PS4 firmware 8.50 and PS5 system update 21.01-03.00.00.38 are ready to download, details and patch notes here

Sony has released two significant system updates today, with PS4 firmware 8.50 and PS5 firmware 21.01-03.00.00.38. Catchy!

The PlayStation 5 April update bringing game backups on external HDDs, making changes to the Game Base section of the system, and more. To manually update head to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings and select Update System Software, which should note than an update is available.

Update: We’re seeing reports that a new DualSense firmware is also a part of the update. As with the December PS5 system update, you will be prompted to update the DualSense firmware when turning on the console after the April update has been installed. This will require you to connect the controller via USB cable.

There’s a lot to dig into in the patch notes, with new settings for 120Hz displays, Chat Transcription being disabled by the update (you can turn it back on), and more.

Here’s the full patch notes:

PlayStation 5 system software 21.01-03.00.00.38 patch notes

  • You can now store PS5 games in USB extended storage.
    • To move PS5 games from console storage to USB extended storage, go to your home screen or game library, open the options menu for the PS5 game you want to move and then select Move to USB Extended Storage.
    • To play PS5 games that are in USB extended storage, go to your game library, and copy the game to console storage from the options menu. Copying games is faster than redownloading them. It’s also faster than reinstalling them from the disc if the game on USB extended storage has add-ons or has been updated.
  • You can now enjoy Share Play with players on PS4. Use Share Play to invite your friends on PS4 to watch you play a game, or even hand over control to them.
  • We’ve added zoom to our accessibility features. Use zoom to magnify what’s on your screen. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display > Zoom to enable this feature.
  • We’ve added Disable Game Chat Audio in the control centre under Sound. If you turn on this setting, your voice won’t be heard, and you won’t hear other players’ voices in game chats. This setting doesn’t apply to party voice chat audio.
  • In Game Base, we’ve updated the following:
    • You can more easily access recent parties and see your online friends. Use the R1 and L1 buttons to quickly move between tabs.
    • You can now turn notifications on or off for each of the parties you’re in.
    • You can now adjust the volume of other players’ voices in party voice chat as well as in the game chat of some games. From the voice chat card in the control centre, select a player to adjust their volume.
  • In Profile, we’ve updated the following:
    • You can now share your favourite gaming moments more easily than ever. Under the Shared tab, select Go to Media Gallery and pick your favourite media to share.
    • We’ve separated videos and broadcasts under the Shared tab for easier browsing.
  • You can now manage all the games you follow by going to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Manage Followed Games. This allows you to unfollow games without having to navigate to the individual news posts or game hubs.
  • For displays that support the HDMI device link feature, you can now enable or disable one-touch play and power off link individually. Go to Settings > System > HDMI to change these settings.
    • When one-touch play is enabled, turning on your PS5 console will also turn on your connected display.
    • When power off link is enabled, turning off your connected display will put your PS5 console in rest mode.
  • You can now set the country or region in the parental control settings for PS5 console users and guests who haven’t joined or signed in to PlayStation Network.
    • The country or region you select will determine what rating system is applied to PS5 games and apps. To change a user’s country or region, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls, select the user, and then select PS5 under Age level for games and apps.
    • You can also set the country or region in advance for new users and guests on your PS5 console. To do so, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > PS5 Console Restrictions > Parental Controls for New Users > PS5.
  • You can now hide games in Game Library. If you hide a game, it will no longer be displayed under the Your Collection tab.
    • To hide a game, go to the Your Collection tab, open the game’s options menu, and then select Hide.
    • To view your hidden games, go to the Your Collection tab, open the Sort and Filter menu, and then select Hidden Items.
    • To unhide a game, turn on the Hidden Items filter, open the options menu for the game you want to unhide, and then select Unhide.
    • Games you hide on your PS4 console will also be hidden on your PS5 console.

Other updated features

  • We’ve added the following features to saved data management:
    • When you start or resume a PS5 game, your console will check for newer saved data in cloud storage. If you have more recent saved data in cloud storage, you can choose to sync the data.
    • It’s now easier to manage your saved data directly from the home screen. When you open the options menu for a game, you’ll now see Upload/Download Saved Data and Check Sync Status of Saved Data.
  • We now support more emojis.
  • In Trophies, we’ve updated the following:
    • You can now access screenshots and videos taken the moment you earn a trophy. Select a trophy you’ve earned to see related media.
    • You can now choose which grades of trophies you want to save trophy screenshots and videos for. To change these settings, go to Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Trophies.
    • Now when you select a hidden trophy, you can press the square button to quickly show hidden information.
    • You can now go directly to a game’s trophy list from a trophy card by selecting Go to Trophies in the options menu.
    • Once you’ve selected a sort order for your trophies, your trophies will remain sorted in that order for all games.
    • You can now view your trophy stats by pressing the square button on the Trophies screen.
    • Now when you sort your trophies by rarity or earned date, the trophy cards will show the rarity or earned date information.
  • If you install this update, Enable Chat Transcription in accessibility settings will be turned off. If you want to use the chat transcription feature, turn this setting back on.
  • In the multitasking feature for cards, we’ve updated the following:
    • Now when you focus on the multitasking icon on a card, you’ll see hints about the multitasking modes that are available: picture-in-picture, pin to side, or both.
    • We’ve added a button guide to show you how to interact with a card that’s currently in multitasking mode.
  • You can now see your wireless controller’s battery percentage in the control centre.
  • In the game or subscription hub, you’ll now see promotional offers that are currently available, including those for PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now and EA Play subscribers. To view the options that aren’t displayed in the hub, press the … (more options) button.
  • When playing a game you’ve hidden by selecting Hide your games from other players in your privacy settings, other players will no longer see information about the game you’re currently playing next to your online status.
  • Some PC monitors that can display 1080p/120 Hz now support 120 Hz display for games. If you’re having trouble viewing your game at 120 Hz, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, and then turn off Enable 120 Hz Output.
  • We’ve added the option to switch the video output to non-HDR when using a game or app that doesn’t support HDR. To change this setting, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > HDR.
  • We’ve made updates to the system software to improve stability and performance.

Then there’s PlayStation 4 system software 8.50, which ties in with some of the feature updates for cross-gen Share Play, but also retires the PlayStation Communities feature. It’s a smidgen over 480mb to download.

PlayStation 4 system software 8.50 patch notes

Main features in the system software update

  • In Party, you can now enjoy Share Play with players on PS5.
  • In Messages, you can now turn notifications on or off for each of the groups you’re in. On the group screen, open the options menu and select Turn Notifications Off.

Other updated features

  • On the game session details screen, you can now use the Request to Join button to ask the session leader to join their game session. The session leader can then send you an invite to join the game session.
  • When playing a game you’ve hidden, other players will no longer see that you’re currently playing that game.
  • We’ve updated the file format for extended storage.
    • When you connect an extended storage device, its file format will be updated.
    • After that, you won’t be able to use the device on a PS4 that has a previous version of the system software.
  • Communities is no longer available.

The PlayStation App is also being updated in the coming weeks to let you join a multiplayer session from the app, manage PS5 console storage, compare trophies and better browse what’s available in the PlayStation Store.

Source: PlayStation

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News Editor, very inappropriate, probs fancies your dad.