The PS4 8.00 update is being deployed today, with Sony revealing patch notes that include updates to party and messages, UI changes, new avatars, and updates to Remote Play on mobile and PC. This brand new PS4 update is available to download today, October 14, bringing with it a slew of changes to the console. These will also affect the PS5 when it launches in November, so this with a current-gen console or a next-gen console pre-ordered will want to know what has been changed in this brand new update.
What’s in the PS4 8.00 update?
The new PS4 update today features multiple changes. Cosmetically, players will be given access to a wider range of pre-set avatars that they can feature on their profiles. These include avatars from major PS4 exclusives such as Bloodborne, The Last of Us 2, God of War, and Uncharted 4.
For those who play PS4 with their friends, changes to Party chat have also been deployed, allowing players to send messages to the Party they were previously grouped with. This allows players to stay in communication with the same Party even after it has been disbanded, ensuring that players no longer need to use a third-party messaging system to easily organize a play session together.
Parents will also have access to simplified Parental Controls, with children now able to send requests to their parents to access communication features in specific games. This means that parents can more readily decide which games they want their children to be able to communicate in, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
Enhanced 2-step verification improves privacy for PS4 users, while players will no longer be able to create events or private communities. Those who have already made these communities will be able to continue using them, though new communities will no longer be able to be made.
Full PS4 8.00 update patch notes
Below is the full list of PS4 update 8.00 patch notes:
Updates to Party and Messages
Following this update, Party and Messages will be more tightly linked together and you will see changes to the UI. Both apps will now use the same ‘Groups’ of players for Party voice chats and message exchanges, instead of having different groups setup across the two apps. So now you can start a Party chat or send a message to the group you’ve previously chatted with across PS4, as well as PS5 when it launches.
New Avatars
We’re expanding the collection of pre-set avatars for players to showcase on their Profile. An array of new avatars from your favorite games will be available, including Bloodborne, Journey, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, The Last of Us Part II, The Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and many more.
Mute all Mics from Quick Menu
We’ve added an option to “Mute all Microphones” in the Quick Menu, so you can easily mute your mics while gaming.
Simplified and more flexible Parental Controls
Under Parental Controls, we’re combining the ‘Communicating with Other Players’ and ‘Viewing Content Created by other Players’ into one setting – ‘Communication and User Generated Content’- to cover both areas of communication and UGC sharing. This offers a simpler setting that’s easier for parents to understand and apply to their children.
In addition, children can send a request to their parents to use communications features in specific games. When a child sends this request, the parent will receive an email notification and can choose to make an exception for that game and allow the child to use its communications and UGC features. This will provide more flexibility to both parents and children.
Enhanced 2-Step Verification
The 2-Step Verification (2SV) feature on PS4 will be enhanced to support third party authenticator apps as an option during the activation flow and 2SV sign-in across PS4, mobile and web.
Removal of Event Creation and Private Community Creation
After 8.00, you will no longer be able to create Events or access existing Events created by other users.
We’re also removing the ability to create private Communities under the Community app on PS4. If you already have existing private Communities, you can continue to access them.
Updates to Remote Play App on Mobile and PC
At the same time as 8.00, the existing PS4 Remote Play app on mobile (iOS/Android), Windows PC and Mac, will change its name to PS Remote Play, and the option to connect to PS5 will be added. You’ll need to sign in to PSN from your PS5 to be able to access the feature, so sit tight until PS5 launches this November!
