Check your emails: You may have an invite to the next big PlayStation 4 beta. According to MP1st, Sony is sending codes for a system software update scheduled to be released publicly sometime in the spring. With the PS5 already available, this is less full than previous PS4 firmware updates, although it does include some worthwhile quality of life tweaks.
For example, you can now turn off message notifications for groups you belong to and request to join friends’ games. In addition, if you have “hidden” a game on your profile, your friends will no longer be able to see that you are playing it. This is something we could have done earlier in the generation, to be fair, as some review embargoes require us to appear offline.
Perhaps the biggest change is the removal of the Communities feature, which is being discontinued. There are no changes to the controversial new Party system, although Sony admitted that it was investigating improvements after some robust feedback last year. Did you receive a beta invite? Are you going to try this out? Let us know in the comments below.