As the PlayStation 5 console continues to evolve, we're excited to bring new features to our community. Today we're launching the next beta version of PS5 system software with a range of fan-requested features, including Discord voice chat and 1440p variable refresh rate support. We're also making several improvements to the user interface, accessibility, and social features that make it easier to play with friends or enjoy PS5 games.
Invited beta testers from the US, Canada, Japan, UK, Germany, and France will receive an email with instructions to download and run the beta. As with previous beta versions, some features may be missing in the final version or may experience significant changes when the final system update is released globally in the coming months.
Here is an overview of some of the new features:
New social features
- Join Discord voice chat on your PS5 console. Now you can join Discord audio chats on your PS5 console and easily connect with friends on most other gaming platforms. To get started, connect your Discord and PlayStation Network accounts from your PS5 console by following these steps*. Then use the Discord app on your mobile device or computer to start a Discord voice chat on your PS5 console (make sure the Discord app is up to date). You can also let your Discord friends see what you're playing when you're online.
- Note. If you've already linked your PlayStation Network and Discord accounts to view the game you're playing, you'll need to link your PS5 accounts again to grant the new permissions required for Discord-Voice Chat.
- Start or request a screen share from your friend's profile. You can now send a screen sharing request or share your screen with a friend directly from your profile. Just select the screen sharing icon on your friend's profile to start a new session.
- New "Join Game" icon in group chats. The join icon will be displayed on the voice chat map for party members who are playing a game that you can join. You can join the game directly by selecting a player and then selecting [Join Game] from the menu.
- New "Friends Game" tiles. In Game Hub, you can now see which of your friends have the game, who is currently online, and who is currently playing. By checking the box, you can see what your friends are up to right now, as well as access your friends' profiles where you get more interaction options.
- Manually upload gameplay recordings to the PlayStation app. Now you can manually select and upload individual screenshots or game clips to the PS app from your PS5 console, then easily share them on social media or with friends. ** This feature is in addition to the auto download feature currently available in the PS app.
New gameplay and customization options.
- Variable refresh rate support for 1440p. Now you can enjoy a smoother image when using a VRR-compatible HDMI 2.1 display at 1440p when playing a VRR-compatible game. ***
- We've also made some updates to the PS5 console's 1440p output test setting, bringing 1440p support to a wider range of HDMI displays.
- To check if your HDMI device is compatible, go to [Settings] > [Display & Video] > [Video Out] > [Test 1440p Output].
- Game library improvements.
- You can also now sort and filter games when adding games to your game list.
- You can use your library filters to easily find PS VR games, as well as PS VR2 games when PS VR2 launches later this month.
- Game presets for multiplayer session setup. You can set your preferences to control who can join and who can invite other players to multiplayer sessions you've created for supported games.
- Go to [Settings] > [Save Data & Game/Application Settings] > [Game Defaults] > [Online Multiplayer Sessions] and set your preferences to [Who can join] and [Who can invite].
New accessibility and usability features
- Transfer save data from PS4 to PS5. We're making it easier to access your PS4 save data on your PS5 console in two ways:
- When you download or install a PS4 game on your PS5 console, you'll be notified that the PS4 is saving data to PlayStation Network cloud storage (if your PS5 console hasn't saved game data yet). Just select a notification to download your saved data.
- When you download or install a PS5 game that can load PS4 save data, such as the PS5 version of the game that was also released for PS4, the same notification will appear (if the game supports this feature).
- (Note: Online storage requires a PlayStation Plus subscription)
- Transfer data from PS5 to PS5. Now you can easily transfer data from your PS5 console, including games, save data, user profiles and settings, screenshots, and videos, to another PS5 console using local Wi-Fi.-Fi or a LAN cable. You can transfer your data during the initial setup of your PS5 console or later from the Settings menu. This process does not delete or modify the original data of the PS5 console.
- Screen reading improvements. The screen reader now provides more detailed instructions when navigating the console. It will now show you the direction of travel from the currently selected component, as well as your current location within the multi-item containing component. Also, when you use a screen reader to browse the web, you'll now see a border around the part you read aloud.
- Update the wireless device for your DualSense wireless controller. You can now update the DualSense Wireless Controller software using a wireless connection. If you are having trouble updating your device software over the air, please connect your console to your PS5 console with a USB cable to update it. You will be able to perform a wireless update for the next update.
Game Capture with Voice Command (Preview): Limited release in the US and UK.
- Voice commands now support using your voice to record a video of your gameplay.
- Say: "Hey, PlayStation, take it!" To record a video of your recent gameplay. The default recording time depends on your settings.
- You can also save a specific duration for your game, from 15 seconds to 60 minutes. For example, to save 5 minutes, say "Hey PlayStation, play the last 5 minutes."
- Say "Hey PlayStation, start recording" to manually start recording a new game. You can then say "Hey PlayStation, stop recording" to end the recording and save the video.
- Voice Control (Preview) is currently available in English for beta testers with registered accounts in the US and UK.
Thanks to all the PS5 beta testers who helped us test these new features. Stay tuned for updates in the coming months!
*When a global system update rolls out in the coming months, players who want to take advantage of Discord's voice chat features will be able to link their Discord and PlayStation Network accounts from the Discord app on Windows, Mac, or mobile devices, How can it be done today ? . . Connecting Discord and PlayStation Network accounts from a PS5 console is only required for beta testers during the trial period.
** Game clips under 3 minutes in non-4K resolution can be downloaded from the PS app.
*** Results may vary by game. 1440p video output on PS5 requires a TV or computer monitor that supports 1440p/60Hz or 1440p/60Hz and 120Hz.