Beta testers can participate in Discord voice calls starting today on a PS5 console in the US, Canada, Japan and the UK. The integration will allow PS5 owners to join Discord calls by linking accounts and then using the Discord mobile app to forward calls to the PS5. Sony is also adding variable refresh rate support for 1440p, in addition to various dashboard improvements.
The Discord voice integration on PS5 seems similar to how Microsoft initially launched Discord support on the Xbox. Sony says you’ll need to “use the Discord app on your mobile device or computer to get a Discord voice chat on your PS5 console,” meaning you can’t directly access Discord servers on a PS5 without a mobile device or your PC to transfer the call.
Hopefully Sony will improve on that soon, as Microsoft improved its Discord integration for Xbox in November, allowing Xbox owners to join voice channels directly from a console without having to use a phone or PC.
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In addition to the Discord support, the PS5 also gets Variable Refresh Rate support for the 1440p resolution. This means that compatible HDMI 2.1 displays can enable VRR at 1440p to take advantage of smoother visual performance in games.
Sony is also making some improvements to the social aspects of the screen sharing and party chat feature in the PS5 dashboard, even adding a new ‘friends playing’ tile so you can see which friends are currently playing a game.
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While the PS app currently supports automatic uploading of screenshots or game clips, you will soon be able to upload game recordings manually. Sony is also making it easier to access PS4 save data on a PS5, meaning new games can load old PS4 save data. There is also a new option to move PS5 data and games from one console to another using a local Wi-Fi or LAN connection.
Sony is releasing this new beta software to testers today and we’ll likely see it available on all PS5 consoles in the coming months.
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