Sony screws over PS4 owners with Horizon Forbidden West – PS5 upgrades will not be free
Sony screws over PS4 owners with Horizon Forbidden West – PS5 upgrades will not be free
Our original article is below.Â
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Horizon Forbidden West will be launching next year on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, arriving on February 18th, 2022. Today, Sony revealed the game’s premium editions, including Digital Deluxe Edition, Collectors Edition and Regalla Edition, showcasing what will be included with the game’s premium versions.Â
Sadly, PlayStation 4 owners get a bad deal with Horizon Forbidden West’s Standard and Special Editions versions, as neither version will allow players to upgrade their game to the PlayStation 5 version. Should players move their games to PlayStation 5, they will only be allowed to play their game in backwards compatibility code on their new console, as PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 upgrades are a premium feature on Sony’s PlayStation platform.Â
PS4 owners will need to invest in Horizon Forbidden West’s  Digital Deluxe Edition, Collectors Edition and Regalla Edition to gain access to the game’s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions, a tactic that will force many PlayStation 4 owners to purchase a premium edition of Forbidden West, or buy the game twice should they wish to play the game on PlayStation 5.Â
Here’s what Sony has to say about Horizon Forbidden West PS4-to-PS5 upgrades in their FAQ for the game.Â
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  Can I upgrade my Horizon Forbidden West PS4 version to the PS5 version?
To access both the PS4 and PS5 versions of Horizon Forbidden West, you need to purchase the Digital Deluxe, Collector’s, or Regalla Editions. Dual entitlement does not apply to the Standard and Special Editions.Can I upgrade my Standard Edition to the Digital Deluxe edition of Horizon Forbidden West?
There are no plans for an update offer from Standard to Digital Deluxe Edition at this time.
It Gets Worse
Today, many PlayStation 4 owners are unable to purchase PlayStation 5 consoles. Sony cannot build enough PlayStation 5 consoles to meet demand, and that fact alone will force many prospective PlayStation 5 owners to buy Horizon: Forbidden West on PS4. When these people buy a PlayStation 5, they will not access Horizon Forbidden West’s PS5 version unless they invest in a premium edition of the game on PlayStation 4. Otherwise, they may need to buy the game twice to access the game’s PS5 edition.Â
While Microsoft’s offering free next-generation upgrades for many of its titles, Sony’s placing them behind premium edition paywalls. This is a shameful act and shows a major lack of consideration for their fans, many of which cannot currently purchase a PlayStation 5.
I said it gets worse. Looking at Horizon Forbidden West’s Digital Deluxe Edition reveals that the game’s photo mode will be exclusive to premium editions of the game. What was a basic feature in the original is now a premium add-on for its sequel. Sony, that’s greedy, and your fans deserve better than this. Â
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You can join the discussion on Sony making PS4-to-PS5 upgrades for Horizon Forbidden West a premium-only feature on the OC3D Forums.Â
