Soapbox: I don’t know how to feel about the fuss of upgrading PS4 to PS5

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Last week, pre-orders for Horizon Forbidden West opened, allowing enthusiastic fans to put in some douches for Guerrilla’s highly anticipated PlayStation exclusive. While this was met with enthusiasm, of course, the ad was tainted by the game’s PS4 to PS5 upgrade path – or to be precise, a lack of it. If you purchased a copy of the sequel on PS4, and want to play the PS5 version afterwards, you will have to buy the same game again. This has since been undone after a lot of criticism from consumers, with a free upgrade when porting the title to the current generation version, but all the fuss left me torn.

First, I feel as though there is a lot of confusion about what Sony promised and what it is now aiming to achieve. Some argue that the platform owner pledged a free upgrade to Forbidden West nearly 12 months ago in a PS blog post. However, the paragraph that apparently says the upgrade won’t come at any additional cost doesn’t quite say that.

The PS4 digital versions of the launch games include a free upgrade for both PS5 consoles, while the PS4 disc versions of these games include a free upgrade on the PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-Ray drive.

Reading this carefully, you’ll notice that Sony says Play Games will include a free upgrade path. Horizon Forbidden West isn’t a PS5 launch game, even if at some point it was. It’s clever wording, but Sony hasn’t explicitly stated that the game will benefit from the upgrade plan people have come to expect. However, this is all kind of an argument now that Sony has run the situation.

What keeps everyone alert now is how the company will handle future promotions. Future first-party titles from PlayStation Studios launching on both PS4 and PS5 will charge a $10 upgrade fee. I’ve seen a lot of anger about this decision, but I think it’s a fair compromise. If Gran Turismo 7 costs $60 on PS4, pay another $10 and you’ll get the PS5 version too. That’s a better sight than paying $60 for one copy and then $70 for the PS5, which is less than the $80 digital deluxe Forbidden West, which was previously the cheapest way to get both versions. Long story short: the $10 cost isn’t really that bad.

The problem you have then is, well, every other publisher offers better deals. Generally, high level games are released across generations through this free upgrade business. On Xbox, it’s not about upgrading; You buy the game, and if it supports Smart Delivery, you will be given access to the best version available, depending on what devices you have. It’s just automatic. While I don’t personally see the $10 Sony upgrades as a problem, overall consumer expectations have changed. If it’s the same game on multiple platforms, you don’t have to pay more than once – that’s the mentality now.

In an increasingly digital age, it makes sense, not even a new idea. There have been games released, for example, on PS3 and Vita offering both versions for one price. Back in the day, PC gamers were paying a fixed price for games all the time, with their hardware determining the end result. With the arrival of the PS5 generation, the value proposition has changed. Games are lasting for a long time now – they are constantly updated and the publishers want you to be addicted to them for as long as possible. It is in their interest to make sure that you can play things like Rainbow Six: Siege wherever you want and that the process is easy. Publishers want your time more than your money – they’ll make up for any losses via premium DLC, micro-transactions, and subscription services.

It’s funny: One of the first things I thought after the Horizon disaster made me realize my age. What I want to say is that back in the day, if you wanted two copies of the same game, you just had to raise the money. I bought Rayman Origins on PS3, and again on Vita, with no questions (and no regrets) asked. So, to my 31-year-old mind, the idea of ​​giving people things for free — and that they totally expect it — baffles me somewhat. It’s like going to a car dealership, seeing two near-identical models, and expecting to get both for the cheapest car price, in case you end up preferring to drive the car with the racing stripes and a cool extra badge on the side. That ten bucks isn’t for nothing – you’ll almost certainly get a better version of the game that performs better, with perhaps some features not present in the last generation version. Making this PS5 version cost millions; You can’t blame Sony for wanting to get it back.

Again, though, I get it. Things have definitely changed. With PS Plus, PS Now, and yes, I’ll say it, Xbox Game Pass, we’re used to an endless abundance of video games. People want more for less, and they get it. If you ask the talking consumer about upgrade status, they will likely say you’re in short supply if you don’t receive these upgrades for free. Sony offers cross-generational updates for a badly bad $10, even considering any improvements made to the software, because other companies are giving those upgrades away like candy.

Then you have the argument that PlayStation exclusives in particular might justify the extra money. While Microsoft offers its subscribers everything for a monthly charge, Sony’s first-party efforts are, in general, some of the best and most favored releases released each year. Fans may not care about the charge when we talk about the likes of Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, God of War Ragnarok and who knows what else. I’m not saying that Xbox Game Studios are not capable of making games at the same level, I just think the pill might be easier to swallow on Planet PlayStation (re that) because of the high quality of the games.

Anyway, I think I’ll be in a circle now. I don’t really have an answer for all of this, and that’s kind of the point – it’s a complicated thing. Games are costing more and more, but at the same time publishers are vying to offer the best value for money, and that’s where we are now. I don’t know how to feel. This article is what happens when you shrug your shoulders and turn it into 1,000 words of prose. cheers.

Stephen will be fine, he’s back and he’s trying to come back platinum now. I wish him success. What do you think of all this? Is Sony justified in charging $10 for game upgrades? Are you glad she turned things around for Horizon Forbidden West? Be kind to each other in the comments section below.

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