Updating software is usually supposed to be a pleasant experience that improves performance. Very often this is the case, and while most people do get irritated at updates taking too long or being too frequent, they are usually not a big deal. However, sometimes updates can cause serious problems, and the latestPS4update is a good example of this. In fact, it’s probably best to avoid installing thePS4’s new system update 9.00until Sony can address some of the issues it’s causing.
The update was released on September 14th, and was relatively small in size. It cameshortly after a major PS5 update, which is adding salt to the wound for many gamers. Not everyone who has downloaded this update has reported problems, but an increasing number of Reddit and Twitter posts indicate the issues are affecting a decent number of gamers; the PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro all have reports of the update causes problems.
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Bricked Consoles and Slower Performance
Update problems are usually caused by rushed software updates or unpredictable bugs. Sometimes these update issues are quick fixes, by either restoring an older version of the software or waiting for the bugs to be fixed. However, the reason the 9.00 PS4 update issue is causing such concern is that many users are reporting that their PS4 console can no longer load anything after the update, leaving theirPS4 essentially bricked(or unable to work/useless).
Other users report a slower performance after the update, trouble loading certain games, inability to connect to the internet, andeven issues connecting their PlayStation controllers. Even more troubling is that there are plenty of reports on Reddit of users rebooting their PS4 to no avail. While there has been no official response from Sony as of the time of writing this, it is a major problem that may hurt the company’s brand.
Fixing the Problem
As mentioned, online discussions of the problem have come up with no solution as of yet, aside from not downloading the update in the first place. The most likely scenario is that Sony will release update 9.01 as soon as they can identify what is causing the problems. However, there is definitely a sense of urgency in this regard. For one, PlayStation fans have already repeatedly expressed their dismay at the lack of available PS5 consoles, and having a successful PS5 update just before this corrupting PS4 update obviously adds insult to injury. Whilethe console/chip shortage is largely out of Sony’s hands, it would behoove the company to make sure their existing consoles are running smoothly.
The reports of some consoles not being able to load anything after the update, andthe update essentially bricking the PS4, are hugely concerning. Further, they may be more difficult to fix. The wide array of reported problems should be a big motivation for Sony to fix this quickly, but if consoles are no longer operational due to a software update, Sony could be in real trouble. It’s unlikely that many PS4s will be destroyed by this update though, and in reality, it has only affected a small percentage of PS4 owners. However, it will have an impact on consumer loyalty based on how Sony addresses the problem.
PS4 owners that have not yet updated are advised to avoid the update until a solution is found. Although the update was small, it did include a couple of useful improvements. Still, this entire debacle does pose the question of whether the PS4 has much viable time left as a console, which is not great news for anyone whocan’t find or afford a PS5. While the current-gen consoles are definitely the focus for Sony, hopefullyPS4users won’t get left in the dust.
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