The latest major update for Sony's PlayStation 4 is expected to go live anytime today.
System software update 3.00, also known as Kenshin, comes with various new social features as well as user interface enhancements.
As detailed in the PlayStation Blog, one of the update's features is the option to create virtual communities with other gamers who share the same interests and gaming preferences. Through these communities, members can host games, share screenshots with one another and have general discussions through message boards.
As noted by Lazy Gamer, through the Communities sections, players will be able to manage their contacts or friends. They can create sub-groups based on the games that they play and other specific interests.
Gamers will also be able to stream their games to YouTube through the new YouTube Live feature. This can be accessed by clicking on the new YouTube icon on the Broadcast Gameplay Screen. With this feature, gamers will be able to live stream their games directly from their consoles.
Aside from YouTube, gamers will also be able to share short clips of their game through their Twitter accounts.
Sony also made several improvements to how gamers interact with the PlayStation Plus service in the new update. Opening their PS Plus accounts will instantly their downloaded games, discounts available to members and the free titles featured in Sony's monthly programs.
Also, like Facebook's instant messaging feature, system software update 3.00 will let gamers chat with their friends more easily.
"We've improved Messages by making it easier to access groups of people you chat and play games with frequently," John Koller, Sony's vice president of platforms marketing wrote on the PlayStation Blog.
"Once you're added to or create a group, you'll see the online status for friends, what games they are playing and the option to message or chat in party all in one spot," the executive continued. When you add or create a new favorite group, they'll appear in your Friends app under favorite Groups for quick access."
The latest update will be available for download for PlayStation 4 owners starting today. As noted by Sony, the features of the Kenshin update were designed and improved through a series of beta events held by the company with a select number of gamers.
Although it seems that the Kenshin update is Sony's latest attempt to stay ahead of its competitor Microsoft in the console race, the Xbox One is also expected to get a system upgrade to boost its user interface, Venture Beat reported.
