highlights of the features coming with this 2.50 update is as follows:

Suspend/Resume Feature

Suspend/Resume, which will be supported by nearly all PS4 titles, will allow PS4 owners to spend less time waiting for games to load and more time playing. Gamers will be able to suspend their game by putting their PS4 system into Rest Mode, and then quickly resume the game where they left off by pressing the PlayStation button on the DS4 which wakes their system.

Back-Up and Restore Hard Disc Drive to External USB Drive

This new update will allow PS4 owners to back-up and restore the internal hard drive to and from an external USB drive. Hard disc drive data includes settings, saved data, screenshots and video clips as well as games, patches and download data. There is no mention on whether you will be able to launch games from the external hard drive though which is one of the main reasons why people want an external drive.

Find and Connect with Friends

PS4 owners will now be able to search for Facebook friends with their linked account. Friend requests and Real Name requests can be sent together in one step when adding a friend on the PS4 system. The update will allow users to easily view what their friends are playing by adding a "Friends Who Play This" section on each game detail page, while also highlighting which friends are currently online and playing it. The process to create a Party has also been streamlined with a reduction in the number of steps required. Additionally, the What's New section will now feature a section where users can see what their friends are currently playing enabling them to join in the game if they own it or find out more on the PlayStation Store.

Share Your Earned Trophies and Trophy List Enhancements

PS4 owners have been sharing their most impressive gaming moments since the launch of the system, and with "Yukimura," a screenshot will automatically be captured when a Trophy is earned, making it easy for users to share their favorite gaming moments with their friends. The update will also make it easy for players to share Trophy information to Facebook, Twitter or via Message by pressing the Share button. Additionally, users will now be able to sort their Trophy list by "Earned Date," "Not Earned," and "Grade," as well as the option to remove games from the Trophy list that have zero percent completion.

Improved and Expanded Accessibility Options

"Yukimura" introduces new options to customize the user experience with the PS4 system, making it easier for gamers with impaired vision and limited manual dexterity to play. Customized button assignments for Dualshock 4 and a zoom feature for displayed pictures and inverted colors will be available for all system functions, apps and games. Text-to-speech and enlarged text will be available across the graphical user interface, including Message and Party, and enlarged text will also be enabled for use in the system's browser. Bolder fonts and higher contrast UI will be available for all system applications but will not apply to games or third-party applications.

Remote Play and Share Play

For games that support 60fps, you will be able to stream those games with 60fps for both Remote Play and Share Play on supported devices.

Automatic Installation for System Software Updates

With this new feature you will be able to have your PS4 automatically install future system software updates.

Sub-Account Upgrade

If you are a gamer under 18 years old and you have a sub-account as a result, you will now be able to upgrade to a master account directly on the PS4, removing restrictions on chat and enabling users to add funds to their wallet, purchase content and more.

Verified Accounts

There will now be verified accounts (presumably like Twitter) for game industry professionals including developers, producers, designers and community members. These accounts will appear with a badge so that you can tell at a quick glance whether they really are who they say they are.

Daily Motion

Once this new update is installed you will have the ability to upload video clips directly to DailyMotion via the Share button.

"With more than 20 million PlayStation 4 systems worldwide, PlayStation gamers are the foundation for our success. We are constantly listening to feedback from our growing community regarding improvements to make their PlayStation experience even better," said John Koller, vice-president of platforms marketing. "We continue to focus on making PS4 the best place to play with friends. That's why we're delivering features like Facebook Friend Finder, Suspend/Resume to get into gaming quicker, a more streamlined Party and friending process, and new ways for users to see what their friends are playing so they can immediately get in and game together."

The Vita and PlayStation App for smartphones and tablets will also receive system software updates with the same timing as "Yukimura," adding complementary features to those added to the PS4 system with the update. PS Vita update version 3.50 and PlayStation App update version 2.50 will add new accessibility options, including enlarge text, increase contrast and more. This update also enables PS Vita systems to support 60 fps streaming for Remote Play.

What do you think about these new features heading to the PS4 tomorrow? What feature do you feel still needs to be added? Tell us what you think below.