If you've ever found the PS5 home screen a little cluttered, it looks like Sony heard you. A new dashboard layout is currently being tested by PS5 beta program members, and based on what's leaked, it's a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade that reorganizes the entire home menu structure.
The leak surfaced on Reddit first, then got amplified by Ben VideoTech on Twitter, before a second user going by @liquidmurky posted their own photo confirming it. Two separate beta testers, two separate screenshots, same redesigned UI. At this point it's about as confirmed as a leak can get without Sony officially saying a word.
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What the new layout actually changes
Here's the lowdown: the redesign moves the PSN Store, PS Plus management, and media apps out of their current positions and into a dedicated top row on the home screen. From there, you can flip between those sections using R1 and L1, which is a much faster way to get around than the current setup.
The current PS5 dashboard has always felt like it was designed to show you games first and everything else second, which is fine in theory but creates friction when you want to jump into the Store or check your PS Plus library. The new layout treats those top-level destinations as equals, giving them their own permanent real estate at the top of the screen.
Sony has not officially confirmed this redesign. The UI was spotted by PS5 beta program participants and has not been announced for a general rollout date.
Why this feels like a PS4 throwback (in a good way)
Anyone who spent time on the PS4 will recognize the logic here. The PS4's XMB-style top bar let you navigate categories horizontally before drilling down into content, and this new PS5 layout echoes that instinct. According to Tom's Guide's coverage of the leak, the ability to swap through menus with shoulder buttons specifically recalls how the PS4 handled top-level navigation.
The PS5 launched with a home screen that prioritized the game card feed, which made sense for a console trying to surface new content. Five years in, most players know where things are. The key here is that the redesign reflects that maturity, giving experienced users a faster path to the destinations they actually visit.
How finished this looks
The screenshots doing the rounds don't look like an early prototype. The icons are polished, the layout is consistent, and the navigation logic is coherent. As Kotaku noted in their original report, the UI looks finished enough that a general rollout in a near-future system update seems likely.
Sony has not responded to press inquiries about the beta UI, which is standard practice for unannounced features. But the combination of two independent beta testers sharing screenshots, the polished visual state of the UI, and Sony's history of quietly testing changes in the beta program before pushing them wide all point in the same direction.
PS5 beta program settings
What this means for players waiting on the sidelines
You'll want to keep an eye on upcoming PS5 system update announcements. Sony typically rolls tested features out to all users within a few weeks of beta validation, though there's no confirmed timeline here. The PS5's last notable home screen update added customizable pins and a startup submenu, and that change became a background convenience most players stopped thinking about almost immediately.
This one might take a similar path: a brief adjustment period for muscle memory, then a layout that feels like it was always there. For the latest on PS5 updates and what's worth your time, check out gaming news and guides as Sony's rollout plans become clearer. Make sure to check out more:
