Earlier today Sony dropped a new PS4 system software update, which included a variety of features including improved 2-step verification, new parental controls, and more, but it’s the changes to the Party system that’s freaking some players out. Players who try to start a Party voice chat now get this somewhat off-putting warning.

　　So anyone gonna acknowledge this???? The party system is soo messed up too. The invite menu is awful and the group messages in the party are just useless. pic.twitter.com/q86GdoX0mV

　　— Tacodog (@Tacodog13) October 14, 2020

　　Waitaminute...my chat may be recorded? Uh oh! Big Brother is here! But wait, is this a new policy? The answer is no, as Sony has reserved the right to record Party chats since 2013. You’re still welcome to be freaked out, as many people on Twitter are, but this is actually an example of Sony being more honest with its users. You do wonder why Sony opted to add this more obvious warning – are they planning to step up moderation?

　　Update: Sony has clarified the new warning is intended for the PS5, as the new console will allow users engaged in Party chats to record their conversations and submit them for moderation.

　　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.

　　Original story continues: The sinister warnings aren’t the only thing PlayStation users aren’t loving about the Party changes. According to Sony, the changes were designed to consolidate the Party and Messages apps into one system, which sounds like a good idea in theory. That said, previously it was relatively easy to invite people to a Party when playing a multiplayer game, but now have to create a new message group to do so. In addition to that, system update 8.00 seems to be rather buggy in general, with Party chat and other features not working at all for some users.

　　You can get the rundown on the features included in the PS4 system software 8.00 update, right here. Who here has downloaded the update? Having the same problems others are or is much ado about nothing?