PS4 Problems: 10 Things Sony Still Needs To Fix

[Capn_Underpants 401]

I saw this article on the FG Facebook page so I thought I'd post it here to see if it could generate some kind of discussion.

 

10. External Storage Support

As anyone who owns more than three PS4 games can attest, the console’s default 500 GB fills up right quick. Upgrading the hard drive is pretty much a necessity when games regularly take up 40-50 GB of hard drive space; unfortunately, Sony doesn’t make it very easy to do so. For some unfathomnable reason, the PS4 only supports internal storage drives, which severely limits your options when you inevitably have to shop around for a larger hard drive (not to mention internal drives are generally more expensive than external). This is surely something Sony could fix with a firmware update, so it’s perplexing why they haven’t done so yet. 2.5″ SATA drives — the only type the PS4 supports — currently top out at 2 terabytes which, while still a massive improvement over 500 GB, pales in comparison to the options available with an external drive. Just imagine how many games you could put on this thing!

 

9. The Ability To Search For Communities

“Communities” are a newer addition to the PS4 ecosystem, enhancing the console’s social functionality by allowing users to rally around similar interests, play games together, and share tips and tricks. While they have been a popular and welcome feature, Sony dropped the ball in a a big way by seemingly forgetting to include the ability to search for Communities. This means that users have to do a bit of digging around to join up with a specific one, involving a number of unnecessary steps that are inefficient and time-consuming. Considering the backlash this error in judgment has received so far, it’s likely only a matter of time before Sony implements a Community search bar, but this is still an issue that shouldn’t even exist in the first place.

 

8. Video Capture Categorization

The PS4’s sharing features are significantly better than what the Xbox One currently offers, but there’s still considerable room for improvement. Perhaps the biggest issue (and one that seems to pervade the PS4 as a whole) is the poor categorization options included for organizing recorded screenshots and videos. The PS4 simply doesn’t allow for enough organization when it comes to these game captures, which makes things needlessly complicated and cumbersome for users who like to share content on a regular basis. Admittedly, the lack of categorization options is systemic of pretty much the entire PS4 user experience, but fortunately, adding these kinds of features isn’t anywhere near as complicated as something like backwards compatibility, so updating the video capture menu is probably something we’ll see down the road.

 

7. Allow For Pinned Apps

Another fix that seems so simple, but one that PS4 users continue to wait for is the ability to pin apps. Right now, it’s still pretty easy to find whatever apps you want to use, but is there any good reason why something like Netflix — an app that most PS4 users use on a constant basis — has to be needlessly buried in the “TV and Movies” tab? Users should be able to pin their favorite apps and games so that they can access them quicker. This pretty much all stems from the PS4’s inexplicable lack of organization and categorization options (something that definitely needs to be addressed in a future firmware update) but the ability to pin apps should be at the top of Sony’s list for future PS4 improvements, especially when it really wouldn’t be that difficult to implement.

 

6. “Appear Offline” Mode

This is such a simple feature it’s baffling that Sony hasn’t thrown it into one of its many firmware updates. The ability to appear offline isn’t an important feature by any stretch, but with consoles pretty much having to be always online these days, it’s sometimes nice to at least pretend you’re offline for those times when you want to be antisocial. We don’t all want to be pestered by our friends to play an online game when we’re deep into a mission in Fallout 4 or have every moment of our gaming time broadcast to everyone on our friends list. Sometimes it’s just nice to be left alone and do some solo gaming, but evidently Sony doesn’t want anyone to do this or else they would have added this feature long ago. Come on, Sony: The Xbox One has an appear offline feature; why can’t the PS4?

 

5. Better Controller Battery Life

Although this isn’t a fix Sony can simply make just by releasing a patch (unless there’s a way to turn off whatever drains the battery so fast) the fact of the matter is that the DualShock 4’s battery life is much too low. You pretty much need to own at least two controllers so that one is always being charged, as the DualShock 4 consumes battery power at an alarmingly fast rate. If there’s no way to make any fixes through a firmware update, it would be nice to see Sony release new batches of controllers with improved battery life, or the option to replace the existing rechargeable battery with some AAs like the Xbox One does (although those controllers don’t have rechargeable batteries by default, to be fair). Whatever the solution, the PS4 badly needs a controller that doesn’t die after less than 8 hours of use; either that, or toss in a charging cable that that’s more than 3 feet long.

 

4. New Dashboard UI

Overall, the PS4’s user interface is adequate and smartly laid out, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t use a bit of a facelift. It’s hard to escape the feeling that the PS4 UI feels like it’s in beta form for the last two years and that we’re still waiting for the full realization of what the system should look like. The main thing that’s missing right now is the ability to organize games; it makes sense to have the most recently used games and apps appear earlier in the horizontal list, but there has to be a better way to categorize everything. Hopefully Sony pulls a Microsoft and releases something like the “New Xbox Experience” next year that overhauls the entire PS4 dashboard, bringing new features and a better overall aesthetic with it. It’s time Sony moved away from its launch day UI and gave us something new and vibrant.

