A small component could mean that you can no longer play on your PS4 someday. Now Sony has apparently solved the problem with update 9.0.0. A user has successfully tested this now.
This is the component in question: Every PS4 contains a so-called CMOS battery. It is mounted on the motherboard and supplies power to the volatile CMOS memory, as it would otherwise be cleared. The battery also powers the real-time clock of the motherboard.
This is the problem: The problem is that the clock is responsible for the time and the calendar. When the battery is empty, the system can no longer set the calendar correctly. To determine the correct time, the PS4 must connect to the PlayStation Network (PSN).
If the battery is removed for replacement or fails, the system cannot correctly place the real calendar. This forces the PS4 to reconnect to the PSN to determine the correct time. This time check occurs every time you want to play a digital or physical game. This prevents you from starting a game too early or gathering achievements.
Before update 9.0.0, the time check could not be completed with an empty battery, as the console could not connect to the PSN. However, this also means that you cannot start a game, as the time cannot be checked.
Once Sony turns off the PSN servers on the PS4 or your console is offline for a long time, your console can no longer perform the time check. Without a time check, your PS4 cannot start any games.
How long does the battery last? Normally, a CMOS battery lasts between 10 and 20 years. Even if your console is turned off, the battery is used because otherwise the console could not save the time.
Sony has apparently silently solved the battery problem
This is what happened: Sony deployed update 9.0.0 on the PlayStation 4 in September 2021. YouTuber “Destruction Games” tested after the update whether the battery problem has been solved.
- First, he tried to start a digital copy on the PS4 without a battery and without an internet connection with old firmware. He was not able to get the game running this way.
- On the second attempt, he installed update 9.0.0, also removed the battery from the PS4, and disabled the internet. Now he was able to start both a digital game and a disc. Even if the clock is set to an earlier date, it still works.
In his YouTube video, he presents the problem in detail and explains how he tested it exactly. We have embedded the video here for you:
Is everything official? No, because Sony has not officially commented on this. Even in the patch notes of 9.0.0, there is no mention of addressing battery issues.
The battery lasts many years, but it is normal for servers to be turned off
Why is the update so important? The biggest risk for PS4 owners would have been that Sony eventually turns off the PSN servers for the PlayStation 4. The time check would then no longer work, and the console would also not work.
In a future where every gamer has a PlayStation 5 under the TV and can play PS4 games thanks to backward compatibility, this may only play a subordinate role.
The thought of shutting down is by the way not entirely far-fetched: Sony wanted to turn off online services on the PlayStation 3 in July 2021 but decided against it after severe criticism from gamers.
In the future, users will not have to rely on complicated workarounds or alternative firmware if they want to play on their PS4.
In addition to the PS4, the PS5 has also received a major update
The update on the PS4 is said to cause problems for some users. Currently, it is not known how many users are affected, but you cannot access Sony’s online services without the update.
Who else benefited from the update? The PlayStation 5 has also received a major update simultaneously with the PlayStation 4. The most important feature is certainly the support for SSD drives that you can now install in your console. We have compiled all the important information about the PS5 update here on MeinMMO for you.
From now on, you can finally expand your PS5 storage – Here’s what you should know
