PlayStation 5: Stealth home screen update reaches first users

Sony is apparently testing a revised user interface for the PlayStation 5. Rather than being a radical redesign, it is more of a functional adjustment intended to simplify access to important areas such as PlayStation Plus, the Store and the games library. The topic is also being discussed on Reddit, where one user shared a picture of their updated home screen.

Sony is replacing the previous “Games” and “Media” tabs in the top-left corner of the home screen with five separate menu items: PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Store, Games, Games Library and Media. It should be possible to switch directly between these areas using L1 and R1. This would make it quicker to access the games library, for example, without having to scroll all the way past installed titles.

What is interesting is that the update, which Sony has not yet announced, apparently has not only been rolled out to participants in the beta program. At least some Reddit users say they are not part of the beta program, yet have still noticed a home screen update on their PS5 (available on Amazon for $565). Nevertheless, this still appears to be some kind of test phase. Whether and when the new home screen will be released in this form for all users remains unclear.

The updated user interface has so far been received largely positively by the community. However, fans do not seem to be completely satisfied with the PS5 home screen. There are frequent calls for further personalization options such as themes, folders on the home screen or animated “Flow” backgrounds in the style of earlier PlayStation generations.