Today, Sony has released an update for the PlayStation, including support for external storage for PS5 games. But like reported through The edgeSony quietly sneaked into a handful of bonus features in the update, including the ability to automatically deactivate HDR, plus a new set of features called “HDMI Link.”
In its most basic sense, HDMI Link links the power status of your PS5 to the power status of your TV. Turn one on, the other on – a little. HDMI link is split into two different functions: Power Off Link (when you turn off your TV, your PS5 goes into sleep mode) and One-Touch Play (when you turn on your PS5, your TV turns on and automatically inputs to your PS5).
You can find both by going to your settings, opening the System menu and navigating to the HDMI submenu.
Especially the last option, One-Touch Play, is a godsend. Think about it: you play video games. You probably have multiple devices connected to your TV. Think about all the time you spent browsing the different inputs looking for the console you want (your PS5 in this case). With One-Touch Play, you no longer have to remember which input your console is on, and you immediately enjoy energy-saving benefits.
Too bad it doesn’t always seem to work.
When I tested the HDMI Link feature on my TV this morning, I found that neither feature works. (I mainly keep my PS5 plugged into a 2019 Sharp Roku TV.) When I turned off my TV, my PS5 stayed on completely, not in sleep mode and certainly not turned off. In a second test, when I turned on my PS5, my TV wouldn’t turn on and it certainly wouldn’t switch to the correct input.
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Huh.
I tried again on a second screen (a Toshiba Amazon Fire TV was picked up last year) and got identical results. So I did what any confused writer should do and harassed my colleagues until they test it out for me.
KotakuLisa Marie Segarra initially tried out these features on a PC monitor. One-Touch Play worked fine, but Power Off Link did not. Even after she unplugged the monitor, the PS5 stayed on. However, on a single year old Sony Bravia TV, both functions worked. Meanwhile for KotakuAsh Parrish’s – whose PS5 is hooked up to TCL TV – didn’t work either.
So it’s clear that HDMI Link will work in some cases, but it’s unclear what requirements, if any, are required for HDMI displays to make these two new features work.Kotaku contacted Sony for clarification but did not hear back in time for publication.)
Today’s update also gives PS5 owners the previously non-existent ability to save PS5 games to an external USB device. After the update, you should now see a separate column under the ‘Games and apps’ submenu called ‘Move PS5 games’. Transferring those games to an external device works just fine how things are going with PS4 games: just check the one you want to move and click the “move” button.
The catch is that you can’t play those games while they are stored externally. PS5 games require the system’s built-in solid-state drive. If you want to play a PS5 game on a PS5, you still need to move it back to your console’s internal storage. (As the system will tell you in a popup notification, moving games from external to internal storage is generally faster than downloading them fresh.) For those with lightning-fast internet or stable wired connections, this feature may not sound like it. a lot, but it’s a real boon for those with questionable connections or data caps.
Oh yeah, and despite the magnitude of today’s update, you still can’t hold down the PS button on your DualSense to turn off your console. Maybe next time.