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A cheap PS4 or Xbox One game is only a bargain if you know what it does on your newer console. The sale price tells you nothing about upgrade rights. Whether a free next-gen version is included depends on the exact title, the exact edition, and the platform’s rules. Check the PS5 game hub for PlayStation, and look for the Smart Delivery label for Xbox. Both checks are quick, and you can do them before you pay.
Why a discount and an upgrade are separate questions
PlayStation’s support pages say that, depending on the game, a PS4-to-PS5 upgrade “may occur at no additional cost, may require a purchase, and may be available for a limited time.” So one discounted listing can include a free upgrade, and another can lead to a paid one. A third can have an offer that has already expired.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Ghost of Yōtei PS5 | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
NBA 2K26 - PlayStation 5 | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
EA SPORTS College Football 27 - Standard Edition PS5 |Disc I VideoGame | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER TACTICAL ED – PS5 | $37.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 – PS5 Standard Edition | $44.75 | Buy on Amazon |
Backward compatibility is a different thing again. Xbox says selected Xbox One games run on Xbox Series X|S. That tells you the game will play. It does not tell you a separate, optimized version exists or that you own it. PlayStation’s 2020 launch FAQ said more than 99% of 4,000+ PS4 games were compatible with PS5. That is a figure about playing the games, and it says nothing about free upgrades. Few older games have upgrades, and many of those are paid.
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- Title and edition. Standard, Deluxe, Game of the Year and bundle editions can have different upgrade terms.
- Platform. Is the listing PS4, PS5, Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S?
- Format. Disc or digital. This changes the rules, especially on PlayStation.
- Your hardware. Does your console have a disc drive?
- Your account region. This matters for PlayStation discs, as explained below.
Does this PS4 game have a free PS5 upgrade?
How to check
- On a PS5, find the game in the PlayStation Store, or open its game hub if you already own it.
- Look for an upgrade offer on the page. Read the price. A listed price of zero means no cost. Anything else is a paid upgrade.
- Read the conditions for any deadline, edition restriction or other limit.
- Confirm that the offer applies to the edition you are buying. Do this before buying, not after.
PlayStation restrictions to know
- Disc upgrades need a PS5 with a disc drive. A PS4 disc cannot be used on the PS5 Digital Edition.
- The disc stays in use. After a disc upgrade, you get a digital PS5 version, but the PS4 disc must be inserted every time you play it.
- Region must match. For disc upgrades, the disc’s country or region has to match your PlayStation account region.
- PlayStation Plus exception. PS4 games redeemed as a PlayStation Plus benefit are ineligible for upgrades unless PlayStation says otherwise.
For context, PlayStation’s 2020 FAQ named Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy: A Big Adventure as PS4 versions that then came with PS5 upgrades at no extra cost. These are historical examples. They do not confirm what any store offers today.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
- Discover renegade combat, engage in lawless katana combat and battles with adversaires. Train with various sensei as you find and learn to use each new weapon.
- An unconventional story and journey, take in the cultural beauty of Japan, bathe in an onsen, visit shrines to pray, try Sumi-e painting, and so much more.
- Choose your weapon, battle Atsu's opponents as you see fit, with levelled-up dual katanas, odachi, kusarigama and other new weapons.
Does this Xbox One game have Smart Delivery?
Xbox’s name for a free upgrade is Smart Delivery. Xbox’s Series X|S optimization page says that when you see the Smart Delivery icon, buying the title also gets you the upgraded version for free when it is available. Check the title’s store page or its packaging for the icon.
- It is the developer’s choice. Xbox Wire said on 15 June 2020 that outside Xbox Game Studios titles, it is up to the individual developer whether to use Smart Delivery. No icon means you should not assume an upgrade.
- “Optimized” or “plays on Series X|S” is not proof. Don’t infer an included upgrade from compatibility alone. Confirm the offer for that specific game.
- “When it’s available” matters. The icon promises the upgrade at no cost, but the improved version has to exist for you to get it.
- Series S has no disc drive. It is digital-only, so physical Xbox discs cannot be used on it.
