The latest system software update for the PS5 console rolled out globally to all PS5 players yesterday. Many users have already checked out new features like Discord voice chat and 1440p VRR support.
For a behind-the-scenes peek, we spoke with Hiromi Wakai, Tokyo-based VP of Product Management, about how the new features came together and what’s next for this latest update. I was.
Sid Schumann: Hiromi, nice to talk to you again! Tell us about your role at PlayStation.
Hiromi Wakai: My team covers product management roles for hardware products, system software updates, and PlayStation’s network services, working closely with teams in the US and Europe. We are fortunate to be able to help guide our product strategy on a global scale.
I joined the Sony Group in 2001 and SIE in 2005, so I’ve been involved in PlayStation products for nearly 18 years. It’s been an amazing journey to hear from our fans and game development partners to deliver new features and products that unlock playability.
Sid: Discord voice chat is a great addition.
Hiromi: Discord voice chat has been one of the biggest requests from our community, and we’ve been working with the Discord team to make sure it’s an experience players enjoy. I use Discord when playing Final Fantasy XIV raids with my PC gaming friends, so Discord voice chat is an important feature for me and I’m very happy to bring it to the community. Together with Discord, we want to make it easy for people to connect with each other no matter where they enjoy their games.
Sid: What is your favorite feature in this new update?
Hiromi: We are very pleased to offer support for variable refresh rates, a much-requested request from players who enjoy gaming on monitors that support 1440p. VRR is a great way to improve the visual performance of his PS5 games, so we’re excited to see more gamers enjoy this feature.
The ability to update the DualSense controller wirelessly is another feature that enhances player convenience and makes it easier to update the controller’s device software.
Sid: How do you determine which features will be included in system updates?
Hiromi: Our inspiration comes from our players, so we’re always listening to player feedback. We’re always thinking about features fans might want to see and how we can make the PS5 experience more fun, social, and connected. It’s also important to minimize friction to make it easier for players to jump into the experiences they want to enjoy on his PS5. We maintain a very long list of features and carefully prioritize our time and resources to deliver the ones that have the most meaningful impact on the player experience.
In addition to enhancing the core PS5 experience, we are also focused on delivering great integrated platform experiences for our new products, such as the DualSense Edge wireless controller and in-depth control customization options for PlayStation VR2. We look forward to introducing even more new features to our players in the future!
Sid: What are some of the challenges you face when developing system updates? I think some of them are more complicated than they look…
Hiromi: Certainly. Every system update is a very large development effort with dozens of updates ranging from major features to minor enhancements. Developing even a small update can take a lot of engineering resources and time, so tracking every detail and ensuring a quality experience that meets player expectations is always dynamic. It’s an exciting challenge. That’s why we rely heavily on our players to test these features in beta and ensure they have a great experience as we roll out globally.
Fortunately, I work with a great team here in Tokyo and around the world. A successful system update requires a lot of collaboration between different regions. We would like to thank all of our global team for all their hard work and our fans who consistently provided great feedback and ideas to keep us raising the bar.
Sid: How do you incorporate feedback from beta testers?
Hiromi: Beta testing is an important quality assurance step when rolling out new system software features. This allows us to test new features at scale and identify any critical changes needed before the official global release. But the process doesn’t stop there. By continually listening to player feedback with each system software release and gathering data on how players are using new features, we can continue to improve the experience for all our users. increase. That’s our focus and passion.
Sid: With the latest PS5 system update rolling out, what is the team working on right now?
Hiromi: We are working on new features for players and hope to share this soon. While we’re happy to see so many players enjoying the features of this latest update, our mission to make gaming on PS5 the best possible experience continues.
It’s an honor for us to bring these updates to our fans, and I truly feel it’s a collaborative effort. There is still more to come, so please look forward to it!
