Key Takeaways
- PS5 users can now customize their home screens with PS1, PS2, PS3, & PS4 themes.
- The options come with sound effects from each console and are only available for a limited time to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary.
The PlayStation 5 home screen has new PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4-themed customization options, thanks to a recent update. Sony is celebrating PlayStation’s 30th anniversary in December, and the company is leaning into gamers’ nostalgia as part of the festivities by letting PS5 users change their home screens to feature iconic visuals from earlier console generations.
Sony first revealed its PlayStation 30th anniversary plans in September, but those early promises turned out to be just a sample of what was to come. Game updates, e-sports tournaments, the Shapes of Play product line, and special playlists were just the beginning of what’s become a months-long nostalgia fest, and it’s not over yet. The infamously un-customizable PS5 home screen now has a select few personalization options.
Related
PlayStation’s 30th Anniversary Collection Explained
PlayStation has announced a new lineup of products to celebrate its 30th anniversary, including new console and controller variants.
After installing the newest update, PS5 users will see the option to celebrate the brand’s anniversary when they boot up their consoles. Following the prompts leads players to a screen with five home screen options: 30th Anniversary, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. The first option displays the PlayStation’s button shapes at the top of the screen, while “PlayStation” includes an overlay that looks like the PS1 console. Choosing the PS2 option makes the overlay look like the PS2 startup screen, and the PS3 and PS4 options replace it with the wave designs from those systems’ home screens. It may not be as flashy as the sold-out 30th anniversary PS5 Pro consoles, but it’s a neat touch.
Sony Offers Limited Time Home Screen Customization Options for PlayStation 5
On top of changing the home screen’s appearance, each customization option uses the sound effects from whichever console users choose. It’s unclear how long the custom screens will be available, but Sony did say they’re only up for a limited time. The PlayStation 30th Anniversary game sale runs through December 20, so a similar timeline may apply to these personalization features, but for now, that’s not certain.
While these options may not be the customization features fans have asked for in the past, they are a pleasant surprise. They’re the latest in a series of celebrations that Sony didn’t mention when it first announced the anniversary, and, unlike some other limited-time offerings, they don’t cost a thing. Some die-hard fans may still go further, like the player who customized their PS5 to look like a PS2, but if nothing else, having at least some personalization options is a welcome change of pace, even if it doesn’t last forever.
The official 30th anniversary of PlayStation lands on December 3, 2024, and some promotions will run through the month. Whether Sony has any final tricks up their sleeve is uncertain, but there’s a lot to celebrate, even without any last-minute reveals.
PlayStation 5
Sony’s PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth console generation and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon’s Souls and Astro’s Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, although a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.
