Nearly two years have passed since the historic launch of thePlayStation 5, and the platform continues to evolve with new firmware updates. These updates provide important bug fixes to improve stability, performance, security, and add new features. Sony released a new firmware update for thePS5, offering settings for a feature all players may utilize.
This past April, Sony released a PS5 firmware update with Variable Refresh Rate support. Players with a compatible HDMI 2.1 display may take advantage of reduced frame drops and input lag with VRR enabled. Users without an HDMI 2.1 display may still use VRR, but visual bugs may occur due to incompatibility. A number ofhigh-profile PS5 gamescurrently support VRR, such asCall of Duty: Vanguard,Destiny 2,DIRT 5, andMarvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. Many more games are expected to support VRR throughout the PS5’s lifecycle.
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Thelatest PS5 firmware update, version 22.01-05.50.00, improves system performance and adds settings for the console’s auto low latency mode (ALLM). ALLM allows for a smooth, lag-free experience while playing games at a high frame rate. The feature is often compared to VRR for its role in reducing input lag. However, all PS5 players may utilize ALLM without compatibility issues and the need for an HDMI 2.1 display.
The ALLM settings may be accessed by reaching the “Screen and Video” menu under PS5 Settings. After reaching the menu, the settings option “Video Output” is present, containing the ALLM settings. Players may choose the Automatic option to allow the display to automatically enable when a game is being played. If Off is selected, ALLM will only enable itself when VRR is being used during a play session.
The inclusion of ALLM settings grants players the opportunity tofine-tune their PS5 experienceacross a multitude of displays and configurations. An expensive HDMI 2.1 display is not needed for ALLM, so players won’t have to immediately upgrade from an HDMI 2.0 display. Sony understands display settings and preferences for users may differ greatly, and ALLM is a compelling compromise. For the best possible gaming experience on PS5, settings like VRR and ALLM are necessary to achieve the desired responsiveness at high frame rates.
Although PS5 firmware update 22.01-05.50.00 doesn’t offer completely new features, Sony will continue rolling out firmware updates to improve the console’s stability and performance. These firmware updates ensure compatibility for upcoming PS5 games, the DualSense controller,new PlayStation Plus offerings, and much more within the PlayStation ecosystem. New PS5 features are expected with major product launches, such as the PlayStation VR 2 headset.
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