Cross-gen and free upgrades
What cross-gen games are, how free upgrades work, and the traps that stop an upgrade working.
A cross-gen game is released on two console generations at once — on PS4 and PS5, or Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This happens during the transition period after a new console launches, while the older one still has a large installed base.
The versions differ. The newer one typically runs at a higher resolution and frame rate, loads faster, and may add effects the older hardware cannot manage.
How free upgrades work
Many cross-gen games let you upgrade from the older version to the newer one at no cost. Buy on PS4, play the PS5 version later without paying again.
The mechanism is usually straightforward: with the disc in the drive or the digital version in your library, the console offers the newer version for download. Your save often transfers too, though not always.
Can I upgrade a PS4 game to PS5 for free?
For some games, yes — but this is a per-game decision made by the publisher, not a platform guarantee. Three situations exist:
Free upgrade offered — common for games released around the transition.
Paid upgrade — a reduced fee for the newer version.
No upgrade — the two versions are separate purchases.
Always check the specific game before assuming.
The traps
Disc to digital does not work. If your upgrade rights come from owning a disc, you need a console with a disc drive to claim and keep using them. On a Digital Edition console, a disc-based upgrade is unavailable — this catches people out constantly.
Editions matter. Sometimes the standard edition includes the upgrade and a special edition does not, or the reverse.
Offers can expire. Some publishers have ended free upgrade programmes for specific titles after a period.
Saves do not always transfer. Upgrading the game does not guarantee the save comes with it; check before you get deep into a playthrough.
Practical advice
If you own a PS4 and expect to move to a PS5, buying cross-gen games on disc keeps your options open — you can upgrade later and you can still sell the disc if you do not. Ask us on 16280 about a specific title and we will check what upgrade it offers.