The latest system software update for the PS4, version 8.00, is launching today globally. It should already be downloading automatically as soon as you boot up your console.

This update includes changes to the existing Party and Messages features, new avatars, updated parental controls and more.

Here are some of the key features in this update:

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.

Now players can start a Party chat or send a message to the group that they’ve previously chatted with across PS4, as well as PS5 when it launches.

New Avatars

An array of new avatars from our favourite games have now been added, including Bloodborne, Journey, Ghost Of Tsushima, God Of War, The Last Of Us Part 2, The Last Of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and many more.

Mute all Mics from Quick Menu

There is now 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, the ‘Communicating with Other Players’ and ‘Viewing Content Created by other Players’ settings have been combined into one; ‘Communication and User Generated Content’. 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 has been 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.

The ability to create private Communities under the Community app on PS4 has been removed. However, 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. However, you’ll need to sign in to PSN from your PS5 (once it launches this November) to be able to access the feature.