Review #2 []: Obsidian is giving out free download codes for The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition to those who contact the developer if they bought the base PS4 game after news they’ll get a free PS5 upgrade.
Members of the game’s subreddit send email communications from the developer, after sharing proof of their purchase. In response, Obsidian is offering free PS5 upgrade codes so owners can finally claim what they thought they had all along.
“We want to make sure this is handled properly for you, so we’ve gone ahead and provided an executable code that will give you access to the upgraded version directly,” explained an email posted to the subreddit.
Review #1 []:
Obsidian Support’s official social media account has now issued a statement regarding the change to the developer’s promised “free” PS5 upgrade for owners of The Outer Worlds base game.
Although it intended to provide free upgrades, some “eligibility limitations and background issues” got in the way, where it wasn’t as smooth as Obsidian would have liked. It recognizes that its playerbase is now “good, bad”.
If you purchased The Outer Worlds between April 30, 2026 and May 27, 2026, then it asks you to contact Obsidian’s support page to “work with you on a fix. We apologize again for the frustration.”
Obsidian concludes in a statement that it is still unable to provide the free PS4 to PS5 upgrade announced last month. “Because of how rights work on consoles, digital owners on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will need to own the base game + DLCs or an expansion pass to be eligible for further upgrades.”
Original story: Things are never going to be easy, are they?
After developer Obsidian confirmed that it was offering free PS5 upgrades to Spacer’s Choice Edition of Outer Worlds for PS4 owners starting yesterday, it turns out that the process isn’t as easy as it seems. What owners of the base PS4 and Xbox One versions were told would be free has now turned into a paid upgrade.
This is due to mixed messages from the studio.
Earlier this month, Obsidian announced that, along with some gameplay updates and technical fixes, it will be shutting down the base version of the RPG. However, if you own the “base edition” before May 27, 2026, then you get the Spacer’s Choice Edition for free, which includes the original title and two DLC packs on PS5.
The developer then went ahead and made it clear: “This is for all platforms Spacer’s Choice Edition is on (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG).”
Yesterday, the mentioned 27 May 2026 came and went without the free PS4 / Xbox One to PS5 / Xbox Series X physical upgrade, however.
Those who bought the game before the free upgrade that was promised yesterday have started accessing Obsidian Support’s social media accounts, and are now being told that they actually need to own two expansions to be eligible for the free upgrade. In the developer’s post, it clearly states that “base edition” is all that is required.
Obsidian support responded, citing “unexpected platform limitations” on PlayStation and Xbox as the reason for the change:
Now, to be eligible for the upgrade, owners of the base game on PS4 and Xbox One will need to purchase the Expansion Pass, which costs £12.99 / $14.99 at PS store.
As of May 27th, Obsidian said in its original message that you will need to have both DLC packs to qualify for the PS5 upgrade to the Spacer’s Choice Edition. However, if you already owned the base version long before the news or bought the game on the go, you would be eligible for the free PS5 upgrade.
The news post clearly stated:
If you have at least the base edition of The Outer Worlds in your digital library before May 27th, you’ll get the Spacer’s Choice Edition for free. That’s right, free! This is for all platforms including Spacer’s Choice Edition (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG).
Fans took to social media and the game’s subreddit, drawing critical comments like the following from EducationalProject36: “Obsidian made a game where greedy corporations that cheat people are mocked. Then they do the same, it’s so weird…”
“So if I only have the base game and can’t get the upgrade? You guys changed your mind? I’m kidding myself I guess,” said ArcticSounds20.