Sony updates the PS4 and the PS5: here is all that changes

Sony has just announced an update for the PS4 and one for the PS5. Beyond the official patch notes, we're sharing some of the changes users have noticed. As well as the steps to follow to apply the update to your game console.

Lately, Sony has been particularly attentive to owners of older PlayStations, in addition to PS5 players. For example, we saw the company push an update to the PS3 19 years after the console's release. It's now the turn of the PS4 and PS5 to benefit from a new update, with some small, discreet changes to the consoles concerned.

We start with the PS4, which is benefiting from a new version 12.50 of its firmware. The official release notes give little information on the exact content of the improvements, since they only mention an improvement in "messages and the ergonomics of certain screens." A visit to several Reddit threads won't tell us much more - due to the lack of users reporting any changes so far.

What's changing with these PS4 and PS5 updates

This type of update can bring minor fixes mainly reported by the development studios that are part of the platform's ecosystem. We're expecting some typo fixes in some languages, and some minor pagination changes to make the experience more consistent regardless of the user's chosen definition.

Where things get more interesting is what's happening on the PlayStation 5 side. The 25.02-11.00.00 firmware update comes with the following release notes:

• We've simplified the display of activity details.
  • Activity details are now fully displayed on cards.
  • Possible spoilers will remain hidden.
• Unicode 16.0 emojis are now supported. You can use them in your messages.
• If you set the Parental Controls restriction level to Teen or older, the Communication and User-Generated Content option now defaults to Restrict. If you previously set the level to Teen or older, your previous settings will not be affected and you will see Customize.
• We've improved the performance and stability of the system software.
• We've improved messaging and usability on some screens.

One of the most visible effects of the update is better emoji support with the move to Unicode 16.0. Parental controls have been improved, including better display of activity details directly on maps and the hiding of spoilers. This is in addition to the usual performance and stability improvements to the system software – found in many updates.

How to update your PS4 or PS5

We've detailed the easiest way to update your PS4 or PS5. Depending on your situation, other procedures may be necessary – these are detailed in the help pages on the official Sony website.

To update your PS4:

• Go to Notifications and delete any existing update files by pressing the OPTIONS button, then Delete.
• Select Settings > System Software Update.

To update your PS5:

• Go to Settings > System.
• Select System Software > Settings and System Software Update.
• Select Update System Software to perform the update.