Save $10 on Horizon Forbidden West by buying the PS4 version 8

According to Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan, anyone who bought Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4 will receive a free upgrade to the PlayStation 5 edition of the game. That means the PS4 version is a covertly cheaper option because it costs $10 more than the PS5 version.

Only the CEO’s statements are available to us, which comes with a large disclaimer. Sony’s own storefront’s descriptions of the two game variants are also a bit misleading. Horizon Forbidden West is available for $59.99 on PlayStation 4 and $69.99 on PlayStation 5. Both goods imply that they can be used on both systems.

According to Ryan’s promise from last year, if you pre-order the PS4 version (accessible by scrolling down to the pre-order boxes lower on the website), you’ll get access to the PS5 update. Despite the fact that the listing on Sony’s website states that this version only works on PS4, a bullet point above the box suggests that it also works on the new platform. Could indicate the PS4 version will operate on PS5 consoles in backwards compatibility mode, i.e. not the PS5-upgraded or -optimized version of the game. According to Horizon Forbidden West’s FAQ page, the standard and special editions aren’t dual-entitled, instead “dual entitlement” refers to the ability for a PS4/PS5 purchaser to play on both consoles. Sony has been contacted for further clarification.

According to The Verge, the digital edition of this game isn’t available on the PlayStation 5’s own digital marketplace, so you’ll have to purchase it through the Sony website or PlayStation app.

Sony’s upgrade pathways for Horizon Forbidden West have been baffling to say the least. Sony revealed in September that there will be no free PS4-to-PS5 upgrade option, despite hinting that there would be one. After a few days, the corporation changed its mind and decided to provide the upgrade to players for free. Gran Turismo 7, for example, will still have a $10 upgrade price for future games.