Is Fallout 4 Free on PS5?

The short answer is yes – existing owners of Fallout 4 on PS4 can upgrade to the PS5 version for free when it releases in 2024. You can also access Fallout 4 at no additional cost through a PlayStation Plus membership.

But how exactly does this work? What can you expect from the next-gen upgrades? And is Fallout 4 still worth playing in 2024? As a Fallout superfan and PS5 enthusiast, let me walk you through everything you need to know!

Reliving the Wasteland in Stunning 4K

Before we get into the nitty gritty details, let‘s take a moment to remember just how incredible Fallout 4 is. When it first launched back in 2015, I was completely floored by the scope and ambition of the post-nuclear wasteland Bethesda created.

Immersed in the massive open world, I spent over 100 hours crafting epic weapons, building elaborate settlements, forging alliances with colorful factions, and uncovering the secrets of the Commonwealth. Considering it‘s one of my favorite games of all time, the chance to reexperience Fallout 4 with PS5-level visual fidelity has me psyched!

According to Bethesda, the upgrades coming next year include:

• Native 4K resolution for crisper image quality
• Performance mode targeting 60 FPS for silky smooth gameplay
• Enhanced lighting and art assets for more atmospheric environments
• Faster loading times thanks to the PS5‘s ultra-fast SSD

As a gaming tech nerd, I‘m thrilled to see Fallout 4 get modernized with these meaningful enhancements. Ray tracing would be the cherry on top, but 4K60 alone is a massive improvement that will make wandering the Commonwealth even more immersive.

Cross-Gen Compatibility FTW

The ability to transfer our gaming libraries across generations is something we should never take for granted. Just imagine if you had to re-buy all your PS4 games again for PS5 like in the old days – no thank you!

Sony has confirmed full backwards compatibility for supporting PS4 games, stating that over 4000 titles will be playable on their new console. This allows PS5 owners to access games they already own without re-purchasing.

Physical PS4 discs can simply be inserted into the PS5 to install and play. If you own Fallout 4 digitally via the PlayStation Store, you can find and download it on your PS5 using the same PSN account. Cloud saving also makes it easy to continue right where you left off on PS4.

These cross-gen capabilities mean existing Fallout 4 owners on PS4 gain the huge perk of a free next-gen upgrade. Thanks, backwards compatibility!

PlayStation Plus Collection – Fallout 4 for Free

PlayStation Plus subscribers have another avenue to score Fallout 4 for zero additional dollars. The PS Plus Collection for PS5 grants access to a curated selection of acclaimed PS4 games for downloading at no extra cost.

This instant game collection is one of the best perks of the PS Plus service. Here‘s a quick overview of the PlayStation Plus options:

Fallout 4 happens to be one of the 20 standout PS4 games included with all tiers. So just $9.99 a month gets you unlimited access to Bethesda‘s masterpiece along with online play. Pretty awesome value!

The only catch is that you lose access if you unsubscribe from PS Plus. But still, it‘s a nice way to check out the game risk-free if you‘ve yet to play.

Downloading Tips and Tricks

Alright, let‘s get into the nuts and bolts of actually getting Fallout 4 on your system. Here are my pro tips for downloading games on your slick new PS5:

• Finding Free Games – Check the PlayStation Store sections "PlayStation Plus" and "Free-to-Play" for available free titles.

• Downloading – Select the game you want, hit download, and let the progress bar fill! Downloads happen in sleep mode.

• Managing Space – Fallout 4 requires up to 70GB of storage space. Delete old games in Settings if needed to free up room.

• Queue Management – Use the download queue to view progress on multiple downloads. Prioritize as desired.

• Connection Speed – Make sure your PS5 has a stable, fast internet connection for optimal download speeds.

• Errors Troubleshooting – If a download gets stuck, pause it, put the PS5 in rest mode, and restart the download.

• Automatic Updates – By default, your PS5 will auto-update games and system software for the best experience.

Follow those tips and you‘ll have the latest version of Fallout 4 up and running in no time. Then get ready to dive into the roleplaying adventure of a lifetime!

Will Bethesda Go Xbox Exclusive?

Ever since Microsoft acquired Bethesda for $7.5 billion, there‘s been nonstop speculation about whether future franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout will remain cross-platform, or become Xbox/PC exclusives.

As primarily a PlayStation gamer, I have to admit the uncertainty is worrisome. Franchises like Fallout carry so much goodwill that limiting them to just one platform seems like leaving tons of money on the table. But Microsoft does love exclusives…

Whatever happens, at least we know PS5 owners are safe when it comes to Fallout 4. But the ball is up in the air for any theoretical Fallout 5. My gut says Microsoft will throw around their new ZeniMax IPs as exclusive bargaining chips in an effort to drive Game Pass subscriptions.