Quick reference
| Check | PlayStation | Xbox |
|---|---|---|
| Where to look | PS5 game hub / store page for the upgrade offer | Store page or box for the Smart Delivery icon |
| What proves a free upgrade | An offer listed at no cost for that game | The Smart Delivery icon on that title |
| What does not prove it | PS5 compatibility alone | Xbox One compatibility or an “optimized” phrase alone |
| Disc caveats | Needs a PS5 with a drive; disc stays inserted; region must match account | Series S cannot use discs |
| Other exceptions | Terms may be free, paid or time-limited; PS Plus-redeemed PS4 games ineligible | Developers decide whether to support it |
Is the deal actually good? Compare total cost
Once you know the upgrade terms, compare the options:
Rank #2
- POWERED BY ProPLAY: Dominate every possession with immersive technology that directly translates NBA footage into realistic gameplay. Feel more connected to every dribble and crossover with revamped size-ups and experience fast-paced, dynamic movement with all-new ProPLAY features.
- SQUAD UP IN THE CITY: Build a transcendent MyPLAYER and climb the competitive ranks to reach the pinnacle of NBA stardom in an all-new MyCAREER journey. Team up with friends in a stunning, streamlined City, earn recognition and increase your REP, and battle rival squads for Park supremacy.
- UNITE STARS IN MyTEAM: Collect and compete with past and present legends of the game in MyTEAM. Assemble a star-studded roster, put your dream team to the test in new single-player and multiplayer modes, and acquire new cards to make your MyTEAM fantasy a reality.
- YOUR TEAM, YOUR STORY: Lead an NBA franchise as a General Manager in MyNBA. Choose from all 30 teams, experience 30 unique MyGM storylines with real-world inspiration, and chase the ultimate goal: to win a championship. Influence the future of the sport and leave an indelible mark on the league.
- Price of the discounted older edition, plus any upgrade fee.
- Price of buying the newer-console edition outright.
- Whether the older edition needs extras. A PS4 disc stays in the drive after upgrading, and a Series S cannot read a disc at all.
- Whether the upgrade offer has a deadline you could miss.
If the upgrade is free and your hardware can use the format, the discounted edition is usually the better deal. If an upgrade fee brings the total close to the newer edition’s price, the newer edition is often simpler. It has no disc dependency and no region condition. Store prices and offers change often, so check the live listing at the time you buy. This guide does not state any current price.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise. Swing, jump, and utilize the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city, and the ones they love.
- An evolution of the Spider-Man story: The incredible power of the symbiote forces Peter and Miles to face the ultimate test of strength, both inside and outside the mask, as they balance their lives, friendships, and their duty to protect those in need.
- Experience two playable Spider-Men: Quickly swap between both Spider-Men as you explore an expanded Marvel’s New York. Experience Peter’s new symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric venom powers, and discover upgradeable, high-tech equipment that enhances the combat experience for extensive gameplay depth and variety.
- Battle iconic Marvel Super Villains: Fight against a variety of new and iconic villains, including an original take on the monstrous Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and many more!
Rank #4
- The story, characters, voice acting, gameplay, and music that made the original a sensation return, remade for modern consoles
- This evolutionary leap breathes new life into every cutscene, and rebuilds every corner of the world
- Incredible new graphics bring the wild growth of the jungles, forests, and swamps to life in exquisite detail
- Characters are rendered in fine detail so that facial wrinkles, pores, & separate eye & iris movements are visible, allowing for rich animations
- Any injuries to his actual body will leave their mark permanently, telling a story of each player's unique journey
Rank #3
- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS College Football 27 game.
- DYNASTY BLUEPRINT – Control your program’s future with recruiting, NIL, staff, facilities, and Athletic Director Expectations..
- ROAD TO GLORY – Build your player, explore new positions, earn NIL deals, chase the Heisman, and raise your Legacy Score.
- MASCOT MASHUP – Play as your favorite mascot, collect 120+ icons, and compete in wild 11-on-11 matchups full of school spirit.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
