SONY has invited PS5 players to test new features in a beta out on February 9.
Here’s what you need to know about the beta and how to sign up to become a beta tester yourself.
How do I sign up for the PS5 beta?
You can become a PS5 beta tester by registering on the company’s website.
There are a few rules to sign up to become a beta tester: you must be at least 18 years old; live in the United States, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, France or Germany; and have a valid PS5 account.
Beta testers must submit feedback to Sony about the beta software in order to remain eligible.
If you are chosen, you will receive an email from Sony with more information about beta testing.
What’s new in the PS5 beta?
The PS5 beta released on February 9 is testing a bunch of new features, according to a post on the PlayStation blog.
It introduces new party chat options that allow users to make an open chat, which lets your friends join a party without an invite, or a closed chat, which only lets in invited players.
PlayStation has made changes to the Game Base card, making three separate sections where users can view friends, parties, and messages.
And players can now start Share Play from the voice chat card.
There are new user interface features that allow you to filter by genre and choose games to keep on your home page.
The beta also lets up to 14 games and apps appear on the homepage.
For US and UK users, the beta is testing a voice command feature that allows you to open games and apps, and control video and audio playback with just your voice.
The feature can be enabled in the settings, and uses the command “Hey, Playstation.”
The beta also includes accessibility setting updates, including more screen reader languages (adding Russian, Arabic, Dutch, Brazilin, Portuguese, Polish, and Korean), mono audio for headphones, and the option to show check marks on enabled settings to make it easier to see which settings are turned on or off.
The beta is just that — a beta — so Sony warns that every feature may not work perfectly, and everything may not be included in a final version of the software when it’s released to the public.
Where is the PS5 in stock?
The PS5 is infamous for never being in stock.
PS5 bundles are in stock on the HSN website.
The bundles range in price from $999.99 to $1,209.99.
Those prices might be a bit more than players are expecting to pay, as the PS5 console alone retails for $499, or $399 for the diskless, digital-only version.
Various stock trackers have suggested that the console might be restocked at major retailers like Target and Best Buy in the coming days.
Sony said that the global chip shortage has made it difficult to keep up with the demand for PS5s.