 

3. Better PSN Infrastructure

While PSN and Xbox Live are pretty much on par these days and are both well worth their subscription price, it’s hard to deny that Xbox has a much stronger online infrastructure that Sony simply can’t seem to match. Dreadful download speeds, strange networking quirks (what the heck is a NAT type error anyway?), and an infrastructure that seems to be a cyber terrorist’s best friend (remember that month long PSN outage back in 2011) are simply a reality of using Sony’s online service. While the company continues to upgrade the PSN and make it better everyday, it still plays second fiddle to Xbox Live. As the leading console this generation, Sony should also be leading when it comes to its online experience and unfortuantely, it’s just not there yet. Sony needs to continue making improvements to PSN’s backend that improve stability and performance across the board if they ever want to have the same reputation as Microsoft and their (comparatively) rock-solid online infrastructure.

 

2. True PS3 Backwards Compatibility

Demand for backwards compatibility with PS3 games has only gone up since Microsoft (I know, I know! Enough with the Xbox references but Microsoft’s system does a lot of things right. To be fair, you could pack an entire list of things the Xbox One should copy from the PS4, so it’s all relative) revealed that the Xbox One would be gaining the ability to play Xbox 360 titles earlier this year. While recent reports suggest that PS2 emulation is coming soon, there’s still no way to play the PS3 games you own on the console. There are two potential ways Sony could go about remedying the PS4’s lack of backwards compatibility with PS3: they could go the emulation route, which could very well not even work considering the PS3 was such a needlessly complex piece of hardware. The other solution and the one that seems like the more likely of the two is to expand PlayStation Now to allow you to stream all of your PS3 games. At the moment, PlayStation Now allows you to play a variety of PS3 titles for a monthly subscription fee, but nobody wants to pay twice to experience games they already own. If Sony can make PS3 emulation a reality or improve upon PlayStation Now’s functionality, it would go a long way in matching what Xbox One has on offer and better unify the entire PlayStation library.

 

1. PSN ID Changes

This is the big one, but also the one that may be the most difficult to remedy, perplexingly. Unlike Xbox Live, PSN does not allow you to change your name. That means that if you chose “ChronicMan420″ as your handle back in 2006 when the PlayStation 3 first came out and you were a young idiot, you’re still stuck with that unfortunate ID 9 years later. While it seems like it would be a simple thing to allow users to change their names, the PSN was set up in such a way where your actual ID — and not a series of numbers like on Xbox Live — are tied to everything on an account level, which means that it would a be a very complex process to switch any PSN name, let alone give every user the option. Recent comments from Sony suggest that they have heard the complains loud and clear, but that it might not even be possible to allow users to change their IDs. We can only hope that Sony finds an engineering solution that will allow us to no longer live with our shortsighted, regrettable online handles any longer.

 

[BO7H B4RRELS 2,447]

I just saw this on Reddit today.  Good stuff.  I thought about posting it but didn't.  There was also an article on Top Ten Features for PS4.  It has some good stuff that I didn't know about.  

 

Sony really does need to add some of these features.  

[Capn_Underpants 401]

I think a majority of these things are obtainable. They just need to pull the trigger. PSN name changes looks like the only challenging thing on the list. I personally don't care for backwards compatibility though, still have the PS3.

 

I really enjoy digital games, as I can just buy it once and share it with my family. So the external storage support I really want to see happen. I would be ecstatic to see that implemented.

[BO7H B4RRELS 2,447]

I'd love to be able to change my PSN name.  I hate that I got stuck w/ a bunch of x's and shit.  Oh well... from the way it sounds, that one isn't going to be fixed.  

 

I'd love backwards compatibility.  I was on 360 back then, so I missed out on a lot of great PS3 games.  I'd love to buy them cheap and play them now.  

 

I haven't looked into the HD issue much.  But, I've had to delete some shit off mine already.  The PS4 is too early in its lifespan to be doing that shit already.  It should have come with that feature from the start.  Hopefully they'll fix it.  

[Sennex 1,903]

For once I dont agree with a few of those.

[BO7H B4RRELS 2,447]

For once I dont agree with a few of those.

Care to elaborate?  

[JsinOwl 644]

If that's what Sony needs to improve, then they're doing pretty f'ing good. None of those strike me as really glaring issues that need to be addressed now or even ever.

Buy games on disc and delete the ones you're finished playing, simple as that with respect to storage space. The fact that you can upgrade the internal storage drive at all amazes me, to ask for external drive support is quite a stretch.

The fact that they have all the sharing options and communities is great and not something I expected when I bought the system. Seeing as it's a fantastic and unexpected feature, I can't see complaining about lack of categorization.

