According to the PlayStation Blog, on April 30th Sony will release a patch for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and the PlayStation Mobile App. While the Vita patch (v3.15) and the Mobile patch (v1.70) are relatively minor, the PS4 patch (v1.70) is a major one.

To start small, the patch for the Mobile App will allow users to push notifications from their PS4 straight to their phones, like friend requests or game downloads. Also, people will now be able to change their profile pictures from their Mobile App.

 

Similarly, the Vita patch will give enhanced PS4 connectivity by using an auto-detect feature. Basically, if the Vita and PS4 are both logged in with the same profile at the same time, connectivity will be better, helping jump start Remote Play.

 

The largest patch is coming to the PS4. As stated earlierthis month, this patch will allow users to access several features related to SHARE, such as: the introduction of a video editing software known as SHAREfactory, turning off HDCP to allow for direct HDMI capture and the ability to export videos to a USB device. The patch will also allow players to change the default archive length of videos and choose where exactly they can share the videos and screenshots on Facebook.

 

 

Other sharing options that will be included in the patch are the ability to stream games at 720p and keep archives of them. Also, Music Unlimited users will be able to share their songs using the SHARE button, which is nice.

 

The patch will also allow for the DualShock 4’s light bar to be dimmed to prevent distraction and lengthen battery life. The PlayStation Store will start accepting more ways of payment, beginning with PayPal. Finding friends and sorting trophies will be easier with the systems Friends-of-Friends and trophy rarity systems, respectively. Additionally, more voice commands will be added to the PlayStation Camera.

 

Perhaps the largest feature in this patch will be the ability to preload games, allowing for games to be played as soon as they are released. The feature will even include a countdown until the game is on your console and ready to play.

 

All of these patches will be released and available for download on April 30th, so be prepared.

 

My Opinion

 

Everyone sing with me: HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HAL-LE-LU-JAH! This is the patch we all have been waiting for. Not just for people like me who love to live stream and share videos, but for those who are exclusively digital and want their games as soon as they are released. People have been asking for a way to turn off the light bar, and this gives them some love, too. Fixing some of the other issues with the Store and the connectivity to Vita is also a great thing. Now, if only we can change our PSN names….

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Shawn Richards studies games to understand how they work. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.