Sony and some third-party developers are offering free upgrades from the PS4 to PS5 versions of games, but without a snazzy branded feature like Xbox’s Smart Delivery. It hasn’t been entirely clear how players will be able to claim these upgrades, but Sony addressed it with detailed instructions in advance of the console launch next month.
The instructions, part of a PS5 support page, come in two varieties based on whether you’re upgrading a disc or digital game. To upgrade a disc game you’ll need the higher-priced PS5 that includes a disc drive, for obvious reasons. Digital games can be upgraded on either version of PS5.
The instructions look fairly straightforward. For a disc version, just make sure you’re signed in on your PS5 console, insert the game disc, and then select to upgrade on the game hub. That will download the PS5 version, which will be associated with that game disc. From then on you can play the PS5 version as long as the PS4 disc is in the drive. For a digital game, just find the game in the PlayStation Store or game hub and select upgrade.
Elsewhere in the support page, Sony detailed a handful of PS4 games that won’t playable through backward compatibility. Despite some early concerns that backward compatibility would be very limited on PS5, the list is only 10 games, so the vast majority are coming over. Sony also explained how Game Boost will enhance some of the backwards compatible library.
Upgrade an eligible PS4 game on disc on a PS5 console with a disc drive
- Sign in to your existing account on your PS5 console (or create an account).
- Insert the eligible PS4 game disc.
- Go to the game hub for the PS4 game.
- Select the upgrade offer on the game hub and review the upgrade offer.
- Select Download (or purchase with the discount price) to download/purchase content.
- After the download is complete, you can play the PS5 digital game by inserting the PS4 game disc. You will need to keep the disc inserted each time to play the game.
Upgrade an eligible PS4 digital game on a PS5 console with a disc drive or PS5 Digital Edition
- Sign in to your existing account on your PS5 console.
- Find the PS5 game in PlayStation Store, or by Search, and go to the game hub for the PS5 game.
- Select the upgrade offer on the game hub and review the upgrade offer.
- Select Download (or purchase with the discount price) to download/purchase content.
- After the download is complete, you can play the PS5 game.