Sony’s latest PS5 beta supports Dolby Atmos and up to 8 TB M.2 SSD storage

Sony has started testing a new PlayStation 5 software beta that includes Dolby Atmos support, up to 8 TB M.2 SSD storage support and a number of UI improvements. The beta is rolling out in select countries today, and Sony typically makes beta features available to all PS5 consoles within a few months.

The biggest addition is Dolby Atmos support. In PS5 games, it appears that Sony’s 3D Audio implementation (Tempest 3D AudioTech) will be compatible with Dolby Atmos devices such as soundbars, TVs or home theater systems. Media apps like Netflix may also soon update their apps on PS5 to support Dolby Atmos audio. “Tempest 3D AudioTech renders specifically for Dolby Atmos audio devices in use – including overhead channels – allowing for even greater levels of immersion in the soundscapes of PS5 games,” Sony explains in a PlayStation blog.

The PS5 currently supports up to 4TB of expandable M.2 SSD storage, but that maximum is increased to an 8TB limit with this beta software. You still need an M.2 SSD that complies minimum requirements (mostly 5,500MB/s or faster), but doubling the storage limit means there are even more storage options for PS5 owners.

Sony is also adding a lot of UI improvements and some quality of life changes with this latest PS5 software update. You can now turn off the PS5 beep that beeps when you turn the console on or off, or when it goes into sleep mode. Sony also offers the ability to simply change the beep volume.

You also get a new option to enable haptic feedback from a DualSense controller while navigating around the PS5 UI. Sound effects like moving focus from one section to another will trigger haptics with this option enabled along with haptic feedback when you reach the end of a scrollable section.

This controller haptic feedback is available along with a new accessibility feature that lets you assign a second controller to one account to use as an assistant controller. This is great for helping kids or friends complete a difficult part of a game or navigating around the PS5 UI.

Sony is also improving the social aspects of the PS5. You will now be able to invite players to a closed party without adding them to a group, and also send open or closed party invites to groups instead of just a single friend. Like Discord, you can now preview someone sharing their screen before joining a party, and it’s now easier to see which friends are at parties in the Friends tab. Sony is also adding emoji reactions to messages.

You can register to access Sony’s PS5 beta right hereand this particular update should roll out to all PS5 consoles in the coming months.