PS5 welcome hub set for makeover as new UI reveals return to PS4 stylings

It looks as if the PlayStation 5’s welcome hub will soon be getting a major overhaul, and it's heavily reminiscent of the PlayStation 4 era.

PlayStation has made it clear that in the next few years, it’s more interested in improving the experience for existing PS5 users rather than luring new ones in.

Of course, a large part of that will be encouraging you to buy new games, accessories, and subscriptions, but the approach is also set to include some nice quality-of-life upgrades.

One such upgrade looks to address the PlayStation 5’s home screen or welcome hub.

The new UI looks much easier to navigate

While there’s nothing horrendously wrong with the PlayStation 5’s welcome hub, which has received multiple revisions over the years, it's always been seen as a slight step down from what we had with the PlayStation 4.

Largely, that’s due to the erasure of themes. The PS5 does now boast a wider variety of background options, but they’re a far cry from the PS4’s themes which, to make clear, aren't coming back.

In terms of navigation though, the PS5 could soon introduce a welcome hub that features navigation more akin to that featured on PlayStation’s previous-gen console.

It features tiles referencing your most recently played games plus a navigation bar above, which allows for quick access to PlayStation Plus, the PlayStation Store, your full library, your media, and more.

It’s not wildly different from what’s currently available, but it just looks a little more streamlined and user-friendly.

The UI was originally revealed by Reddit user FSTGang who confirmed that they’re in PlayStation’s beta programme.

It’s been around six months since the updated UI entered testing with a first-look at the update now doing the rounds again as it surely nears release.

“I like a more direct access to the library,” one Reddit user previously remarked.

“Also, no more Share Factory and other apps between the games, it seems. That was something that always kind of annoyed me. These changes seem smart and a very welcome improvement,” another added.

As a reminder, anyone can sign up to PlayStation’s beta programme if you do want to be involved in tests like this.

It's impossible to say when the updated UI will land for all PlayStation 5 users but considering how well it was received by beta testers, we don’t expect the UI to have been cancelled, so a full rollout should go ahead.

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As for themes, we’re just going to have to remain patient on that front. If PlayStation is ever to bring back themes, it feels like it’s something that it’ll keep back for the PS6 at this point.

The PS6 is going to cost an arm and a leg with hardware components at an all-time market high, plus many will be put off by PlayStation’s new digital-only policy for new physical games from January 2028 onwards.

It’s going to need to try every trick to try to lure back the interest of disillusioned gamers and while no one’s exactly going to purchase a PS6 just to get access to themes, it could be an interesting nostalgia pull.