Sony's latest firmware update added Discord integration and fixed some annoying issues.
Back in February, players got a preview of the March 7.0 Big Firmware Update, which revealed Discord integration, new save data transfer options, and more. It's recently released, and it's far from the usual non-transparent "improve system performance" updates. It's not as big of a deal as the PS5 finally got folders, and there are plenty of other new features I'd love to see, but it's another milestone in the platform's continuous improvement.
Cross-play was great for bringing people together on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, but actually trying to connect with them was still difficult. Discord integration fixes this and makes it easy to start conversations with anyone and stream audio through the console.
Besides, it doesn't even have to be related to the game. Anyone playing Rocket League? Is the other person watching The Mandalorian? No problem! Discord is actually great for just chilling out together while everyone goes about their own business.
Record gameplay using your voice
Sounds silly, but you can now use the microphone on your DualSense controller to ask your PS5 to record gameplay. Perfect for capturing gameplay in the thick of battle or intense competition where you don't want to lose control when switching manually. Now if only there was a text-to-speech to print social media posts where I share my highlights.
Update your DualSense wirelessly
There is nothing worse than trying to play a game and seeing that your controller needs a firmware update. Previously, this required connecting it to the PS5. Now you can download and install it wirelessly. It was the smallest inconvenience, and, fortunately, it no longer exists.
Get variable refresh rates on 1440p monitors
Variable refresh rate support came to the PS5 last year. This helps to smoothly change the frame rate and makes the graphics sharper. With the latest patch, it will also work with 1440p monitors, a niche but practical intermediate point between 1080p and 4K. I don't play my PS5 on one of these displays but would be pleasantly surprised if I could.
It's easier to see what your friends are playing
This feature is still not complete, but it's still a step in the right direction. As with Steam, it's now easier to see which friends own or actively play your game. A small section with this information is located under each game tile on the PS5 home screen. My only gripe is that you have to click to see which friends own it, and that only tells you that someone is playing the game if they are online in the middle of an active session. Baby steps.
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