Following the backlash from fans due to the announcement that upgrading Horizon Forbidden West from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 would be limited to more expensive versions of the game, the enhancement will now be made available for free.A post on the official PlayStation Blog updated fans on the situation surrounding Horizon Forbidden West's upgrade path. Addressing the controversy, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Jim Ryan wrote, "Thursday was to be a celebration of Horizon Forbidden West and the amazing team at Guerrilla working to deliver it on February 18, 2022. However, it's abundantly clear that the offerings we confirmed in our pre-order kickoff missed the mark."
"Last year we made a commitment to deliver free upgrades for our cross-gen launch titles, which included Horizon Forbidden West. While the pandemic's profound impact pushed Forbidden West out of the launch window we initially envisioned, we will stand by our offer: Players who purchase Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4 will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version for free," continued Ryan.
The controversy began when the details for the various pre-order options for Horizon Forbidden West were shared online. It was revealed that there would be five versions of the game available: Standard, Special, Digital Deluxe, Collector's and Regalla. Where fans were disappointed was in the availability of the next-gen upgrade feature, which was locked behind the three most expensive versions of the game. This meant that fans without access to a PS5 at Forbidden West's launch would be forced to pay for a pricier version to upgrade the game at a later date.
Paying for upgrades has been a requirement for other Sony properties, such as with Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut. However, the vitriol towards Guerilla Games' upcoming title stemmed from the broken promise of a free upgrade. As Ryan wrote, despite the games' recent delays, it was originally counted among the titles promised to receive the free enhancements.
While the plans have now reverted back to the intended free upgrade across all editions, Ryan did clarify Sony Interactive's upgrade policy going forward. He wrote, "I also want to confirm today that moving forward, PlayStation first-party exclusive cross-gen titles (newly releasing on PS4 & PS5)–both digital and physical–will offer a $10 USD digital upgrade option from PS4 to PS5. This will apply to the next God of War and Gran Turismo 7, and any other exclusive cross-gen PS4 & PS5 title published by Sony Interactive Entertainment."
Developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Horizon Forbidden West will hit PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on Feb. 18, 2022. The game was originally set to drop in late 2021Â but was delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Source: PlayStation Blog