I guess time will tell! Hopefully I‘m wrong and Fallout continues growing its audience across all platforms.

Mods to Rule the Wasteland

While PlayStation‘s mod support can‘t match Xbox or PC, there are still some quality of life improvements you can install to enhance Fallout 4 on PS5. Here are the mods I‘d recommend checking out:

• Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch – Comprehensive bugfix mod that solves hundreds of lingering issues. A must-have foundation.

• Full Dialogue Interface – Restores original full lines of dialogue that got cut down in the base game. Better roleplaying.

• Reverb and Ambiance Overhaul – Adds beautifully haunting sound effects throughout the world. So immersive with headphones!

• Vivid Fallout – Improves textures, lighting, clouds, weather, and more for lifelike visuals. Feels next-gen.

• Everyone‘s Best Friend – Allows Dogmeat plus an additional companion. Two pets are better than one!

Browse mods and installation instructions directly through the Mods section of Fallout 4‘s main menu. Give your Commonwealth adventure a fresh coat of paint with the right mods!

PS5‘s Lightning Fast SSD

If you‘re still playing Fallout 4 on a base PS4, the number one benefit you‘ll notice on PS5 is the load times, or lack thereof. PS5‘s custom built super speed SSD outputs raw throughput of 5.5GB/s. What does this mean in practice? Near instant loading!

Let‘s compare some estimated load times for Fallout 4:

It‘s incredible how much time is saved. No more twiddling your thumbs waiting through long loading screens. The SSD allows Fallout 4 to load assets and transitions almost immediately. This keeps the action moving and allows you to better immerse yourself in the world.

The PS5 hardware also virtually eliminates loading screen stutters that were common on PS4. Everything flows smooth as butter. Honestly, the SSD upgrade is almost as impactful as the visual improvements for rejuvenating last-gen games.

Finding a PS5 Just Got Easier

As gamers are painfully aware, getting your hands on Sony‘s elusive PlayStation 5 has been a challenge ever since it launched back in November 2020. For over a year, PS5 restocks would sell out in literal minutes due to low supply and scalpers using bots.

But recently, analysts have reported PS5 availability and sales numbers improving month over month in 2022. Sony is finally catching up on production to meet the demand. While you still need to act fast, grabbing a PS5 has become much less difficult compared to the height of the shortages.

Here are my tips for successfully securing a PS5 in stock:

• Check websites like Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, and Sony daily for restock updates

• Follow Twitter feeds that notify immediately when stock goes live

• Create accounts and save payment info for fastest possible checkout

• Try less popular retailers like Newegg or Antonline for better chances

• Don‘t give up! With persistence, you‘ll eventually land a PS5. Took me 5 tries over 2 months.

Looking ahead to 2023 and beyond, market analysts predict it will take at least until 2024 for PS5 supplies to completely normalize. But the light at the end of the tunnel is clearly visible. Keep hunting and you‘ll snag one soon enough!

The Future of Fallout

Considering Fallout 76 launched just three years ago in 2018, it seems unlikely that Fallout 5 hits shelves anytime soon. Bethesda Game Studios is currently all hands on deck for their long-awaited next big RPG franchise: Starfield.

Starfield is poised to release sometime in the first half of 2024 after years in development. Assuming that project doesn‘t see major delays, earliest industry insiders predict Fallout 5 releases is late 2025 or 2026.

Of course, there‘s still room for Fallout spin-off projects like Fallout: New Vegas 2 made by an external studio like Obsidian. But the mainline series sits quite a ways off.

At least that gives us time to replay Fallout 4 all over again on PS5! Given how ambitious and content-rich Fallout 4 was, I could easily spend another 100+ hours uncovering new sides of post-apocalyptic Boston. Especially with the next-gen enhancements making the Commonwealth more atmospheric than ever.

The Verdict? Absolutely Worth Replaying on PS5

To summarize, existing PS4 owners of Fallout 4 are in for a treat when the newly upgraded version lands sometime next year for free. The current backwards compatible version still holds up reasonably well, but native 4K and faster performance will go a long way towards modernizing Fallout 4‘s visuals and gameplay.

If you‘ve yet to play, joining PlayStation Plus grants access at no extra cost. And hunting down a PS5 is easier than its ever been as supply stabilizes. There‘s never been a better time to either re-experience or discover this open world masterpiece.

So strap on your power armor and get ready to plunge into Bethesda‘s greatest and most ambitious Fallout world yet. I‘ll see you out there in the post-nuclear Commonwealth, friend!