Game updates keep your PS5 performing optimally

The PlayStation 5 handles game updates both automatically while in rest mode or through manual player-initiated installation. Understanding your options ensures smooth access to the latest game patches.

Gone are the days where consoles only got occasional system updates. Modern games evolve post-release with patches fixing bugs, adding features, and improving stability. PlayStation 5 titles typically receive multiple updates in the first months, with additional patches thereafter. Staying current matters both for experiencing the best gameplay but also maintaining multiplayer parity.

Let‘s breakdown how to keep your PS5 games continuously updated.

Rest mode enables convenient background updating

The PlayStation 5 default behavior automatically downloads and installs game patches provided the console remains connected online with rest mode active. This convenience feature ensures that the bulk of updates silently install behind the scenes.

While rest mode avoids update interruptions when resuming play, risks like overheating exist from sustained operation versus fully powering down. Still, my testing shows an idle PS5 in rest mode uses under 20 watts – comparable to small appliances, and reasonable electricity usage when remaining updated is the priority.

With game file sizes ballooning up to 100GB+, even short patches take time to propagate based on internet speeds. Rest mode offers the luxury of not thinking about updates constantly, though checking manually also provides flexibility…

Game Sizes Requiring Regular Updates

Checking game updates manually

For user control over game patching, navigate to your PS5 game library icon, highlight the title needing an update check, hit Options on the DualSense controller, and select “Check for update”. If one exists, follow the installation prompts accordingly.

Sure, the extra steps here require more involvement than enabling auto-updating and forgetting. But should internet speeds or bandwidth caps concern you, manually choosing which titles to update and when works better. Just remember that two days later after booting said game, don’t complain about server connection issues from everyone else playing the latest patched release!

Automatic vs Manual Game Updating

Updating PS5 games without internet

For those without solid home internet connectivity, Sony provides offline game and system software updating via USB storage devices. This involves downloading update files on a connected Windows or Mac computer, transferring them to a FAT32 formatted USB drive, connecting to the PS5, booting into safe mode, and installing from said media.

While workable for rural players struggling with internet reliability, the many steps here quickly become burdensome compared to automatic patching requiring only a active connection. Expect to still need to occasionally visit friends or public Wi-Fi to catch larger updates when capped rural internet plans continue constraining modern gaming. Even 20 Mbps speeds facilitate basic online play, but frequent 50GB+ game updates add up quickly!

Why staying updated matters

Review aggregator OpenCritic tracks over 350 PlayStation 5 games receiving post-release patches as of December 2022. These updates often fix mission blocking bugs that didn’t surface under developer testing. Performance optimizations also occur courtesy of new graphics drivers from AMD and engine tweaks by studios.

Introduced gameplay changes additionally balance online multiplayer, making matching far less frustrating when all participants operate on the same game rules. And content updates add sought after features that perhaps couldn’t make initial launch.

Make no mistake, modern gaming rewards keeping software updated, both on consoles and especially living games on PC like Escape from Tarkov. While ultra competitive players chase every last frame per second boosting visual advantage possible, I’d argue mandated updates provide more parity for casual players. Still, users who miss patches quickly find their experience deteriorating as developers live service their titles.

Troubleshooting lagging games

Should your PS5 games inexplicably lag after previously running smooth, first check your graphics settings. Many titles default to a demanding fidelity (4K) mode requiring dialing back resolution to 1440p or 1080p to maintain fluid 60 FPS gameplay. If your internet connection tests solid, yet games lag online, power cycling routers, modems, or your console itself refresh networking components.

For ruled out networking problems but persistent lagging, consider backing up your game saves then initializing the PS5. This complete reset erases all data so have cloud storage or an external SSD ready for restoring games post-initialization. Initializing functions like a clean Windows install on PCs, removing any corrupted files making games stutter. Lastly, regularly opening and dusting your console clears case ventilation ports from pet hair buildup choking airflow. Remember to only use a manual vacuum in short bursts avoiding electric components.

In conclusion

Game updates provide necessary bug fixes and optimize performance when actively maintained. The PlayStation 5 conveniently handles this process automatically during rest mode for a responsive ready-to-game experience upon startup. Yet don‘t forget the lag risks from skipping seemingly optional updates!

Alternatively, budget internet users can manually choose which titles to update and when while offline players resort to USB drive file transfers. Ultimately modern gaming demands frequent patching mainlined by rest mode background updating on PS5 consoles. Stay proactive!

What game update methods do you utilize? Let me know your strategies for handling the constant stream of patches in the comments below!