A PlayStation 5 system software update has introduced a convenient on-screen indicator that displays the name of each player currently talking during a party chat.
How to Enable and Use Speaker Indicators on PS5
As reported by Engadget, the September 16, 2026 system software update, version 26.06-14.00.00, added the feature for both the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro, alongside enabling enhanced PSSR upscaling by default on the Pro model. Because the speaker indicator is disabled by default, users must manually turn it on and choose where it appears on their screen.
To begin, players need to create or join a PlayStation party by opening the Control Center via the PS button, navigating to Game Base, selecting Parties, and choosing Start Party as either Open or Closed. While inside the voice chat, users must open the Control Center again, click on the Voice Chat card, select the three-dot More button, and choose Display Who’s Speaking. Turning on Display Names makes the speaker’s name appear on-screen.
Users can adjust the position of the indicator so it avoids important game elements like health bars or mini-maps, and turning off Display Names will hide the indicator again. Anyone unable to locate the setting should navigate to Settings, then System, System Software, and System Software Update and Settings to ensure their console is running the latest software version.
Managing Volume and Early Access History
PlayStation parties support up to 16 players, making it challenging to identify loud microphones. Selecting a player’s name in the Voice Chat card allows the host to adjust that individual’s volume, a setting that carries over to future gaming sessions with that user.
This public release in September follows prior instances where some players reported utilizing the feature as early as November 2025, while others had lost access shortly after finding it. Because Sony did not explain the early availability, the September update marked the official inclusion in public release notes.
While Sony officially documents the indicator for PlayStation party chat, users have noted it also works with Discord on the PS5. The feature does not function with in-game voice chat, though individual games often feature separate settings for speaker displays. Engadget noted that while the new PS5 addition lacks customization for size and transparency—unlike Xbox’s comparable overlay introduced in May 2017—it successfully simplifies tracking large party conversations.
