Sony Releases New PS4 Console Update for July 2025

Sony has surprised fans and released a new system software update for its previous generation console, the PlayStation 4. The new update brings the PlayStation 4's firmware to version 12.52 and is available to download worldwide right now. Unfortunately, fans looking to see any major changes or improvements to the twelve-year-old console are out of luck, as Sony says the update is merely for security fixes to the console's system software.

Although new firmware updates for the PlayStation 4 aren't exactly unheard of, they don't come as regularly as they do for Sony's current generation console, the PlayStation 5. But, with that being said, it was only back in March that a new PS4 update was released. Unlike today's new firmware update, March's patch supposedly improved the messages and usability on some screens. Again, there were no new features or major changes added in the update, as Sony is likely to keep any new UI improvements for the PlayStation 5, which itself is approaching the latter half of its lifecycle.

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By Sarah Fields

Just four months after the console's last update and Sony is back again, this time to improve security fixes to the PlayStation 4's system software. Unfortunately, that's all there is to report in regards to the new firmware update. Those who still use the PS4 console regularly will want to download and install the system software update, which brings the firmware to version 12.52, as soon as possible. Sony has not specified exactly what security fixes were implemented, but it's always important to keep ageing consoles up to date to ensure any personal data or information is kept secure.

Whether it's PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, console owners have had a lackluster few months when it comes to system software updates. While the last generation console hasn't received any significant improvements since the release of the PS5 in 2020, Sony's most recent console also hasn't had a meaningful update since it reintroduced classic PlayStation themes back in April. The feature was added late last year to celebrate PlayStation's 30th anniversary, but was removed in early 2025. However, the themes were so well received by the PlayStation community that Sony opted to bring them back permanently in a new system update a few months ago.

While today's unexpected PS4 update likely came as a surprise to some, it wasn't anywhere near as surprising as when the PlayStation 3 received a new update earlier this year. Back in March, Sony brought the console to version 4.29 with a new firmware update. According to the official patch notes, the update was to renew the Blu-ray player encryption key for the console, which allows users to continue using the disc drive. It also made some improvements to the console's system performance, but users are unlikely to see any significant changes following the update.