How to do Horizon Forbidden West Free PS5 Upgrade

By Kyle Christopher Goon
Featured Image Horizon Forbidden West

Players who purchased Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4 will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version for free — this was a commitment made last year by Jim Ryan, Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO, to provide free upgrades for cross-genre launch titles, which includes Horizon Forbidden West.

Beginning today, February 18, 2022, Horizon Forbidden West will be available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 systems.

Horizon Forbidden West picks off where Horizon Zero Dawn left off six months after the events of the last game. Aloy, a machine hunter, has traveled to the western United States in order to study a mysterious and lethal blight. She will meet odd new tribes and come face to face with progressively more lethal technologies as she travels through these unexplored lands. She will have to traverse this new frontier with the help of old friends and new companions if she is to uncover the answers she needs to save life on Earth.

There are different Horizon Forbidden West editions and pre-order choices that are available for the game. If you pre-order any physical edition from participating shops (region specific) or any digital edition from anywhere, you will receive the Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear to use in the game. These items will be available for redemption through the PlayStation Store.

Developers have developed a new business model that typically includes next-gen upgrades for consumers who purchase their titles on previous-gen consoles during this transitional period between hardware generation. Some are free, while others need payment.

Users of Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4 can now upgrade to Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 5. Even better, it’s entirely free, leaving only the subject of how to upgrade your copy of Horizon Forbidden West for the PlayStation 4 to the PlayStation 5.

How to upgrade Horizon Forbidden West from PS4 to PS5 Version

To upgrade Horizon Forbidden West from PS4 to PS5 version is really simple; in fact, getting your hands on a PlayStation 5 is arguably the most difficult part.

Note: This only applies even if you purchased a physical copy of Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4. (If you have a PS5 you don’t actually have to buy the PS5 copy as it can even save you $10 if you will just get the PS4 one)

To upgrade Horizon Forbidden West from PS4 to PS5 follow the steps below:

  1. Install the PS4 version of Horizon Forbidden West on your PS5
  2. Go to the PlayStation Store
  3. Search for Horizon Forbidden West
  4. Click Order & Pay, don’t worry it will just show $0.00, then it will take you to the screen showing Purchase Complete
  5. Click Download PS5 Version

And there you have it, you’ll be able to effortlessly download the PS5 version at no additional cost from the PlayStation Store.

As a further recommendation, we genuinely suggest you to get the PlayStation 4 edition of Horizon Forbidden West even if you already own a PlayStation 5. This is due to the fact that the older-generation version is far less expensive, allowing you to save money by purchasing older-generation titles rather than paying the $70 price tag associated with first-party PS5 releases.

If you like this guide, please check out our other Horizon Forbidden West Articles:

Also check out this helpful video by Linus Wilson on How to Install FREE PS5 upgrade for Horizon Forbidden West, Transfer Saves, Save $10, Delete PS4 Version: