Sony has quietly fixed PlayStation 4's dead battery issue Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Sony has quietly fixed PlayStation 4's dead battery issue Positive. News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Updated on 23 Sep 2021 34 comments Sony's recent PlayStation 4 firmware update v9.0 has quietly solved an issue with the console's internal CMOS battery. This battery powers an internal clock the console uses to check eligibility for game ownership. Without the battery - such as when it naturally drains - both physical and digital games are left unplayable without connecting online. Reports this week suggested the problem had been fixed in the v9.0 software update, even though it is not mentioned in Sony's official patch notes. Our Digital Foundry team has since been able to corroborate this and confirm the problem is indeed now solved. The issue first came to light back in April, when it was flagged by Does it play?, a Twitter account devoted to game accessibility and preservation. Fan research found the issue also affected Trophies, which also require a date check prior to unlocking. (These now unlock, albeit with their date field blank.) Of course, most PS4s have not (yet) experienced a CMOS battery death. Even if (when) yours does drain, it's fair to say most PS4s are connected to the internet so an online check can still be performed. Still, fans said the way this worked needed to change to avoid future problems for PS4 owners who play offline. There's also the issue of game preservation and the ability to play games long-term even if PlayStation Network is experiencing issues or one day is taken down. In other welcome changes, Sony's new system update for PS5 has finally added the ability to upgrade the console's SSD expansion, among other things. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 13 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090: a new level in graphics performance The Digital Foundry video review - and how the new GPU champion delivers for 4K 120fps gaming. Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 4 Feature Evercore Heroes wants to wind people up the right way "There's less rage at them, because they didn't end your fun." Genshin Impact Path of Gleaming Jade dates, login event rewards Including other anniversary rewards and how to claim them. Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store