PS5 update: PSSR enabled by default on PS5 Pro and voice chat gets a speaking indicator

Sony has released a new PlayStation 5 system software update, version 26.06-14.00.00, as reported by Vandal. It is not one of those updates that overhauls the console from top to bottom, but it does bring two changes that directly affect those of us who compete and create content: PS5 Pro's PSSR upscaling is now enabled by default, and voice chat gains a visual indicator so you can tell who is speaking at any given moment.

It matters because it touches two things we use every day. On one hand, the image you see on screen on PS5 Pro can change without you touching anything, and in competitive games that is no small detail. On the other, in-game communication is the backbone of any squad, and any improvement to how we handle voice chat is noticeable from the very first scrim.

What you need to know

• The update is version 26.06-14.00.00 of the PS5 firmware and is available now.
• On PS5 Pro, the PSSR image enhancement technology is now enabled by default, something already seen in the system beta.
• PSSR is applied even to titles that supported the previous version of the technology, although you can turn it off manually from the video output settings.
• Voice chat now includes a visual indicator that shows who is speaking during a match.
• From the control center you can enable name display and choose where that indicator appears.

PSSR by default: what changes on PS5 Pro

PSSR is the upscaling and image quality enhancement technology exclusive to PS5 Pro. Its goal is to make games look sharper and cleaner without the hardware having to render every pixel at native resolution. The feature already existed, but with the new firmware Sony goes a step further and leaves it enabled out of the box. In addition, according to the source, it also applies to games that were compatible with the previous version of the technology, so the effect is not limited to the most recent releases.

The good news is that it is not forced on you: the choice is still yours. If you prefer the previous behavior, just head to the console's video output settings and turn it off manually. This change had already been tested in the system beta, so Sony has had time to polish how it works before rolling it out to all users.

Voice chat: you finally know who is talking

The second change is more low-key on paper but probably more useful day to day. Sony has added a visual indicator to voice chats that lets you identify at a glance who is speaking at any moment. It is an accessibility and interface improvement that comes with customization options from the control center: you can enable name display and decide where on the screen the information appears.

For anyone who has played in a party of five people talking at once, this needs no explanation. Knowing whether the callout is coming from your IGL or from someone on the other side of the map changes how you process the information, and doing it without having to ask "who said that?" saves seconds that are worth gold in a decisive round.

Our take

At Underworld Lordz we welcome Sony leaving PSSR enabled by default, but with a clear warning for those of you competing on PS5 Pro: check your settings after updating. Any change to the image pipeline can alter the perceived sharpness, contrast or readability of distant silhouettes, and not everyone is going to prefer the result in every game. Keeping the option to turn it off is the bare minimum, and we are glad Sony did not decide for us without leaving a way out. What we miss is more granular per-game control instead of a global switch; for anyone alternating between competitive shooters and single-player titles, that would be ideal.

The speaking indicator in voice chat strikes us as the most valuable addition in this update, and not just for players. For content creators streaming from console, being able to place the indicator wherever it best fits the frame and show names makes it easier for the audience to follow the party's conversation. It is a feature we have taken for granted on PC for years through third-party overlays, and its arrival natively on PS5 is a step in the right direction, even if it comes late.

To be critical, version 26.06-14.00.00 follows Sony's usual pattern: incremental improvements, well executed, but without much ambition. There is nothing here that changes how you organize a team from a console or that answers long-standing demands from the competitive community. It is fine, it does the job, but we would like to see Sony be more ambitious with the platform's social tools.

What do you think?

If you have a PS5 Pro, we want to know whether you have noticed a difference with PSSR enabled by default and whether you are going to leave it that way or prefer to turn it off to compete. And if you play in a party with your squad, tell us whether the new voice indicator is useful to you or whether it is one of those features you will end up ignoring. Are you keeping PSSR on or turning it off to play seriously? Discuss it with us in the team chat or on our Discord.