Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll be fully aware of the hype surrounding the release of the PlayStation 5. Since then, the console has gone on to become the best one around, with a variety of excellent retail games and a nice variety of indie games, and gamers generally being happy with Sony’s now current gen console.

Given the number of functions it can perform and the features it possesses, it can be tricky for new users to get the most out of their new prized PS5 console. Simply put, it isn’t the most straightforward of console machines to use. In the same way that drivers test drive a vehicle before purchasing it or casino gamers learn about roulette odds and payouts before diving into a game, it’s important for gamers from the PlayStation community to get to know their console in order to enjoy it to its maximum potential. One way of doing that is through the exploration of some handy tips and tricks, while also getting to know some of the hidden features the PlayStation 5. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Make sure you’re playing the PS5 version of a specific game

You can play your PlayStation 4 games on your PlayStation 5 console, although it isn’t as straightforward as it should be. Essentially, some PS4 games have been enhanced, while others offer just the regular PS4 version for you to play. And to make sure that you’re playing the PlayStation 5 version of a game, you have a look at the game’s title on the home screen. If it has PS4 alongside it, then you’re playing the PS4 version of that particular title. Alternatively, enter your Game Library, select Sort and Filter and explore your games by Platform!

See how long you’ve played a game for

A hit feature with the PS5 is the option gamers have of seeing how long they’ve actually been playing a specific game. In order to keep track of your gaming time, just select the avatar at the top right on the PS5’s home screen and select Profile. After this, go to the Games tab. Once there, you’ll be able to check out your total playtime for each game you own.

How to tweak your controller settings

The DualSense controller, has received rave reviews, and it’s easy to see why! You need to know how to use it to be able to enjoy it in all its glory. For instance, if the vibration is too much for you, simply change the intensity or trigger effects by accessing Settings, then Accessories, then Controllers. You can also reduce the brightness and a range of other impressive features with ease. When developers make good use of the adaptive triggers, and the many vibration intensities for the controller, you’re going to have a blast.

Try Astro’s Playroom, then get rid of it

Astro’s Playroom comes with every PlayStation 5 console, making it a worthwhile free product to play. But once you’ve seen everything it has to offer, experiencing what the DualSense – and the extra power of the PS5 – does for your new gaming experiences, and after getting a new Platinum trophy for your collection, you should delete the game. Why? Because that way you’ll free up almost 11 GB of storage in the process! In order to delete Astro’s Playroom, go to Settings, Storage, Console Storage and then Games and Apps.

How to save power

To avoid wasting any power or draining the controller’s battery, it’s worth considering activating power saving mode. To be able to do that, gamers must access Settings, System and then Power Saving. This action will give you a variety of power saving options, from Rest Mode to enabling you to enter a specific time that you want your controllers to turn off after not being accessed.