Hidden Features In The PS4

by

Wow, even though the PS4 came out over ten years ago, it’s still considered one of the greatest consoles ever! I mean, think about all the amazing games it had, and how powerful it was back then. Plus, it was packed with features – some were really hidden in the menus, and even a lot of regular players probably never even discovered them all!

Looking back at the console now, it’s surprising how many features players had access to that are now standard. Some of these were genuinely useful for overcoming tricky parts of the system, while others simply improved the overall experience without changing how the core features worked.

Rest Mode

More Than Just A Low-Powered State

Details:

  • Freezing programs rather than closing them
  • Power-off timers and automatic charge pausing

The PS4’s Rest Mode was a popular feature, letting players continue downloading games or charge controllers while using less power. While many people enjoyed these benefits, Rest Mode actually had some hidden features that most players never discovered or used.

When you charge controllers while the console is in rest mode, it stops charging automatically once full, which helps protect the controller’s battery and saves energy. Even better, using the console’s power-off timer along with rest mode can significantly lower energy use without interrupting downloads or requiring you to do anything extra.

Light Bar

Pretty Colors And So Much More

Details:

  • Originally designed for precise camera tracking
  • Could identify player position and controller orientation

The Dualshock 4 controller was a significant improvement over older models, quickly becoming the preferred choice for players who liked its comfortable, balanced design. While many people noticed its distinctive light bar – which changed colors to show who was playing, what was happening in the game, or how much battery life was left – there were actually a lot of other cool features most players didn’t know about.

The most notable addition is the camera tracking, which lets the system pinpoint where players are and how they’re moving in a 3D environment. While a few games, such as Alien: Isolation, used this feature, it generally feels like an underutilized capability that could have been much more impactful with further development.

Share Button

Seems Like Magic At Times

Details:

  • Always recording gameplay prior to button press
  • Customization of clip length and resolution

One of the most exciting features of the PS4 when it launched was how easily players could share and record their gameplay. The dedicated ‘Share’ button let you instantly capture clips, send videos to friends, or even start live streaming, and it felt remarkably intuitive for something accessed with just one button press.

This device works incredibly well because it’s always recording in the background, saving the last 15 minutes of gameplay—or even more, depending on your settings. This gives you plenty of time to capture important moments. You can also adjust the recording quality and length, making it easy to create and share gaming videos quickly.

Full Button Remaps

Accessibility And Preference

Details:

  • Changing entire layouts outside of games
  • Custom control schemes for competitive play

Gamers have always customized their controllers, ever since the beginning of video games, to improve speed or create a more comfortable setup. The PlayStation 4 continued this tradition, offering controller customization options hidden in the settings. This feature is incredibly helpful, allowing many players to enjoy games they otherwise couldn’t.

Many players find standard controller setups difficult to use, so being able to customize button arrangements and functions greatly improves accessibility. Plus, players who prefer a unique control scheme can make changes at the system level, letting them play all their games exactly how they like without constantly switching controllers or reconfiguring settings within each game.

Controller Hot Keys

Everything From Zoom To Quick Settings

Details:

  • Quick combinations with surprising utility
  • Not often clear to most players

Game controllers usually have limited ways for players to input commands. Instead of a full keyboard, players rely on just a few joysticks and buttons, which can sometimes make complex actions feel clumsy or frustrating.

Most consoles have some built-in shortcuts that can really change how you use them. These shortcuts let you do things like zoom in, quickly access menus, and even reconnect controllers. Despite being helpful, a lot of players don’t even know about them or how to use them.

Hidden Trophies

Ticking Off Those Platinums

Details:

  • Revealing trophies at the click of a button
  • Instantly searching for solutions on the web

Trophies are a big part of gaming, giving players rewards for making progress or advancing the story. Games usually have many different trophies, ranging in difficulty. Finding out what you need to do to earn the more challenging ones can be frustrating, often requiring players to look up guides online.

As a PlayStation fan, I was so surprised to learn you can just click on a hidden trophy on the PS4 to see what it is! It’s a really neat feature. Plus, you can actually search the web right from the menu, which is awesome for finding guides or help with those tricky trophies you’re stuck on. It saves me a ton of time not having to open a browser!

Custom Backgrounds

Replacing Gaming Legends With Family Pics

Details:

  • Custom themes and profile backgrounds
  • Fast uploads with no cost

Gamers love to personalize their experience and express themselves, and the PlayStation 4 offers a lot of ways to do just that. While it’s well known you can change menu backgrounds and profiles with themes from the store, many players don’t realize how much customization is actually possible.

Players can easily personalize their gaming experience by uploading just a few images. This transforms their home screen from a simple list into a unique hub with endless options, and lets them customize their profile with icons and backgrounds. Best of all, it’s a free and simple way to show off their style to other players.

Facial Recognition

Logging In Almost Instantly

Details:

  • Camera support for fast logins
  • Automatic profile selection

Although many PlayStation 4 owners never used the PlayStation Camera, it’s a surprisingly helpful accessory. It does more than just record video – it can recognize your face, letting you log in without using your controller. Once set up, it automatically identifies you and loads your profile.

Although not commonly used, this feature worked surprisingly well when there was plenty of light. It was intended to make things easier for families or households with multiple people, and it turned out to be a pleasant bonus when the situation was right, even if it wasn’t a truly essential feature.

Motion Typing

Cutting Out The Awkward Messages

Details:

  • On-screen cursor for fast typing
  • More precise than a thumbstick

Typing on a controller can be really annoying, especially when you accidentally select the wrong letter and have to start over. Luckily, the PlayStation 4 offers a better way: motion controls. These use the controller’s built-in motion sensor to move the cursor on the screen with surprising accuracy, making typing much easier.

While not as fast as typing on a keyboard, this method significantly speeds up searches, making entering passwords much easier. It’s a small feature many missed, but those who discovered it often found it too helpful to stop using.

Game Suspending

Switching Between Games And Movies In A Second

Details:

  • Suspend applications in the background
  • Reducing the load time between individual apps

The PlayStation 4 is primarily for gaming, but it does much more than just play games. Many people also use it to watch movies or browse the internet, and it can be frustrating to have to constantly restart and switch between different apps.

Fortunately, the system lets players pause games and quickly switch to other applications without closing them. This was widely used by many apps, allowing players to run a game while simultaneously browsing the web, for example – switching between tasks was smooth and didn’t require any waiting for things to load.

Read More

2026-01-07 19:08