Backwards compatibility isn't happening given the total change in system architecture. Over time, many old titles will get updated, but that's it, time to get over it. Sony did right IMO by moving away from their cell processor, making life much easier for developers, but lack of backwards compatibility is the price that must be paid. I've never expected it of a console, sometimes we have to let go in order to move forward, I'm okay with that.

Some of the other stuff would be nice, but not game changing by any stretch.

[The3rdWalker 1,263]

I don't know if I agree with many of them. When you look at the competition XBO falls short in every category other than external hard drive and their UI. I personally hate how cluttered XBO is but I am enjoying it the more I use it. The internal HD is not an issue to me, I bought a nice laptop hybrid hd for dirt cheap (2tb) and it took all of 2 minutes to snap in and set up. The community thing is something to nit pick on.

 

Backwards compatibility will always be at a snail's pace for both consoles, it would make more money to have a  remake than to allow a game to be backwards compatible.

 

The only thing on this list that they should address is the name change thing. Sony said they were against it to prevent harassment and trolling, but screw that man it works well for XBO

[BO7H B4RRELS 2,447]

I want the invisible status more than anything else on the list.  None of it's game breaking stuff, but just things that would be cool.

[TigerBurge 2,374]

The original Xbone UI was fucking horrible.

Like Owl said if this is what they need to fix they are doing a good job.

[Diddums 4,305]

I want the invisible status more than anything else on the list.  None of it's game breaking stuff, but just things that would be cool.

Tommy if you don't wanna play with us all you have to do is say so

The power consumption of the joysticks is an interesting one. I wonder how much longer the battery would last if you didn't have that stupid light flashing all different colours for no reason whatsoever and that literally nobody can see, let alone give a shit about.

[Capn_Underpants 401]

I'm with Jason in saying that if this is what Sony needs to improve, then they're doing a good job.

But is there something not on this list? Hmm

[BO7H B4RRELS 2,447]

Tommy if you don't wanna play with us all you have to do is say so

 

lol

 

It's just that sometimes I know going in that I'm going to just play 1 or 2 quick TDM games.  So, I'm not going to bother putting on my headset and getting in a party, etc.  I don't want to seem rude ignoring invites and stuff, so it would be a nice option to just log in invisible and play a couple quick matches and go.  

[The3rdWalker 1,263]

I would actually like two Xbox features, "so in so has invited you to a game (or) so in so has sent you a message, hold X to join."

I love that, hate having to go to the notification on PSN and going that route.

I also like the invite party to game feature

[Capn_Underpants 401]

I would actually like two Xbox features, "so in so has invited you to a game (or) so in so has sent you a message, hold X to join."

I love that, hate having to go to the notification on PSN and going that route.

I also like the invite party to game feature

Now those sound nice. It's the little things that make me happy.

[Sennex 1,903]

Care to elaborate?  

 

Jsin and Rob covered it for me

[GazzaGarratt 10,887]

Yep, not much to talk about really, just minor points to tweak at best. The hard drive sucks for me the most as I keep and have a lot of games that I want to switch around. The UI is actually neat and simple. They could only improve by looking at the xbox360 UI.

They could increase the chat party from 8 to say....16?? Whilst it would be difficult to hear some people I think it would create more social events. Maybe 12 is the optimal number.

[Plumbers Crack 4,033]

Wish they'd put a USB port on the back as well

[phil bottle 9,589]

I'd suggest less outages, never really had that problem on the 360.

 

Also, agree with the USB.

 

I'd also make it easier to use a headset.

[JsinOwl 644]

Xbox had an outage over the holiday due to a DDoS attack, nobody noticed because they're all on PSN. [emoji38]

[Sennex 1,903]

Hard to fight against DDoS attacks when you actively want people to attach to your network.

 

I honestly don't hold it against Sony (Or microsoft) when this stuff happens

[phil bottle 9,589]

Xbox had an outage over the holiday due to a DDoS attack, nobody noticed because they're all on PSN. [emoji38]

lol that made me crack up

[phil bottle 9,589]

Hard to fight against DDoS attacks when you actively want people to attach to your network.

 

I honestly don't hold it against Sony (Or microsoft) when this stuff happens

 

True enough, it just seems more prevalent on PSN...but then it's early days for me and I'm probably just being precious, I've already had a bad experience with their customer service over a DLC code, which has probably skewed my perspective a little... 

[JsinOwl 644]

I don't know enough about the technical aspects of DDoS attacks to judge whether Sony is doing a good job fighting them or not. On the one hand, it goes down occasionally, on the other they seem to be a favorite target of hackers, and it only goes down occasionally. I don't know what to make of it. A data breach on the other hand, totally unacceptable and they better have gotten their shit together since 2011.

[The3rdWalker 1,263]

Xbox had an outage over the holiday due to a DDoS attack, nobody noticed because they're all on PSN. [emoji38]

Which holiday?