PS5 will let you record voice chats and report them to moderators
The controversial PS4 pop-up about voice chat recording is referring to a PS5 launch day feature
Sony has clarified a controversial pop-up PS4 players are seeing that warns them their voice chats could be recorded, explaining that the message is referring to a PS5 launch feature that will let you send recordings to moderators for review.
In response to PS4 players concerned that Sony could be recording their in-game chats, the company updated the original announcement of update 8.00 with some additional information. Essentially, it sounds like PS5 players will be able to record voice chats with toxic, offensive, or abusive players and send the evidence over to Sony's moderators in a report. Here's the complete statement from Sony:
"Following this update, users are seeing a notification about Party Safety and that voice chats in parties may be recorded. 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 SIE."
Interestingly enough, it sounds like the feature won't be available on PS4. That could be because the PS5 DualSense controller includes a built-in mic, while the PS4's DualShock doesn't. Either way, Sony has confirmed in a separate statement over on Twitter that it isn't recording voice chats, so it sounds like this is a feature explicitly designed to allow PS5 players to report other players.
Here are some other things you (probably) didn't know your PS5 could do.
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After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.