Sony published PS5 Firmware 9.60 (specifically, 24.05-09.60.00) a few hours ago. Although this is a minor update, it adds a few user facing features. This follows Firmware 9.40, which was released last month, and Firmware 11.52 for the PS4, pushed last week.
As always, I advise not updating your PS5 if you can afford it, in the case you’re hoping to eventually Jailbreak it.
PS5 firmware 9.60 – What’s new
Sony have been regularly pushing firmware updates for the PS5 lately, and they all bring a little something. I would consider none of the following features necessary, but it’s better than just “software stability improvements” I guess. Here’s what the latest firmware brings to the table:
PS5 – 24.05-09.60.00
- You can invite other players to game sessions by sharing a URL to the session.
- To invite other players, open the game session action card and select Share Link. Then, scan the QR code with your mobile device to share the link.
- This feature is available only for open sessions that anyone can join.
- This feature will gradually be rolled out to all players by July 24.
- Voice Command now supports the ability to open Game Help action cards by saying “Show Game Help”.
- Currently, Voice Command (Preview) is available only in English for players with accounts for PlayStation Network in the US and UK.
- We’ve improved system software performance and stability.
- We’ve updated the device software of some DualSense wireless controllers to improve stability.
- We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.
As always, for what “software performance and stability” really means, we have to look to PS5 scene hackers for more details. It’s a bit early to be sure yet, but we know that Sony will patch any security hole they’re aware of, with any new firmware.
PS5 9.60 – Should I update?
As always, if your goal is to jailbreak your console, you should simply not update. The recent history of PlayStation hacking tells us so: people who keep their console up to date do not get the Jailbreaks. This is even clearer this time, as whatever those security fixes are, Sony found useful to let their users know about them.
Hacking news have been sparse on the PS5 front. Although TheFloW‘s recently released PS4 Exploit (PPPwn) theoretically impacts the PS5 up to Firmware 8.20 included, there’s been no significant progress on actually hacking these firmwares (even though it’s not impossible we could see something happen). The PS5 can currently be hacked up to firmware 4.51 included, but firmwares beyond that have been exceptionally stubborn.
In an ideal world, you would have 2 consoles: one that you keep on a low firmware for a Jailbreak (or buy a low firmware one if you can find one), and one that you keep up to date in order to play your current gen games and access PlayStation online services. I know it’s easier said than done, but that’s how things are. Current hackable PS5 models are hard to find under $1000 nowadays, so a new kernel exploit would indeed be welcome, to pop that bubble.