Inside the development of the latest PS5 system software update

blog.playstation.com:

The PS5 console’s latest system software update rolled out globally yesterday to all PS5 players, and many of you have already checked out new features like Discord voice chat and 1440p VRR support.

For a peek behind the curtain, we sat down with Hiromi Wakai, VP of Product Management based out of Tokyo, to discuss how the new features came together and what’s next beyond this latest update.

Sid Shuman: Good to speak with you again, Hiromi! Can you tell us about your role at PlayStation?

Hiromi Wakai: My team covers the product management role for the hardware products, system software updates, and network services for PlayStation, working closely with teams in the U.S. and Europe. I’m fortunate to help guide our product strategy on a global basis.

I joined Sony Group in 2001 and came to SIE in 2005, so I’ve been working on PlayStation products for almost 18 years. It’s been a wonderful journey of listening to our fans and game development partners as we work to deliver new features and products that unlock the possibilities of play.

Sid: Discord voice chat is a big addition.

Hiromi: Discord voice chat has been one of the biggest requests from our community and we’ve worked hard with the Discord team to deliver an experience that we hope our players will enjoy. I use Discord when I’m playing a Final Fantasy XIV raid with my friends who are gaming on PC, so Discord voice chat is a feature that’s important to me and one we’re very happy to bring to our community. Together with Discord, we want to make it easier for people to connect with each other, wherever they enjoy gaming.

Sid: What are some of your favorite features in this new update?

Hiromi: I’m very happy that we are delivering Variable Refresh Rate support