Outer Worlds Dev Apologizes for PS5 Upgrade Fiasco, Can’t Deliver Original Offer
▼ Summary
– Obsidian intended to provide a free PS5 upgrade for The Outer Worlds base game owners, but entitlement restrictions and backend issues prevented a smooth rollout.
– Players who purchased the base game between April 30, 2026, and May 27, 2026, are asked to contact Obsidian support for resolution.
– Digital owners on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 now need to own the base game plus both DLCs or the expansion pass to qualify for the upgrade.
– Obsidian’s original announcement stated that owning the base edition before May 27, 2026, would grant a free upgrade to Spacer’s Choice Edition on all platforms.
– Fans expressed frustration on social media, criticizing Obsidian for changing the upgrade terms and requiring additional purchases.
The developer behind The Outer Worlds has issued an apology after a promised free PS5 upgrade for base game owners turned into a confusing, paid situation. What was initially presented as a straightforward “thank you” to loyal players has become a lesson in how quickly good intentions can unravel due to technical limitations.
Obsidian originally announced that anyone who owned the base edition of the RPG on PS4 or Xbox One before May 27th would automatically receive the Spacer’s Choice Edition at no cost. This upgraded version bundles the original game with both major DLC expansions and is optimized for current-gen consoles. The messaging was emphatic: “That’s right, free! This is for all platforms.”
However, when the May 27th deadline arrived, the upgrade simply did not appear for many digital owners. Instead of a seamless transition, players were met with a paywall. Obsidian Support has now clarified that, due to what it calls “entitlement restrictions and backend issues,” the original offer cannot be fulfilled as described.
In a statement released on May 28th, the studio acknowledged the backlash, admitting the playerbase is “rightfully, upset.” The company explained that moving forward, only digital owners who possess the base game plus both DLCs or the Expansion Pass will qualify for the free upgrade on PlayStation and Xbox. This effectively turns the promised freebie into a roughly $14.99 purchase for those who only own the vanilla version.
To soften the blow, Obsidian is asking anyone who bought The Outer Worlds between April 30th and May 27th to contact its support page directly, promising to “work with you to make it right.” For everyone else, the path to the PS5 upgrade now requires buying the missing content.
The reversal has sparked sharp criticism from the community. Fans on social media and Reddit have pointed out the irony of a studio that built a game satirizing corporate greed now engaging in what they see as a bait-and-switch. One user, ArcticSounds20, summed up the frustration bluntly: “So if I only have the base game I don’t get the upgrade? You guys changed your mind? I’ll go f*ck myself I guess.”
Obsidian’s original announcement explicitly stated that owning “at least the base edition” was sufficient. The current requirement for DLC ownership represents a significant, unannounced shift in policy, leaving many early adopters feeling misled.
(Source: Push Square)
