A new PS5 beta is available now in to "invited beta participants", and it's adding an oft-requested feature to Sony's console. The new beta brings Discord voice chat support, as well as VRR support for 1440p and various UX and accessibility improvements across the board.
According to Sony, beta participants from the US and Canada, as well as Japan, Germany, France, and the UK, will get an email on how to download the beta. Bear in mind that some features won't make it into the final update, although Discord voice support almost certainly will.
If you're lucky enough to get invited to the beta, here's how to get Discord on your PS5. Link your PS5 and Discord accounts via the Linked Services part of your PS5's Users and Accounts menu, then use Discord on your mobile device or PC to start a chat on PS5. Strangely, it doesn't seem like you can start a Discord chat from the console itself, so you will need to download the app elsewhere to get started.
If you've linked your accounts before, you'll have to go through the process again, because Discord voice chat requires new permissions. Once it's done, though, you should be able to see and respond to Discord parties from your PS5 console, which is pretty nifty. Your Discord friends will also be able to see what you're doing on PS5.
Other features include the chance to share your screen with a friend from their profile, as well as a new icon for Party Chats that lets you join games quickly. A new tile has been added to the PS5's game hubs showing you which of your friends has that game, and you can now upload game captures and clips to your PlayStation App right from the PS5.
As well as the aforementioned 1440p VRR support, other additions include sorting and filtering games when adding games to game lists, as well as filters that let you find PSVR and PSVR 2 games quickly. It's well worth reading through Sony's announcement post for this beta, as there are plenty of other small features you might not otherwise notice, but which might be integral to improving your PS5 experience. Be sure to double-check your email to see if you've received an invite too!
