Sony released an update to the PS5 Welcome Hub on November 19, 2025, that adds a new Recently Played widget tracking gaming statistics and dynamic seasonal animated backgrounds rotating throughout the year. The update is now available globally across all PS5 console models.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Recently Played Widget Adds Game Statistics and Progress Tracking
The Recently Played widget provides tracking data for each player’s most recently accessed game. Once added to the Welcome Hub, the widget displays four key metrics updating automatically when gameplay changes:[2][4][1]
| Statistic | Description |
|---|---|
| Game Title | Most recently played game[1][2] |
| Total Hours | Cumulative playtime in that title[1][2][4] |
| Session Count | Number of individual gaming sessions[1][2] |
| Progress Percentage | Overall game completion progress[1][2][4] |
Players can add the Recently Played widget through their customization menu on the Welcome Hub home screen. The widget updates automatically whenever a new game becomes the most recently played title.[3][1][2]
Widget Customization and Management Options
The Recently Played widget can be managed through Welcome Hub customization settings. While the widget cannot be completely removed from the system, users can control its visibility and placement on their home screen.[1][2]
Seasonal Backgrounds Adds Dynamic Visual Rotation Throughout Year
The update introduces dynamic animated backgrounds that cycle automatically based on the calendar year. The backgrounds transition through four distinct seasonal themes:[4][5][7][2][3][1]
- Autumn (current): Yellow and red falling leaves[7][2][4][1]
- Winter: Winter-themed seasonal visuals[2][4][1]
- Spring: Spring aesthetic elements[4][1][2]
- Summer: Summer-themed visual design[1][2][4]
The backgrounds change automatically without requiring player intervention. Players cannot manually select which season to display—the console shows the current season automatically.[7][2][1]
Community Feedback on Background Visual Quality
User testing indicates seasonal backgrounds may display with reduced visual clarity on certain displays compared to previous PS4 themes. This limitation affects perceived visual quality but does not impact widget functionality.[4][1]
Global Availability and Console Compatibility Details
The update began rolling out globally on November 19, 2025. PlayStation distributed the update through automated Welcome Hub feature upgrades with in-console alerts. All PS5 console models are compatible:[5][6][3][2][1][4]
- PS5 Standard Edition[3][5][2][1]
- PS5 Slim Edition[5][2][1]
- PS5 Pro Edition[2][5][1]
Availability has been confirmed across multiple regions including the United Kingdom, Australia, and North America.[5][1][2][4]
How to Access the New Features
Players receive automatic system notifications when the update completes installation. The Recently Played widget becomes accessible through Welcome Hub customization settings. Seasonal backgrounds activate automatically without requiring user configuration.[3][1][2]
