Is Fallout 4’s PS5 upgrade free for PS Plus subscribers?

❘ Published: 2024-04-25T16:23:43

Bethesda Softworks

The Brotherhood of Steel don’t play well with others.

Fallout 4’s next-gen upgrade is available now, but can PS5 users playing the game through PS Plus access it for free? Here’s everything you need to know.

As promised, Bethesda Game Studios released Fallout 4’s next-gen upgrade on Thursday, April 25, 2024 for PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. On PS5, existing owners will have to download a new client, specifically a native PS5 version that weighs in at 56.503GB.

The game currently sits in the Game Catalog for PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers. Thus, past precedent has many wondering if those who play the game through the service can access the new upgrade without an additional charge.

Can PS Plus subscribers play Fallout 4’s PS5 upgrade for free?

Yes, PS Plus users can now enjoy the Fallout 4 upgrade free of charge. There was initial confusion about which subscribers could unlock the next-gen upgrade, given that many people claimed the RPG through the PS Plus Collection.

Players need not worry any longer. On April 29, Bethesda confirmed in a tweet that PS Plus subscribers and those who own the game via the PS Plus Collection can now jump into Fallout 4’s upgrade without issue.

Thanks for letting us know that some PS Plus subscribers have been unable to access the free next gen update of Fallout 4 on PlayStation. This issue has now been successfully resolved. Subscribers who have previously received Fallout 4 from the PlayStation Plus Collection should…
— Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) April 29, 2024

Such confusion isn’t uncommon. Greedfall and Final Fantasy 7 Remake similarly received PS5 upgrades that were free to all, except for people who’d downloaded the games via PS Plus. It’s worth noting, however, that FF7 Remake did eventually add the free upgrade to the PS Plus version.

Fortunately, Fallout 4 users on the PlayStation 5 have already benefited from a similar change.

What is Fallout 4’s next-gen upgrade?

The update’s biggest highlight includes options for Performance and Quality Mode. Playing Fallout 4 in Performance Mode will unlock 60fps gameplay with 4K resolution (dynamic scaling). Meanwhile, the Quality version runs the title at 30fps at 4K without help from dynamic scaling.

Bethesda has released the update two years after announcing it, though such a drop couldn’t have launched at a better time. Notably, the Fallout series is currently riding a high after the success of the acclaimed Amazon Studios TV show.