Sony has announced the Beta Program at PlayStation initiative. Detailed on the PlayStation Blog, PlayStation users can sign up for the Beta Program, which is an effort by Sony to consolidate its various experiences that might still require further testing through beta releases.
The Beta Program will test new features for the PS5 itself, the PlayStation App, and even beta releases of games. Signing up for the Beta Program will make you eligible for invitations for various software betas. It’s ultimately still up to the user whether they would like to participate in the betas since each will have its own dedicated test.
The Beta Program will also include PlayStation’s PC releases, and players with the necessary hardware to run high-end PC games may receive access to Sony’s next PC port.
To sign up for the Beta Program, PlayStation users will need a valid PSN account in good standing, and they must live in a region where the Beta Program is available. Users must also meet the legal age requirement for participation in these kinds of programs for their region.
“Over the years, many of you have participated in various beta programs across Sony Interactive, which has helped us deliver the best possible gaming experiences to gamers around the world,” said SIE Content Communications senior director Sid Shuman in the PS Blog post. “And we’re truly grateful for your participation.”
“That’s why I’m pleased to introduce the Beta Program at PlayStation initiative. It’s an easier, more consolidated way for gamers to sign up to participate in future PlayStation betas across a wide range of PlayStation experiences.”
PlayStation users can sign up for the Beta Program through its official website. An FAQ on the website mentions that the program is currently available in every region supporting the PlayStation Network. The same FAQ also points out that beta releases are time-limited, and as such, players who get invited to a game’s beta release would not end up with a free copy of that game.
Beta Program participants must also sign a non-disclosure agreement. This is to prevent players trying out the beta build of a game from sharing content like screenshots or videos on platforms other than “approved channels.”
Sony hasn’t yet revealed a hard limit on how many PlayStation users it will allow into the Beta Program, with the PlayStation Blog post mentioning that the company will try to include as many players as possible. While signing up for the program might get a user to be considered, there’s no guarantee the user will get selected.
Considering the nature of the aforementioned NDA and beta releases in general, Sony hasn’t yet revealed any details about the first major project for beta testing. It could range from something as simple as an update to the web-based PlayStation Store to the beta of an as-of-yet unannounced multiplayer title.
