PlayStation 5 Software Update Overhauls Parties and Brings New Features

After spending some time in invite-only beta, Sony has officially released the console update for PlayStation 5, adding several new accessibility features, along with new features that aim to improve the console’s user experience.

The PlayStation 5 update 05.00.00.40 adds new features to the console, such as an overhaul of parties. Originally called voice chats, parties can either be open or closed, where an open party will let a user’s friends see and join said party without an invite, and a closed party will only be for players that have been invited. Furthermore, players can use the PlayStation app to create or join open and closed parties.

Accessibility features such as voice commands that can be used to turn on games and control media playback have been added- however, currently the feature is only available for users in the US and the UK.

Apart from the above, some additional updates, such as allowing players to keep up to five games or apps pinned on the home screen and a few subtle UI changes, have also been made, along with more options to control child accounts. The patch notes for the new update are pretty comprehensive and detailed- check them out below.

It’s also been confirmed that PS5 will finally be adding VRR support “in the coming months”- read more on that through here.

PLAYSTATION 5 UPDATE 05.00.00.40

• In (Game Base), we’ve updated the following:
  • Voice chats are now called parties.
  • For easier access, we’ve divided Game Base into three tabs: [Friends], [Parties] and [Messages].
  • Now when you start a party, you can select either an open party or a closed party.
    • An open party lets your friends join without an invite. Friends of party members can also join.
    • A closed party is only for players you invite.
• From the Game Base control menu and cards, you can now do the following:
  • View all your friends under the [Friends] tab in the control menu.
  • Start Share Play directly from the voice chat card. You no longer need to start Share Screen to use Share Play.
  • Add a player to a group, or create a new group directly from the messages card. You can also send video clips, images, quick messages, and view a group’s shared media from this card.
  • Now when someone in a party is sharing their screen, you’ll see the (c )) on air icon. You can check this in the [Parties] tab.
  • The player search feature and friend requests are now under the [Friends] tab.
  • We’ve made it easier to decline friend requests by adding a [Decline] button to your friend request list.
• In Accessibility, we’ve updated the following:
  • We’ve updated the following for the screen reader:
  • The screen reader is now supported in six additional languages: Russian, Arabic, Dutch, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, and Korean.
    • The screen reader can now read aloud notifications.
    •  You can now enable mono audio for headphones, so that the same audio is played from both the left and right headphones.
    • While your headphones are connected, go to [Settings] > [Sound] > [Audio Output], and then turn on [Mono Audio for Headphones]. Alternatively, go to [Settings] > [Accessibility] > [Display and Sound], and then turn on [Mono Audio for Headphones].
  • You can now show a check mark on enabled settings so you can easily see that they’re turned on. • Go to [Settings] > [Accessibility] > [Display and Sound], and then turn on [Show Check Mark on Enabled Settings].
• In (Trophies), we’ve updated the following:
  • The visual design of trophy cards &  the trophy list has been updated.
  • You can now see suggestions for which trophies to earn on the trophy tracker when you’re playing a game.
• For the features available from the Create menu, we’ve updated the following:
  • You can now start Share Screen and stream your gameplay to an open party.
• We’ve added a new feature: Voice Command (Preview). Voice Command (Preview) understands speech commands for finding and opening games and apps, as well as controlling media playback.
  • To get started, go to [Settings] > [Voice Command], and turn on [Enable Voice Command (Preview)]. Then, call out “Hey, PlayStation!” and ask your PS5 to do something.
  • You can use this feature to help you find and open games and apps, control your media without even touching a button, and much more. • Currently, Voice Command (Preview) is only available in English for players with PSN accounts in the US & UK.
• We’ve added Ukrainian language support.

Other updated features

• We made the following improvement in game library:
  • Under the [Your Collection] tab, you can now filter your games by genre to find the games you want to play more quickly.
• We’ve pinned PlayStation Plus to the left edge of the games home screen.
  • You can now redeem monthly games more quickly.
  • Get easier access to the PS Plus game collections from home screen.
• We’ve added a button guide to show you how to reload and zoom while using the Internet browser.
• If you want to report something that someone in a party said, there are now visual indicators for you to identify who was speaking. This will help PlayStation Safety take appropriate action based on your report.
• We’ve made the console safer for child accounts:
  • When viewing a purchased or installed game they’re restricted from playing, the background image of the game is hidden.
  • Activity cards, such as those displayed in the control center or game hub, won’t be displayed for age-restricted games.
• Now you can keep the games or apps you choose on your home screen.
  • When focused on a game or app, press the options button to open the options menu, and select [Keep in Home]. The games and apps you choose to keep will stay on your home screen.
  • You can keep a maximum of 5 games and apps on each home screen
  • You can now have three more games and apps appearing on your home screen.
• We now support more emojis.
• We changed the keyboard layout for Polish.
• We’ve updated the DualSense wireless controller device software to improve stability.