Free PS5 Upgrade Codes Sent to The Outer Worlds Owners After Obsidian Cock Up

by

Obsidian is giving away free digital copies of The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition to players who originally purchased the PS4 version and were expecting a free upgrade to the PS5 version. Players need to contact Obsidian to receive their code.

So, a bunch of us on the game’s subreddit started sharing screenshots of our purchase confirmations because we hadn’t gotten the PS5 upgrade we were promised. Apparently, the devs at Obsidian saw it and are now sending out free upgrade codes to everyone who proves they own the game. It’s awesome – we’re finally getting what we paid for!

To ensure you have a smooth experience, we’ve included a code in the email that will immediately give you access to the upgraded version.

Update #1 [Thu 28th May 2026, 6:45pm]:

Obsidian Support has released a statement addressing the previously announced free PlayStation 5 upgrade for owners of the original The Outer Worlds game.

The upgrade was meant to be free, but problems with eligibility and technical issues caused a less-than-ideal rollout. Obsidian acknowledges that its community is understandably frustrated.

So, if you picked up The Outer Worlds between April 30th and May 27th, 2026, you might be getting a message asking you to reach out to Obsidian’s support team. Apparently, they want to help fix any issues you’re having and are apologizing for the trouble. It’s good to know they’re trying to make things right for those of us who bought it during that period!

Obsidian has announced they still aren’t able to offer the previously promised free upgrade from the PS4 to PS5 version of the game. They explain that, to get the upgrade, players with the digital version on either Xbox One or PS4 will need to own the original game and any downloadable content, or have purchased the expansion pass.

Original Story: Things can never just be simple, can they?

Obsidian announced that players who owned The Outer Worlds on PS4 would receive a free upgrade to the Spacer’s Choice Edition on PS5 starting yesterday. However, it’s now come to light that this isn’t quite accurate. Instead of being free, upgrading from the original PS4 and Xbox One versions now requires a purchase.

This is due to mixed messaging from the studio.

Earlier this month, Obsidian said they would be removing the original version of the RPG from sale. But if you already owned the base game before May 27, 2026, you automatically received the Spacer’s Choice Edition on PS5, which includes the original game and both of its expansion packs.

The developer clarified that this applies to all platforms where the Spacer’s Choice Edition is available, including Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.

Despite expectations, the promised free upgrades from PS4/Xbox One to PS5/Xbox Series X didn’t happen yesterday, May 27th, 2026.

Players who purchased the game before yesterday’s announced free upgrade are reporting an issue: they’re being told by Obsidian Support that they also need to own the game’s two expansions to get the upgrade. This is despite the developer’s original announcement clearly stating that only the base game was required.

Obsidian Support explained the recent change, stating that unexpected technical issues with both PlayStation and Xbox are to blame.

To get the upgrade, players who already own the original game on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will need to purchase the Expansion Pass. It’s available on the PlayStation Store for £12.99 or $14.99.

So, Obsidian originally said if you wanted the free PS5 upgrade to the Spacer’s Choice Edition, you’d need to own both DLC packs. But thankfully, if I already owned the base game before they announced that, or I bought it shortly before, I’m still getting the upgrade for free! It’s a good thing I jumped in when I did, honestly.

The news post very clearly said:

If you already own The Outer Worlds (even the standard version) on any of these platforms – Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG – before May 27th, you’ll get the Spacer’s Choice Edition completely free!

Players are voicing their frustrations on social media and the game’s online forum, with many pointing out the irony of the game criticizing greedy companies while the developers themselves engage in similar practices. One user, EducationalProject36, summarized the issue, saying, “Obsidian made a game where greedy corporations that cheat people are ridiculed. And then they do the same, it’s so ironic…”

ArcticSounds20 expressed frustration, stating they believed an upgrade wasn’t included with the base game and felt the developers had changed their policy. They ended with a self-deprecating and angry remark.

Read More

2026-05-30 13:37