PS5 August 2026 Firmware Beta Makes PSSR 2.0 Default for All PS5 Pro Games — Full Patch Notes

Sony has started rolling out a new PS5 system software beta to members of its beta programme via email invite, and if you own a PS5 Pro, this one is worth paying attention to. The update makes PSSR 2.0 the automatic default for all compatible games on the console — which sounds like a small tweak in the menu, but has real implications for a library of over 100 games that were left running on the older and significantly rougher original version of the upscaler.

PSSR 2.0 Is Now On by Default for All PS5 Pro Games

The headlining change in this beta is that the Enhance PSSR Image Quality setting — which forces PSSR 2.0 onto games that only natively support the original PSSR 1.0 — is now toggled on automatically when you install the update. Previously this setting existed and was available, but it was buried in the menus and off by default, meaning a lot of PS5 Pro owners were quietly running the older, inferior upscaler without knowing a better option was sitting right there.

Here’s the official wording from Sony’s patch notes: “We’ve turned on Enhance PSSR Image Quality as a default setting. When you update the system software, this setting automatically turns on. When you enable this feature, enhanced PSSR is used even for games that support the previous version of PSSR so you can enjoy a sharper and clearer visual experience.”

If you want to turn it off, you can find the toggle under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality. The setting is PS5 Pro exclusive — base PS5 consoles are not affected by this change.

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Why This Matters — The PSSR 1.0 Problem

To understand why making PSSR 2.0 the default is a meaningful change, you need to know a bit about how the original PSSR landed when it launched with the PS5 Pro in November 2024. PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution was positioned as one of the core selling points of the Pro — Sony’s AI-driven upscaling answer to Nvidia’s DLSS on PC, promising cleaner images and better performance from the more powerful hardware.

In practice, the initial version had real problems. High-fidelity titles like Silent Hill 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Alan Wake 2 produced noticeable ghosting, shimmering, blurry visuals, and image breakdown under motion. In some cases, PS5 Pro versions of these games looked noticeably worse than the base PS5 in certain scenarios — which was a genuinely embarrassing result for a premium console whose primary pitch was visual quality.

Sony’s answer to this was PSSR 2.0, which debuted alongside Resident Evil Requiem in March 2026. The upgraded version takes a substantially different approach to both the neural network and the underlying algorithm — producing more precise image reconstruction on fine details like hair strands, foliage, and fabric texturing, while also handling motion stability significantly better. Fast-moving objects no longer leave the kind of ghosting trails that plagued 1.0, and the image holds together far more cleanly under camera movement.

Since March, a growing list of games have been officially updated to support PSSR 2.0 natively. But over 100 games still supported only the original PSSR, and many of them had no confirmed timeline for an official patch. Sony’s solution was the system-level override toggle introduced alongside PSSR 2.0’s launch — letting the console force PSSR 2.0 onto older games even without developer certification. This beta update simply makes that override the automatic default rather than something players had to discover and enable themselves.

It’s worth noting that results will vary by game. Some titles running under the system-level PSSR 2.0 override see dramatic improvements over 1.0; others show more modest gains depending on how the original implementation was built. If you run into any specific game where the forced 2.0 isn’t working well, you can restart the game after toggling the setting off to revert to the old behaviour.

Bluetooth Can Now Be Completely Disabled — With Trade-offs

The second notable change in the beta applies to both PS5 and PS5 Pro, though only in certain countries and regions. Players can now navigate to Settings > Accessories > General > Advanced Settings and select Turn Off Bluetooth to disable Bluetooth entirely on the console.

The trade-offs when you do this are significant — Rest Mode is disabled and HDMI link no longer works when Bluetooth is off. Sony is very clear in the patch notes about who this feature is actually for: “The Turn Off Bluetooth function is for managing controller connections at esports venues and similar locations. Do not use this feature for any other purpose.”

The logic makes sense in that context. At a competitive event with multiple PS5 consoles in close proximity, Bluetooth signals can bleed between units, making it difficult to reliably pair a controller to the specific console you want. Cutting Bluetooth entirely on nearby consoles eliminates that interference and makes controller assignment clean and predictable. For the average player at home with a single console and no pairing ambiguity, turning Bluetooth off serves no useful purpose and only disables features you likely use regularly.

Full PS5 August 2026 Firmware Beta Patch Notes

• Enhance PSSR Image Quality (PS5 Pro only): Now turned on by default. When this setting is enabled, PSSR 2.0 is applied even to games that support the previous version of PSSR. Can be disabled at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality.
• Bluetooth disable (PS5 and PS5 Pro, select countries/regions only): Selecting Turn Off Bluetooth in Advanced Accessories Settings now prevents the console from entering Rest Mode and disables HDMI link. Intended for esports venues and multi-console environments.
• System software performance and stability improvements.

How to Join the PS5 Beta Programme

The PS5 beta programme is invite-based and only available in select regions. Sony sends email invitations to existing beta programme members when a new firmware is ready for testing. If you haven’t signed up previously, Reddit user nextgen_currentgen shared a code in the PS5 subreddit that may allow new members to join — though availability depends on your region and whether Sony’s beta slots are open at the time you try.

It’s worth emphasising that beta firmware is pre-release software. The PSSR 2.0 default and Bluetooth changes are currently in testing, and the final public firmware release may look somewhat different depending on feedback gathered during the beta phase.

For PS5 Pro owners who bought the console specifically for the visual quality improvements it promised at launch, the PSSR 2.0 default change is a meaningful quality-of-life update. The original PSSR left a lot to be desired across much of the existing library, and making the better version automatic rather than opt-in means players benefit from it without needing to know the setting exists. If you’re in the beta programme and own a Pro, it’s worth installing just for this change alone.

For more gaming news this week, check out our breakdown of the Baldur’s Gate 3 third anniversary stats and the Guild Wars 3 playable species announcement.