Horizon: Forbidden West is finally available for preorder and there are a handful of different versions available for fans to choose from. As is typical with many AAA releases, the different versions of the game include different items such as a digital soundtrack or a collector's edition steelbook. Unfortunately, the marketing for the preorders isn't particularly clear as to which version of Horizon: Forbidden West, PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, comes with each edition. This seems to be something of a common trend with games that are receiving synchronous PS4 and PS5 launches or PS5 upgrades as titles like Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut and Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade had similar issues.
Hopefully, Sony figures out a more easily digestible way to understand their upgrade paths with future releases as titles like Gran Turismo 7 and the currently untitled God of War sequel have both been confirmed to be launching on both consoles as well. This is exactly what buyers need to know about which version of Horizon: Forbidden West comes with each edition.
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Horizon: Forbidden West on PS4
Those looking to purchase Horizon: Forbidden West on the PS4 are able to get it through the PS4 Standard Edition, the PS4 Launch Edition, and the PS4 Special Edition. It's important to note that PS5 owners who purchase any of these editions of the game will not be able to get the PS5 version of it as a free upgrade. Instead, they'd be playing the PS4 version on their PS5 via backward compatibility. While there aren't a ton of different features between the two versions, PS5 owners playing the PS4 version of the game would be losing out on features such as any of the DualSense support that's been added to Forbidden West as well as any graphical, frame rate, or load time improvements.
Horizon: Forbidden West on PS5
Similar to the PS4 editions, the PS5 version of Horizon: Forbidden West is available through the PS5 Standard Edition, the PS5 Launch Edition, and the PS5 Special Edition. While this separation between generations seems pretty much in line with how cross-gen games have been handled in the past, this generation there has been a major push from console manufacturers to include free upgrades to those who've purchased their new consoles. Some fans feel like Sony wasn't being entirely truthful about the upgrade path for Horizon: Forbidden West as PS4 owners will need to purchase the game again on PS5 if they end up getting a next-gen console and want to experience the PS5 version of the title.
All of this stems from a September 2020 blog post by Sony that mentions Horizon: Forbidden West alongside Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy A Big Adventure as being titles that will be receiving PS4 and PS5 editions. Almost in the same breath, Sony clarified that all PS5 launch games will include a free upgrade for those who end up buying them on PS4 and transitioning to the PS5. Because Horizon was mentioned with launch titles Miles Morales and Sackboy, many feel like it was included in the list of games that would be getting a free PS5 upgrade when it launches.
Horizon: Forbidden West on Both PS4 and PS5
The only way to get both editions of Horizon: Forbidden West is to either buy two copies, one for the PS4 and the other for the PS5, or to purchase one of the following editions: the Digital Deluxe Edition, the Collector's Edition, or the Regalla Edition. Unfortunately for those looking for a straightforward next-gen upgrade path for the game, there really isn't one as the editions listed above are much more expensive than the standard, launch, and special editions.
Horizon Forbidden West releases for PS4 and PS5 on February 18, 2022.
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