PS4 Software Update Causing Major Issues For Players Who Download It

Firmware update 8.00 has launched for PlayStation 4, adding an array of new quality-of-life improvements, but the new update is also causing major issues for core features, including social functions and general system stability. This is likely to be the last major update to the PlayStation 4’s software in the short term, with Sony gearing up for the release of the PlayStation 5 next month and ending support for older PlayStation hardware. However, users would likely be wise to hold off on downloading the new update until its worst problems are fixed.

It’s been a rough few months for PS4 online services, with players having already endured a huge Cloudflare outage that took down PSN and Xbox Live just weeks ago. More recently, Sony made the weighty and wise decision to migrate all Sony accounts under one PlayStation banner, which had the likely adverse effect of making PlayStation Video services nonfunctional for some viewers. Thanks to a long-awaited system update, PS4 players once again seem to drawn the short straw.

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Sony has released a brand new update for the PlayStation 4, bringing the firmware to version 8.00 and adding support for third-party authenticator apps along with changes to party messaging, avatars, and parental controls. However, feedback suggests that the update is actually causing a number of problems for those who have downloaded it. Noted gaming insider Nibel has reported that friend lists no longer load correctly and that the party system is also experiencing problems. The update has also allegedly caused stability issues, which could lead to software misbehaving or potential crashes. There’s no official word from Sony on when a fix will be released or whether users should avoid downloading the update, but it might be best to wait it out for a bit.

As the launch of the PS5 approaches, Sony has been pivoting away from its PS4 focus to announce new details about the next-gen system. Last week the company finally confirmed which 10 PlayStation 4 games would not be playable on the new console. Yet, most of these games will receive few performance benefits unless they can access the Game Boost feature. This is in contrast to the Xbox Series X, which will run all older games (going back three console generations, compared to Sony’s one) with higher frame rates and faster load times.

Seeing Sony release yet another firmware that causes more problems than it fixes is exactly the kind of bad publicity the company will not want so close to the launch of the PS5. The console manufacturer seems to have a knack for pushing out problematic patches that can cause crashes or introduce bugs. If this continues into the next-gen era like it has on the PS4, some potential customers will likely be put off upgrading altogether. Especially if it causes serious issues such as crashing as some of Sony’s recent updates have done.

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Source: Sony, Nibel