PlayStation 5 owners are in for a blast from the past, but they’ll need to act fast. Sony has rolled out a new PS5 update that reintroduces the iconic PlayStation 1 startup sound and boot screen. This throwback feature comes as part of the celebration marking 30 years of the PlayStation brand.
The update doesn’t stop at just the PS1 nostalgia trip. PS5 users can now customize their home screens with themes from various PlayStation generations. Want your PS5 to feel like a PS2 or PS3? Now you can make it happen.
These features are only available for a limited time. This choice has set off a big conversation in the gaming community. Many fans are thrilled to relive the classic PlayStation experience, with the PS1 and PS2 boot sequences being hailed as “legendary” by some gamers.
a new PS5 update has brought back the original PS1 boot up screen and sounds to celebrate 30 years of PlayStation. You can also customize the home screen with sounds and designs from a variety of different PlayStation console generations pic.twitter.com/kMl7DjbfNL
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) December 2, 2024
However, the temporary nature of these features has left a sour taste in many mouths. Critics argue that this is a clear use of FOMO tactics, a strategy often seen in the gaming industry with limited-time events and exclusive content.
One gamer expressed their frustration, saying, “This FOMO bullshit even with such little things is really killing any joy I once had with gaming.” Others are simply puzzled by the decision to limit such a popular feature and accuse Sony of trying to reignite the hype around the PS5 that slowed down in the last months.
It’s not all smooth sailing on the technical front either. Some users have reported increased system lag when using the new themes, particularly on base PS5 models. This isn’t the first time the PS5 home screen has been criticized.
As the gaming community continues to weigh in on this update, it raises questions about the future of console customization and the use of nostalgia in marketing. We hope that these features become permanent.
