PS4 Voice Chats ‘May Be Recorded,’ Warns Sony In New Update

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The latest PS4 update has worried gamers thanks to a new message which warns players that their party voice chats may be recorded.

The latest PS4 update (8.0) has given gamers a ton of grief thanks to bugs with friends lists and the inability to play together online with ease, but alongside that, it’s also panicked players who feel the latest update is an invasion of their privacy.

Credit: Unsplash/Sony

The update warns players that chats now “may be recorded” and sent to Sony, with the player needing to agree to these terms in order to update their console.

“Please be aware that voice chats in parties may be recorded and sent to us by other users,” the message read. “By participating in voice chat, you agree to your voice being recorded.”

Credit: Unsplash/@usualmorals

Following concern from gamers, PlayStation has now responded, telling gamers that the recording of messages relates not to PS4, but to the upcoming PS5. According to Sony, the feature will allow PS5 players to send Sony recordings of party chats, presumably in order for the company to crack down on inappropriate or abusive behaviour.

“Following this update, users are seeing a notification about Party Safety and that voice chats in parties may be recorded,” Sony said in a new update

“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 [Sony].”

PS5
Credit: Sony

If you were worried about Sony “spying” on you through PS4 voice chats, don’t worry. It looks like the tech giant has more important fish to fry (hopefully!)

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Featured Image Credit: Unsplash/@usualmorals