PS5 Update Adds PSSR Default, Voice Chat Indicator, and More

Did you just get a notification for a new PS5 update? You're not alone—and this time, it's actually worth installing. Sony has rolled out firmware version 26.06-14.00.00, and it packs real features instead of just the usual stability improvements.

The biggest change is for PS5 Pro owners. The console will now automatically turn on the "Enhance PSSR Image Quality" setting. PSSR, or PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, is Sony's upscaling tech that makes games look sharper and run smoother. With this update, enhanced PSSR is used even for games that support the previous version of PSSR, so you get a clearer visual experience right out of the box. If you want to turn it off, just head to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality. This feature is exclusive to PS5 Pro.

If you're big on voice chat, there's a handy new option: you can now see who's speaking while you're in a voice chat. To enable it, go to the voice chat card in the control center, select More > Display Who's Speaking, and turn on Display Names. You can also choose where the speaker indicator appears on your screen by selecting Position. This should be a game-changer for titles like Big Walk, where coordination is key.

Home screen got some love too. A new Community Activity widget has been added to your Welcome Hub. It offers two views: Trending Now, which shows ten multiplayer games or modes that are surging in popularity (great for spotting new releases or major updates), and Top 10, which displays the ten most popular games in your country or region over the last week. It's a quick way to see what everyone's playing.

Bluetooth functionality has also changed for PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles in certain countries or regions. If you go to Settings > Accessories > General > Advanced Settings and select Turn Off Bluetooth, your console won't enter rest mode and HDMI Device Link won't function. Sony notes that this function is intended for managing controller connections at esports venues and similar locations, and warns not to use it for any other purpose. Finally, system software performance and stability have been further improved, as you'd expect.

This is easily the biggest PS5 firmware update since March, when PS5 Pro consoles received the enhanced version of PSSR. The timing makes sense, too—we're heading into a very busy gaming season. The PS5 exclusive Marvel's Wolverine has already launched, and big titles like Control Resonant, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and Grand Theft Auto 6 are on the horizon.

So, PS5 Pro owners, are you happy to see enhanced PSSR turned on by default? And will you be using the new voice chat speaker indicator? Let us know in the comments!