Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that classic PlayStation interface designs are returning to the PS5 for good. The system software for the PS5 is getting a few other helpful improvements, too.
The decision to bring back the classic UI comes after players’ “overwhelmingly positive response” when these designs were first released for a limited time. Originally introduced to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, the nostalgic themes were so popular that Sony has now made them a permanent part of the system.
Starting tomorrow, April 24, 2025, the new update will roll out gradually worldwide, letting PS5 users customize their home screens with the looks of four past consoles. This means the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. This is great, because my personal favorite was the PS3’s background and it’s generally seen as the worst console in the group.
Game systems really have changed a lot, and you don’t realize it until you look at the backgrounds. These classic designs are a great look into the gaming industry and show how things went from being colorful and playful to being more modern. While the PS5 is pretty out there, the PS2, PS3, and PS4 could fit into a home office and not stand out much, and it felt more mature to play games.
With the new update, users can easily switch between these designs by going to the “Settings” menu and selecting “Appearance.” There, they’ll find all the classic console themes, allowing them to give their PS5 a personal touch that blends modern gaming with nostalgia.
The update isn’t just about visual changes. It also adds a major new accessibility feature called Audio Focus. This feature is designed to improve sound quality, especially for players with different levels of hearing sensitivity. Audio Focus uses preset options to boost specific sound frequencies, making in-game audio and voice chat clearer and more immersive.
To turn on Audio Focus, users can go to [Settings] > [Sound] > [Volume] > [Audio Focus], or they can open it quickly through the Control Center while playing a game. There are four preset options to choose from, each tailored for different hearing needs:
- Boost Low Pitch (for deep sounds like engine roars)
- Boost Voices (for clearer dialogue and voice chat)
- Boost High Pitch (for sharp sounds like footsteps)
- Boost Quiet Sounds (for softer sounds across a wide range)
Each preset has three adjustable levels—Weak, Medium, and Strong—giving players precise control over how much the sound is boosted. Additionally, users can adjust the left and right audio channels separately, allowing for even more customization.
It’s a good idea to test the different settings before sticking to one. Use the YouTube app on the console to hear the differences, preferably in the genre you like playing. Not every setting will work for every genre, since an RPG player might want to hear voices, whereas a person who like FPS games will want different settings.
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If you love playing first-person shooters or battle royales, boost the quiet sounds and high pitch. Trust me, it will help a lot when you’re about to be ambushed by enemy players.
One thing to keep in mind is that Audio Focus only works with headphones connected through USB or a standard audio jack. It does not work with TVs, AV receivers, or soundbars connected via HDMI. This is because Sony can’t guarantee it will work on those, but it can make sure the feature works as accurately as possible on headphones.
Still, it’s a big upgrade, and you can get a good headset for PlayStation by Turtle Beach for $24.99 on Amazon. Alternatively, you can get the official PlayStation headset for $149.99 on Amazon, which will likely be built just for this.
Source: Sony
