Sony PlayStation 5: Firmware 9.00 makes the console louder and darker

The update to PlayStation 5 OS version 9.00 and new firmware for the DualSense controller brings new functionality to the controller and gamepad. After the beta testing phase, the update has now been officially released and is being delivered by Sony to all PS5 gaming consoles.

The update is now being offered to all users

The update has build number 124.02-09.00.000.45 and will now be offered to users when they start up the PlayStation 5 and have an internet connection, even without participating in the PS5 beta program, the editorial team confirms. To install, about 1.2GB of data must be downloaded, then the update is completed in a few minutes and the console is restarted. After that, PlayStation automatically recommends updating the connected DualSense controllers, which can then be updated one by one. This also takes a few minutes maximum.

Louder speakers and quieter background noise

Updating the gamepads is only logical, as most of the improvements in PS5 firmware 9.00 target the DualSense. The PlayStation manufacturer says that the console's built-in speakers can now be much louder, which should especially help players who use voice chat without headphones. In addition, background noise suppression has been improved when recording via the built-in microphone, so that game audio output or keystrokes can, for example, be better filtered in the same application scenario. In this context, Sony uses famous buzzwords such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Darker indicator light and interactive screen sharing

Apart from this, the new firmware release gives users the opportunity to adjust the brightness of the PlayStation 5's power indicator light – something like the signal tone when the console starts up, the volume of which can actually be reduced. The corresponding options can be found in Settings under Menu Items “System“and then”Buzzer and indicator light brightness“.

There are also new screen sharing functions. Sony said viewers can now use cursors, sounds and emojis to interact with gameplay. However, this requires streamers to activate viewer interactions in their screen sharing settings. Additionally, PS5 system software 9.00 brings support for Unicode 15.1 emojis, bug fixes, and combined performance and stability improvements.