With the launch of the PS4 system software update 8.00, Sony revealed a weird PlayStation 5 party voice chat system. Apparently, players on PlayStation 5 will be able to record conversations in the party voice chat and send them to Sony for review. Even if you’re on PS4, you can be recorded by someone with a newer console and they could potentially snitch on you.
Recording voice chat on PlayStation 5
Sony launched said update recently, and players noticed a new notification. Basically, by using the voice chat system, gamers agreed to the possibility of them being recorded and those recordings being sent to Sony for review. And it’s a controversial feature at best.
So apparently, in case y'all didn't know this beforehand. But apparently the newest Sony update to the PS4 and will continue onto 5 will be recording your voice while in party chat. pic.twitter.com/T0VIbwIpZe
— Ittarra Oda: Returned for now. Missed you all ❤️ (@IttarraOda) October 14, 2020
It’s unclear whether Sony intended to ‘announce’ the new feature like this. But after a small outcry on social media, the Japanse company decided to explain in further detail what the feature is about.
Voice chat recording for moderation is a feature that will be available on PS5 when it launches, and will enable users to record their voice chats on PS5 and submit them for moderation review. The pop up you’re seeing on PS4 right now is to let you know that when you participate in a chat with a PS5 user (post-launch), they may submit those recordings from their PS5 console to SIE.
Only on PlayStation 5
To clarify, the new feature affects gamers on the PlayStation 4, though they can’t partake in it. If you’re in a party voice chat lobby with a gamer playing on PlayStation 5, he/she can record you and send the clip to Sony. PS4 users can’t.
The goal of this new feature is to check if gamers are breaking community guidelines in voice chat. For obvious reasons, it’s harder to enforce community guidelines when someone is talking. With the new feature, Sony tries to battle toxicity, not just in the in-game chat, but also through the party voice chat system.
Gamer talk
Some gamers complain that the new features feels a bit intrusive. It’s not hard to see why, as some simple banter can result in you being banned. And as every gamer knows, many online games are rife with nasty comments about ones mother. Still, that’s part of gamer culture, right?
So we’ll have to wait and see how strict Sony is going to be. A small, mildly aggressive rant fueled by a recent loss shouldn’t be a problem. Blatant racism, cyber bullying, or nasty toxicity should, though the line between those two can be very thin indeed.
Also check out: Here’s What A PlayStation 5 Would Cost If It Was A Gaming PC