The short answer is – it depends! Let me walk you through the different scenarios as a gaming industry expert.
Upgrading from a PlayStation 4 (PS4) to a PlayStation 5 (PS5) can seem daunting, especially when considering if you need to re-purchase games you already own. The upgrade process and options vary depending on whether you own digital or physical copies of PS4 games.
If you‘re weighing up whether to upgrade your PS4, I‘m here to make the process straightforward so you can carry your game library forward and start enjoying next-gen improvements!
Digital vs Physical PS4 Games – Which Get Free Upgrades?
For digital PS4 games purchased through the PlayStation Store, the good news is you can often upgrade directly on your PS5 console for free. But there are some caveats:
Each publisher determines upgrade fees per title – 1st party Sony exclusives tend to offer $10 upgrade paths, while some 3rd party games provide free upgrades.
Steps to upgrade involve finding the PS5 version in the PlayStation Store on your new console and selecting the upgrade offer or ‘Free‘ button.
Certain games only provide free upgrades for a limited time – you may have missed the window for a specific title.
The key is carefully checking the upgrade offer displayed on the PS5 game page in the store. This will let you know if it‘s free or paid.
Now for physical PS4 discs, it‘s a different story – you‘ll need the PS4 disc inserted each time to play the corresponding PS5 version. Physical discs do not qualify for free upgrades since it also requires publishing a separate PS5 Blu-ray disc.
Instead, you‘d need to purchase the PS5 version separately – usually at the full $69.99 price. That said, 1st party PlayStation exclusives like Horizon Forbidden West provide a $10 digital upgrade option when owning either physical or digital copies of the PS4 version.
So in summary, only digital PS4 owners have potential for free upgrades, while physical disc owners will need to buy the PS5 edition or pay a small upgrade fee for exclusives. Let‘s compare the two formats:
| Format | Free Upgrade? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Digital PS4 | Sometimes | Check PS Store page per game |
| Physical PS4 | No | Requires re-purchase or upgrade fee |
This table shows the key differences in upgrade options depending on digital vs. physical PS4 game formats.
Weighing Up The Benefits of Upgrading from PS4 to PS5
Beyond just keeping your game library, what are the real benefits of upgrading to PS5? As a gaming tech specialist, I always recommend looking at the technical improvements first:
Higher resolution graphics – Up to native 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) on supported TVs. This is a massive jump from the PS4‘s 1080p output.
Higher frame rates – Smoother gameplay with up to 120 frames per second (fps) supported on some titles. PS4 games were typically locked to 30 fps or 60 fps maximum.
Faster load times – The PS5‘s custom solid state drive (SSD) drastically reduces game load times in comparison to the PS4‘s mechanical hard drive. We‘re talking near instant game launch and fast travel!
New features – Immersive controller haptic feedback, 3D spatial audio, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and more. The PS5 DualSense controller feels like a generational leap.
Exclusives – Access to new PS5-only games not available on PS4. Even cross-gen titles like Horizon Forbidden West have dedicated PS5 editions with enhanced graphics, performance and DualSense support.
Looking at the specs comparison, the PS5 is a serious upgrade:
| Spec | PS5 | PS4 |
|---|---|---|
| Teraflops | 10.3 | 1.84 |
| RAM | 16GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR5 |
| Storage Speed | 5.5GB/s (SSD) | 100MB/s (HDD) |
The PS5 has nearly 10x the graphics processing power, double the memory, and an SSD that‘s around 50 times faster than the PS4 hard drive!
These hardware advantages make upgrading extremely compelling for PlayStation fans invested in Sony‘s ecosystem. Even putting exclusives aside, you‘ll get significantly enhanced performance in cross-platform blockbusters like Elden Ring or Call of Duty.
Carrying Your PS4 Game Library to PS5
Now you might be wondering – can I still play my PS4 games on the new console? Thankfully, the PS5 is highly backwards compatible.
The vast majority – approximately 99% – of the over 4,000 PS4 games are supported natively on PS5 hardware. This gives you access to your existing PS4 library while enjoying PS5 benefits like faster load times.
Only a very small number of PS4 games are not supported on PS5, such as:
- Afro Samurai 2
- Hitman Go
- Just Deal With It
- Robinson: The Journey
- Shadwen
- We Sing
Unless you have these specific titles, you can rest assured knowing your full digital library or PS4 disc collection will work on PS5. Backwards compatibility is a key feature that ensures you can still play your favorites while upgrading select games over time.
Sony has kept this in mind with their PlayStation Plus Premium subscription too – members get access to a catalog of 400+ PS4 games to play on PS5 at no extra cost. So your current PlayStation Plus membership carries forward as well.
What‘s the Expected PS5 Lifespan?
As an industry analyst, based on past PlayStation generations, I expect the PS5 to have a long lifecycle of 7-8 years before we see a successor like the PlayStation 6 (PS6).
This gives you many years of enjoyment on the new console and time to gradually upgrade your PS4 library to native PS5 versions. We‘re still in the early days of the generation – exciting exclusives like Marvel‘s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarok have yet to release.
Sony will continue supporting PS4 for 2-3 more years, but will eventually shift focus entirely to PS5. So upgrading now allows you to get the most out of upcoming PS5 releases.
Historically, the lifecycles are:
- PlayStation 1: 1994 – 2006 (12 years)
- PlayStation 2: 2000 – 2013 (13 years)
- PlayStation 3: 2006 – 2017 (11 years)
- PlayStation 4: 2013 – 2020 (7 years)
Given the huge 110+ million PS4 install base, I expect a similar 7-8 year lifespan for PS5. When the PS6 does eventually launch, we can again expect upgrade options to transfer our PS5 libraries over.
Should You Upgrade to PS5 in 2024? My Expert Take
We‘ve covered a lot so far! Let me summarize my expert advice for you:
If you primarily play PlayStation exclusive games, the PS5 is a no-brainer purchase in 2024. Major exclusives like Horizon Forbidden West already make great use of the new hardware. And you‘ll want access to upcoming titles like Marvel‘s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, Gran Turismo 7 and more.
If you mainly play multiplatform games, the upgrade is still highly worthwhile. Performance in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Elden Ring is markedly improved with 4K resolution, higher frame rates, faster loading and DualSense features on PS5.
If you still have a large PS4 backlog, PS5 gives you the benefit of backwards compatibility along with enhancements to most titles. You can play your back catalog while upgrading new purchases.
If you don‘t own a 4K TV yet, you may want to wait on upgrading until you plan to get a 4K display – this lets you take full advantage of PS5‘s visual upgrades.
If budget is a concern, consider opting for the $399 PS5 Digital Edition to save $100 upfront. You still benefit from the same performance without the disc drive.
Given the major technical leap over PS4 and stellar exclusives slate, I wholeheartedly recommend upgrading to PlayStation 5 in 2024 for devoted PlayStation gamers. The path to transfer your games makes it a frictionless transition.
You‘ve now got all the essential knowledge to upgrade from PS4 to PS5 like a pro! I hope breaking down the upgrade process has given you confidence to make the next-gen leap. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m here to help fellow gamers unlock the full potential of their PlayStation consoles. Enjoy your well-earned upgrade!
