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MILLIONS of PS5 fans are to receive a mysterious new console button that instantly saves them money – but there’s a catch.
Sony is introducing the setting, which is rolling out in the next PS5 System Beta, in a soft launch.
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Power Saver, a new PlayStation 5 game setting will reduce your console’s overall power consumption – but users are being warned it will also “scale back performance” of supported games.
Sony bosses revealed the new option on their website this week.
However, it won’t actually be available even in beta, at least publicly.
Games magazine IGN said the announcement looks to be “more of an acknowledgment that the feature is being worked on, then, ahead of it being spotted by users”.
In a blog post, PlayStation’s VP of Product Management Shuzo Kikuchi said he was delighted to announce the launch.
“With this update, you may notice a new option in your settings menu called Power Saver,” he said. “While this feature won’t be available during the beta phase, once it officially launches, supported PS5 games will scale back performance and will allow your PS5 to reduce its power consumption when the feature is enabled optionally by gamers.
“If not enabled, or if games do not support the feature, the performance will not be scaled back and power consumption will not be reduced.”
Sony did not release any further details of Power Saver other than to also confirm that Power Saver will not be compatible with the console’s VR mode
That will affect any customer who has bought a PlayStation VR2 headset.
Sony said more details on which games will support Power Saver, and how game performance will be degraded should you choose to turn it on, will be announced in the future.
“We’ll share more details on this new option as we get closer to launch,” Kikuchi concluded, “including supported PS5 games and estimated impact, so stay tuned!”
Why is Sony doing this?
In its blog post, the company highlighted its “Road to Zero” environmental plan that includes a target for the company to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2040.
The post added:”At [Sony Interactive Entertainment], we are committed to Sony’s ‘Road to Zero’ environmental plan, launched in 2010, which includes achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040.
” We are always exploring how we can contribute to these goals through our products and services.“
But the option has also been linked to the continuing rumours that Sony is once again planning a PlayStation handheld device.
“The ability for Sony to get some of its PS5 games running at a lower spec on its main home console would be a useful test for a more lightweight handheld,” IGN reported.
“Whatever the reason, and whether Sony end up launching a PlayStation handheld or not, it’s going to be fascinating to compare the performance of PS5 games running with Power Saver enabled, especially with Xbox Series X, and the already lower-power Xbox Series S.”
Four PS Plus games to be axed – download NOW
Four games will be axed from PlayStation Plus as part of a huge shake-up to the digital library.
Sony warned gamers that the titles will be removed in days – leaving millions of subscribers with a fast-approaching deadline to download or lose out.
Fans have until August 6 to claim this month’s PS Plus Essential games before they’re replaced.
The titles getting the boot are:
- Boarderlands 3
- NHL 24
- Among Us
- Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (Next-Level Edition)
