Sony previews PS4 Update 2.50 “Yukimura”

We've heard for a while now that Sony was planning to roll out the next major update to the PlayStation 4. Last night, the company finally outlined what'll be included.

Dubbed "Yukimura," PS4 update 2.50's main attraction is the addition Suspend/Resume, a feature that enables PS4 users "to jump in and out of their games faster than ever." First teased when the PS4 was first announced, Suspend/Resume will be supported by nearly all PS4 titles and "will create an atmosphere where your games are available at any time." Sony says you'll be able to just pick up your controller, hit the PS button, and back into the action. When you want to log off, just put your PS4 in Rest Mode and apparently the next time you boot up, you'll start your game where you left off.

Suspend/Resume will finally be making its debut in update 2.50, along with a number of other highly requested features and improvements including Remote Play and Share Play at 60 frames per second, a feature that automatically captures a screenshot when you unlock a Trophy, and the ability to uploade clips to Dailymotion.

Below is an outline of the new features that are "coming soon" in the Yukimura update 2.50:

• Sub-account to Master account Upgrade: Users with a sub-account will now be able to upgrade to a master account directly from their PS4 when they turn 18, removing restrictions for chat, enabling users to fund their own wallet, make purchases and more.
• Facebook Friend Search: Gamers globally have jumped into PS4 as a redefined social gaming experience and connecting with friends over the network is a huge part of what makes the PS4 community so special. PlayStation now lets you go even bigger by connecting with your Facebook friends on PS4 using your linked account. Search for Facebook friends who are PlayStation Network members and build on the foundation of Friends you already have in your list.
• Remote Play & Share Play at 60 fps: For games that support 60 fps, the ability to customize the frame rate of Remote Play and Share Play will be added with “Yukimura.” Play to your bandwidth strengths and use this option to stream gameplay at 60 or 30 fps when using Remote Play or Share Play on supported devices.
• Accessibility Options: “Yukimura” introduces a wide variety of options to make their PS4 entertainment experience even more accessible. Options include text to speech, enlarged text, bolder fonts, higher contrast UI, zoom for displayed pictures, invert colors on screen and more. Users will also be able to reassign buttons for DualShock 4, making it easier for users with limited manual dexterity or limited reach and strength to play.
• Trophy Improvements: We have received a ton of feedback to improve Trophies. In “Yukimura,” a screenshot will automatically be captured at the moment a Trophy is earned, making it easier than ever for you to share your greatest gaming moments with your friends. We’re also adding more sorting options along with the new ability to remove games from the Trophy list that have 0% completion.
• Share Video Clips to Dailymotion: When sharing standout PS4 moments via the Share button on DualShock 4, “Yukimura” will allow players to upload directly to Dailymotion.

Clearly there's some very impressive features making their debut in update 2.50, but it appears we'll have to wait a bit longer before we see them. Scott McCarthy, SCEA's Director of Product Planning & Software Innovation, says that the update is currently in beta which means Sony can't yet commit to a release date.

"We'll be ready to announce a date soon," he adds.

[PS Blog]