PS5 begins beta testing Discord voice chat and VRR support for 1440p

Sony has launched the beta for the next version of the firmware of PlayStation 5, which as on previous occasions is limited to selected users in the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. The system software update focuses on three new features: Discord voice chat integration, VRR support for 1440p, and improvements to the interface, accessibility, and social elements. One of these improvements makes it easier to migrate save data from PS4 to PS5.

The integration of Discord’s voice chat will allow PS5 users to talk to their friends regardless of the platform they use, a feature that with the expansion of cross-play seems essential. To use this function, you must first link your Discord and PlayStation Network accounts from the console in Settings> Users and accounts> Link with other services. Next, the Discord app must be launched on mobile or PC to start the voice chat and transfer it to PlayStation 5.

This means that PS5 players will not be able to directly access the Discord servers without using mobile or PC to transfer the call. The process is the same that Xbox users had to follow in their day, but after a few months Microsoft improved the integration of Discord to be able to join the chats directly from the console. We’ll see how long it takes for Sony to do the same. On the other hand, PS5 users who have already linked their account with Discord to show their activity will have to repeat the process to grant the necessary permissions for voice chat.

Support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) at 1440p will allow gamers using this resolution to play supported titles smoother and with fewer visual artifacts. The VRR requires an HDMI 2.1 connection and allows supported displays to update as fast as the console can process images, eliminating the tearing and reducing latency. In addition, Sony has made tweaks to PS5’s 1440p output to add compatibility for this resolution with a wider range of HDMI displays.

Regarding the improvement in the migration of saved data from PS4 to PS5. With this update, when a PS4 game is downloaded or installed on PS5, a PS4 save data notification will appear in PlayStation Network cloud storage (a feature included in PlayStation Plus). The feature also works for a downloaded or installed PS5 game that can use PS4 save data. In both cases, only the notification must be selected to download the data.

Finally, discuss the introduction of data transfer from PS5 to PS5. With this feature, it will be possible to transfer PS5 data, including games, saves, user profiles, settings, screenshots and video, to another PS5 using a Wi-Fi network or LAN cable.