Sony PlayStation Is No Longer Offering Free Next-Gen Upgrades for Its Own Games

Sony has now confirmed that PlayStation 4 users will not get free next-gen upgrades for the PlayStation 5 for its first-party games.

The news resulted from a confusing pre-order announcement from Sony earlier last week for Horizon Forbidden West, which offered no options for players to upgrade its PS4 option to the higher-spec PS5 iteration despite Sony promising that free upgrade previously. After much outcry from the gaming community, the company decided to reverse its decision and offer the free upgrade: but just for that particular game.

While Ryan clarified that Horizon Forbidden West players will be getting a free next-gen upgrade to the PS5, he also explained that future releases will not be receiving the same treatment. “I also want to confirm today that moving forward, PlayStation first-party exclusive cross-gen titles (newly releasing on PS4 & PS5)–both digital and physical–will offer a $10 USD digital upgrade option from PS4 to PS5,” he remarked. “This will apply to the next God of War and Gran Turismo 7, and any other exclusive cross-gen PS4 & PS5 title published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.”

The news is no doubt a big hit to those currently on the PS4 hoping to bring their games over to the PS5, especially when Microsoft announced previously that Xbox One games will automatically be upgraded to the Xbox Series X/S versions completely for free.