Many PlayStation 4 firmware updates are incremental updates that have a thin changelog only mentioning system performance improvements. However, firmware 6.50 actually brings some to the table, most noteably Remote Play support for iOS and the ability to swap the X/O for pressing selecting items.

PlayStation 4 firmware 6.50 released; what does it bring to the table?

Earlier today, more specifically around 9 hours ago according to PS4 Update Bot, the PS4 got firmware update 6.50 with three features, two of which are pretty useful for many. These features are:

• The Remote Play feature now support iOS devices which means that you can play your favourite PS4 games on your smartphone/tablet provided you have a Wi-Fi connection… as long as you don’t mind not using a DualShock 4 (more below)
  • While Controllers4All (jailbreak tweak) supports the DualShock 4, the tweak itself hasn’t been updated for iOS 12 so you can forget using a DualShock 4 unless you’re within range of your console.
• You can finally swap the X/O buttons for selecting stuff without needing to hack the console!
  • Sony says that this is only available for certain countries/regions but doesn’t mention which ones in the release notes.
  • User reports on Reddit show that this functionality works on Japanese models so if you’ve imported a PS4 from over there, you can finally use your console without this minor, but noticeable, annoyance.
• You can now stream to NicoNico in 720p (not available in all regions)

The PS4 Remote Play application for iOS requires iOS 12.1 or above (probably for no good reason) and Sony recommends you use devices that have an A10 SoC or newer but there’s nothing stopping you from using it on an older iDevice (A7 or newer as it requires iOS 12). While this application achieves a pretty cool thing, its functionality is hindered by the fact that you can’t use a DualShock 4 due to iOS restrictions but thankfully, you can use MFi controllers with it. MFi controllers aren’t too cheap and usually cost $30-40 brand new if you manage to get on sale but if you own an iPad and a PS4, investing in one might be a good idea!

Should I update if I want to hack my console?

As usual, you shouldn’t jump the gun and update to FW 6.50 if you care about hacking your console. Furthermore, there is no information on how significant FW 6.50 is from a security point of view as of right now so you should proceed with caution. Obviously, don’t upgrade if your PS4 is already modded on lower firmwares like FW 5.05!

Unfortunately, the PS4 Remote Play for iOS functionality requires you to connect to PSN which might present challenges if someone tries to port the feature to older firmwares.

Conclusion

To grab the PS4 Remote Play application for iOS, simply follow the link below and enjoy your favourite PS4 titles on a smaller screen if you don’t mind touch controls or have an MFi-certified controller. However, it’s important to reiterate that you shouldn’t update if you care about hacking your console even if you have an Asian PS4 model and the X/O button thing annoys you every time you use your console 😉

PS4 Remote Play Application (yes, it’s free unlike alternatives like R-Play): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ps4-remote-play/id1436192460