PS5’s Latest Update: Beta Testers Get A Peek At Minor Tweaks

Sony has once again tossed a firmware update into the wild, with beta testers getting first dibs on the latest PlayStation 5 system software update. If you’re one of the lucky few signed up for the System Software Beta Program, check your inbox—you might just have an email with a code to try out the new firmware.

Now, before you start dreaming of groundbreaking new features, temper those expectations. This update is about as thrilling as watching paint dry, unless you’re particularly invested in how Activity cards are displayed or—wait for it—new emojis. Yes, Unicode 16.0 has arrived, bringing with it a tired face (perfect for when you lose a ranked match), a shovel (to bury your backlog), and a root vegetable (because… reasons?).

Here’s what’s changing, according to one keen-eyed ResetEra user who got their hands on the patch notes:

• Activity details now fully show up on cards—no more mystery clicks.
• Spoilers are still hidden, so no worries about accidentally ruining Spider-Man 2’s ending.
• Parental controls now default to “Restrict” for communication and user-generated content if set to “Late Teens or Older.” If you had this setting before, don’t panic—your preferences remain intact.
• The usual promise of “improved system performance and stability.” Whatever that means.
• Some screens have been given a usability makeover, though no word on whether that includes making the PlayStation Store less of a labyrinth.

So, while this isn’t the update that’ll revolutionise your PS5 experience, at least you’ll be able to send a sleepy emoji while waiting for a game to install.