I recently got aPlayStation 5Pro, and while the games are incredible, includingThe Last of Us Part 2 RemasteredandAstro Bot, the system itself has some baffling issues like the approach to dynamic backgrounds. Dynamic backgrounds were big on the PS4, with the TifaFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeone in particular being extremely popular, but they’ve mostly been absent on PS5 until now.
Sony finally tried to solveone of the biggest problems with the PS5by implementing game-specific dynamic backgrounds for many titles. These include older games, likeDemon’s SoulsorGhost of Tsushima.Highly anticipated upcoming 2025 exclusives, likeGhost of Yotei, are also included. However, this return isn’t as triumphant as it could be thanks toan inexcusable missing option that Xbox has had since the beginning.
After 5 Years, PS5 Finally Has Game-Specific Dynamic Backgrounds Like PS4
A Welcome Return
Sony has already experimented with a few dynamic backgrounds, including an exclusive one for the PS5 Pro and a couple for the 30th Anniversary of PlayStation, but the PS5 never had game-specific backgrounds. Even before these new ones dropped, Sony received criticism for the limited-time nature of the 30th Anniversary backgrounds, whereas on Xbox, dynamic backgrounds stick around permanently. Thesegame-specific ones are a step in the right direction, however.
The Solution To PS5’s Lackluster Games Library? Revisiting Old IPs
The PlayStation 5 hasn’t done a great job upholding the brand’s legacy of incredible exclusives, but looking back at older IP could be a solution.
There isn’t a huge number to start with, but more are likely coming. There are also a lot of great backgrounds to choose from here, including one forAstro Bot, thebest PS5 game of 2024. As an Oregon native, I rocked theDays Gonedynamic background, but as I moved around in the menus, I noticed something.This background only displays on the welcome screen, and I tried to find the option to disable the game library backgrounds, only to discover there isn’t one.
Xbox Does Dynamic Backgrounds Better, & PlayStation Needs To Step Up
It Leaves So Much To Be Desired
It’s baffling that there’s no option to let a dynamic background persist while other game tabs are selected, as Xbox has had that feature since day one of the Series X|S.In fact, it was the only option, and it wasn’t until fairly recently that Xbox actually offered the choice to let game backgrounds display while hovering over them. PS5’s lack of an option for a persistent dynamic background does significant damage to the appeal, and it pales in comparison to what is seen on Xbox and even the PS4.
In addition to a wider selection of dynamic backgrounds to choose from, Xbox also features secret backgrounds that are only usable if you connect special edition controllers.
That’s not the only issue. The backgrounds themselves are almost completely covered by the widgets, compared to Xbox, which has at least the upper half of the screen dedicated to the background.Whileyou can removewidgets to make the background more visible, it sacrifices certain vital information.
I Hope Indiana Jones & The Great Circle’s PS5 Promotion Starts A New Gaming Trend
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got a fun new promotional video, and I hope it’s the start of a trend in how a key part of video games is treated.
It’s so disappointing that Sony has finally provided this fan-requested feature in such a half-baked way. I couldn’t believe that there were hardly any dynamic backgrounds when I got my PS5 Pro, and I was pretty hyped when they came back recently. However, the execution is disappointing, and thePlayStation 5needs to fix this issue sooner rather than later.
