Nearly five years after the launch of its successor, thePlayStation 4has just received an unexpected update. Sony’s PS4 first landed in late 2013, and as we close in on its 12th birthday, it would seem the console is still the beneficiary of official technical support.
Unfortunately for PS4 users, the official patch notes only contain a single item, and it’s not very insightful (viaComicBook.com). AllPlayStationsays on the matter is"We’ve made some security fixes to the system software.“The aging console has not received any new features, and it’s unclear what the security concerns may have been. Regardless, Sony is at least still committed to ensuring the PS4 works as intended, even as we continue further into the PS5’s generation.
Sony Continues PlayStation 4 Support With Surprise System Software Update
More Security Fixes
The July 9 update to the PlayStation 4 system software brings it up to version 12.52.The console is effectively receiving only the most basic support at this point, with fixes making only minor improvements alongside said security fixes to keep users' consoles safe. The phrase, “We’ve made some security fixes to the system software,” is common in the PS4 system software version history, being used for 12.02, 11.52, and 11.02, with other variations extending even further back.
While the PS4 update is a nice surprise, and an indication that Sony hasn’t entirely moved on to the PS5,PlayStation 4 users shouldn’t expect any more robust updates. There are still plenty of players who have not made the switch to the current generation, aslast year’s top downloadson the PlayStation store indicate, but the number only shrinks as the PS5 lifecycle continues.
New PS4 System Update Is Minor, But A Nice Gesture
The PS4 Isn’t Obsolete Quite Yet
With millions of PlayStation users still yet to adopt the PS5, it’s unsurprising to see Sony still updating the PS4, but it’s a great gesture nonetheless. There was aPlayStation Network outagein February, and while Sony did not indicate that there was any malicious element to it, aging consoles remain a security concern regarding users' personal information if not monitored.
The PS4 is one of the best-selling consoles of all time, and remains relevant as long as cross-generation releases remain fairly frequent. A State of Play wasannounced for this weekfocusing onGhost of Yōtei, though, which is a PS5 exclusive, so as we get even further into the generation, we’re slowly seeing fewer games release for thePlayStation 4. It isn’t quite obsolete, as evidenced by the new update, but it’s certainly getting there.
Sources:ComicBook.com,PlayStation
PlayStation 4
Launched in 2014, the PlayStation 4 is the fourth iteration of Sony’s popular at-home console. Part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, arriving alongside consoles such as the Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch.
