Players will soon be able to record voice chat and messages on the PlayStation 5 and send offensive recordings to Sony moderators for review. The marketing for the new next-gen console has started in earnest, with Sony launching a series of promotional videos and detailing more features that the Ps5 will have when it launches in a few weeks' time. A cross-promotion with Burger King has even revealed what the retail packaging for the system looks like.
The same update that introduced the report feature has led to a variety of problems that have angered PS4 players. When it first launched, Firmware 8.00 resulted in a series of technical issues and software glitches that prevented players from being able to use many social features. Meanwhile, the patch also changed the way the party system works on the console, much to the dismay of fans. Users now have to go through several complicated steps to set up a new party with their friends.
A new feature that is set to be introduced when the PS5 launches in November that will allow players to report offensive voice chat. First detailed in a recent PlayStation Blog post by Sony discussing the Firmware 8.00 update for the PS4, pop-up messages on the current console also mentioned the fact that messages could be recorded. This will be part of a new tool that will allow users to record voice chat that is toxic or offensive and then send it directly to moderators for review.
The company has since clarified that this feature will only be available when the PS5 launches and that users on the next-gen system will be able to record voice chat from PS4 players and send it to moderators via a new report tool. In a statement added to the blog post, Sony said: "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."
Sony also recently unveiled the user interface for the PS5. The new dashboard integrates different apps, like the PlayStation Store, to massively reduce load times while also introducing a wide range of new in-game features that players can use. The company has also confirmed that players will not be forced to update games that have an offline singleplayer component, in contrast to how the PS4 works.
Offensive voice chats and harassment has been a big problem for online gaming services since the early days of the PS3 and Xbox 360. The fact that Sony is now doing something to combat the problem is good news, as it might mean that many players stop using foul language and offensive terms online when playing in multiplayer. But it could raise some concerns over privacy issues if any voice chat can be recorded at any time.
The PlayStation 5 is due out on November 12 in selected territories and on November 19 in the rest of the world.
Source: Sony