Custom settings for the single console household

If you're a PlayStation 5 owner participating in the console's beta program to test new features before the rest of the public gets them, you'll get access to an update on Thursday that includes some new features for PS5 Remote Play and 3D audio. Both features seem designed for households where multiple people share just one PS5.

I'm a huge fan of the Remote Play feature on the PS5, and this particular update addresses a hyper-specific need for Remote Play users – but if it's a need you happen to have, it's going to be great news. Basically, this feature allows PS5 owners to "adjust Remote Play settings on a per-user basis and choose who can connect to [their] PS5 console with Remote Play." The PlayStation Blog has this handy image of what it would look like in action, showing multiple user profiles with a toggle switch that would presumably allow you to turn off each person's access to Remote Play.

My wife and I both use PS5s in our house, but I'm the only one using PS5 Remote Play; I use it all the time on my Steam Deck. It's actually even possible to get PS5 Remote Play working on a Steam deck if you're away from your PS5 and not connected to your home internet; it's hard to set this up, but it's doable. That's part of why I think this feature can be strangely useful in very specific circumstances, like households where a lot of people use remote play, including people who are away from home.