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For many, the immersive experience of gaming is intertwined with the memorable sights and sounds of the PlayStation 2 startup menu. If this resonates with you, Sony offers exciting news: Classic PlayStation themes are making a comeback on the PlayStation 5, and this time, they’re here to stay. Revisit cherished memories with nostalgic PlayStation themes on your next-gen console.
Classic PlayStation Themes Return to PS5
Sony officially announced the return of these fan-favorite themes in a blog post, detailing the upcoming features in the next PS5 system update. Besides innovative audio enhancements, users can personalize their console’s user interface (UI) with themes inspired by its iconic predecessors: PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4. These themes were originally introduced as a limited-time promotion for the PlayStation brand’s 30th anniversary the previous year. The overwhelmingly positive community feedback has prompted their permanent return.
“Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from our community, we’re happy to bring back the look and feel of the four console designs for players to customize the home screen on PS5!” the post declared.
The update incorporating these classic UI themes became available on Thursday, April 24.
The previous offerings also featured a broader 30th-anniversary UI theme which will not be included in this update. It remains unclear if the return of these themes will affect the PS5’s boot sequence, or if the adjustments will only apply to the main menu’s visuals and audio.
Additional Features in the PS5 Update
While the return of these classic PlayStation themes is a major highlight, the update introduces new options for customizing the console’s audio settings. These features, dubbed “audio focus,” can be accessed via [Settings] > [Sound] > [Volume] > [Audio Focus]. Familiar to those who have adjusted soundbar settings or utilized the Apple TV’s dialogue enhancement, the PS5 now provides expanded options for improving dialogue audibility in movies, shows, and games.
The audio focus options, as outlined by Sony, are as follows:
- Boost Low Pitch: Enhance low-frequency sounds like engine roars and rumbles.
- Boost Voices: Amplify voice chats, character dialogue, and mid-frequency sounds.
- Boost High Pitch: Improve high-frequency sounds such as footsteps and metallic noises.
- Boost Quiet Sounds: Increase the volume of quieter sounds across various frequencies.