Reports indicate that Sony (NYSE: SNE) will roll out a new firmware update for the PlayStation 4 that will add in a number of interesting new features including the long-awaited game suspend/resume function, customized controller button mapping, and more.

The info was leaked by participants of Sony’s PlayStation MVP Program who are currently beta testing the PS4 2.50 firmware update, which is currently slated for a release sometime in April.

PlayStation 4 gamers have been waiting for the resume/suspend mode since Sony announced the feature before the system’s launch, but the addition was delayed and has been anticipated ever since.

In the meantime Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) sought to one-up Sony by implementing the “Resume Game Quickly” feature for the Xbox One, effectively introducing a suspend and resume mode for the all-in-one console.

The mode is essentially like opening and closing the Nintendo 3DS and being able to easily and quickly jump back into your game without any loading or data loss.

Suspend and resume will be nestled as part of the PlayStation 4’s Rest Mode and will essentially enables users to pause their game and preserve their progress while the console is in its low-powered state.

With the custom button-mapping feature, PS4 gamers will finally be able to recreate the original Japanese face button meanings where O is confirm and X is cancel; a scheme that a lot of JRPG gamers have come to know and love.

The button mapping may be universal across all PlayStation 4 games, which is a pretty amazing addition. Then again we have reports that the custom mappings may need to be set for every game instead of being a global option (thanks justerthought!).

Plus it looks like V 2.50 will update Share Play to 60 frames-per-second along with allowing gamers to take snapshots of game scenes when trophies are earned and share them just like screenshots, similar to the Xbox One’s achievement structure.

Also the PS4 will automatically delete games at 0% trophy progresson from your list, making for easy navigation.

But there is some bad news, as you’ll need to update your PS Vita past v 3.35 in order to use Remote Play with the PS4. Let’s hope both updates arrive side-by-side or gamers won’t be able to tap into the cross-platform streaming action.

The new firemware update is looking to be quite hefty and it’s great to see that Sony is opting for a beta test this time around considering how some past updates have led to various performance issues and problems.

Hopefully the Japanese console-maker will be able to iron out all the kinks and stay on track for an April release, as it’d be nice to play Final Fantasy X HD Remaster in May with the revised button mapping controls.

Below we have a huge breakdown of what v 2.50 has to offer straight from trusted industry insider Wario64 (via Gematsu):

Main Features

• The system can now enter rest mode without closing any applications. You can adjust this setting in [Power Save Settings] > [Set Functions Available in Rest Mode].
• [Accessibility] has been added to [Settings]. You can adjust accessibility settings such as zooming and button assignments.

Trophies

• You an now delete trophies with 0% achievement progress.
• [Earned Date], [Not Earned], and [Grade] have been added as sorting options for trophies. You can also sort by [Earned Date] and [Not Earned] options when comparing trophies with other players.
• You can now search the Internet for details about trophies from the options menu in [Trophies].
• Screenshots of scenes when you earn trophies are now saved automatically. You can view saved screenshots in [Capture Gallery].
• You can now share trophy details and screenshots. Select the trophy you want to share details about in [Trophy], and then press the Share button.

Share Play

• You can now test the host’s connection speed when starting Share Play.
• You can now enjoy Share Play at 60 fps. A host in a party can adjust the setting in [Party Settings] > [Video Quality for Share Play] > [Frame Rate].
• A user who is running version 2.50 or earlier on their system cannot use Share Play with someone who is running version 2.50 beta on their system. Users who are both running system software version 2.50 beta can enjoy Share Play.

Other

• Users who are your Facebook friends can now be displayed in [Players You May Know].
• You can now send real name requests in addition to Friend requests to users who are currently not on your Friends list.
• You can now apply a shadow style for text in [Themes].
• You can now enter up to 140 characters for your self-introduction.
• If you enter 22 characters or more for your self-introduction, only 21 characters will be displayed on a PS4 system running system software version earlier than 2.50.
• You can now use the touch pad to operate playback of videos on discs.
• [Discover] has been added to introduce users to PS4 system features. You can view information about features in [Notifications] > [Discover].
• Remote Play cannot be used with a PS Vita system running version 3.35. A system software update for the PS Vita (to be released later) is required.

Source: Gematsu, @Wario64 1, 2, 3 and 4

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We’ve all heard Sony’s (TYO: 6758) previous announcement for the latest firmware update of the Playstation 4 console. Now, its version 2.00 update is almost ready for launch. Codenamed as “Masamune”, the version update opens several more social media sharing features, as well as other conveniences that make for an overall better and more comfortable use of Sony’s latest game console.

The PS4 version 2.00 firmware update will feature most of the improvements that were announced earlier this October. First is the much advertised Share Play option, which is basically a feature that lets multiple owners of PS4 consoles play together as if they share the same room, and are just playing on one single console.

And speaking of sharing, the Share button of the DS4 controller would no longer be limited to Facebook posts. Starting with the new update, the same button can now be used to upload Youtube videos, instantly letting users upload their gameplay videos, as a sort of achievement, or for any reason they may need it uploaded and shared for.

Themes were also a central part of the update announcement, and starting next week PS4 users will be able to change visual themes just like in the PS3 and PS Vita. Also, the PS4’s USB port will soon be able directly read and playback music files saved on any flash memory device plugged in it (albeit in MP3 and AAC format only). Take note that this playback feature can be used even when you’re in the middle of a game, if you ever feel like changing the mood, or if you have a more appropriate and matching music for that part of the game in mind.

If you need a recap of all the other little add-ons and extra features for this update, you can always look it up on the official Playstation blog.

The update is slated to be released on October 28, so you might want fiddle on something else while you wait for these new features.

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