PlayStation 5 Beta Firmware Available in Canada, Includes M.2 SSD Support

Sony’s first major PlayStation 5 beta firmware is now available in various regions, including Canada, the US, the UK, Japan, France, and Germany. The firmware introduces the long-awaited support for expandable M.2 SSD amongst other UI and quality of life improvements.

In a support post, Sony gives an in-depth overview of adding an M.2 SSD to their PlayStation 5 consoles. For the time being, this feature will only be available to beta users. Based on Sony’s specifications, users will be required to have an M.2 SSD that is PCIe Gen4 and features read speeds of a minimum of 5,500MB/s.

Using an M.2 SSD, users will be able to expand the storage of their PlayStation 5 to a maximum of 4TB, given that you can source a compatible SSD with that amount of storage. Sony also notes that the following form factors are only compatible: M.2 type 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. These numbers refer to the width and length of the M.2 SSD.

Of course, once installed, users can take advantage of all the benefits of having access to an expanded SSD. PlayStation 5 games are playable on M.2 SSD storage, downloaded directly onto the storage, and updated as well.

Additionally, the beta software also introduces new features and support. For instance, 3D audio will now be supported on TV speakers. The DualSense controller can also measure acoustics within your room and apply the 3D audio setting most appropriate for your space.

The PlayStation 5 Control Centre has also been given some additional customization options. You will now be able to view and write messages to friends from the Game Base within the Control Centre. The Friends tab has been updated and you can now see how many friends are online. A Trophy tracker has also been included. Users can now choose up to five Trophies to track within the Control Centre. Users can also choose between 720p and 1080p for PlayStation Now.

Finally, Sony’s beta software introduces a long-requested feature of separating PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of a game on the home screen and library. Users can now more easily identify which game version they have installed and are playing.

Unfortunately, there’s no word on when these features will exit the beta phase and be accessible to a global audience.

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.