Sony has released a new firmware update for the PS5 that measures about 1 GB. The 24.03-09.20.00 patch brings a few improvements to the console’s software along with a major addition to the Game Help feature.
As mentioned by Sony on its official website, the latest PS5 update brings a new Community Game Help feature that will add helpful hints to certain games. The aforementioned hints will be labeled ‘Community Game Help’ and will be available in select titles.
Players will be able to participate in the program by allowing the console to automatically record their gameplay video. Upon review, these videos will be used to generate hints in supported games. Those who wish to participate can refer to the steps mentioned in the patch notes below.
While this feature will help players pass difficult quests in certain games, the usefulness of Community Game Help currently seems to depend entirely on player participation. Many players may not be comfortable sharing their gameplay videos over currently unaddressed concerns of privacy and security, which could pose a roadblock to Sony’s Game Help efforts.
This reminds me of Sony’s “expert help” patent that went public last year. The basic idea of the patent was to connect players with expert gamers in real-time who could help them finish difficult levels by taking control of their console. By expanding the Game Help feature, Sony seems to be trying out a user-generated solution first before jumping into anything bigger (and probably costlier).
Here are the full update notes:
- Game Help has been expanded by adding Community Game Help features.
- In Game Help, you will see hints labeled Community Game Help in supported games, which indicates that the hint was generated from other players’ gameplay videos.
- You can participate in Community Game Help by allowing your gameplay video to be automatically captured and added to the feature upon review.
To opt in, go to Settings > Captures & Broadcasts > Captures > Auto Captures > Community Game Help, and then select Participate. You can also opt out at any time.- In Remote Play, if the persistent message “Remote Play connected.” is displayed during Remote Play, you can now hide this on your game screen. Go to Settings > System > Remote Play and turn on Hide Remote Play Connection Status.
- We’ve improved system software performance and stability.
- We’ve improved the messages and usability on some screens.”
