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The Witcher 3’s Next-Gen Update Arrives: How to Upgrade PS4 Games to PS5 Versions

Geralt of Rivia’s epic adventure makes the generational leap.

You can play most PlayStation 4 games on the PlayStation 5 thanks to the Sony console’s excellent backward compatibility feature. But a few publishers go a step further with the next-gen console, by allowing you to upgrade PS4 games to the PS5 versions for free. This lets you play with 4K dynamic resolution at 60 frames per second and delivers shorter loading times, making for a smoother gaming experience with less waiting around.

The most recent major title to get the upgrade treatment is the classic 2015 role-playing game The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, which added ray tracing and 60 frames per second performance modes (it’s also available for the Xbox Series X|S and PC versions). This comes after developer CD Projekt Red announced a remake of the first game, and before TV prequel spinoff Blood Origin hits Netflix on Dec. 25.

The developer’s other major game, Cyberpunk 2077, got its next-gen update earlier this year after stirring up controversy when it was released in 2020, due to major performance issues.

Getting to next-gen

The PS5 has been going in and out of stock at retailers since it launched in 2020. The digital-only model costs $400, and the one with a disc drive is $500.

Your game upgrades won’t happen automatically or through a typical game update, so it’s easy to accidentally keep playing the PS4 version of a game on your new PS5. You have to go to the game page on the PlayStation Network and choose to upgrade to the PS5 version. That’ll download the extra data needed for the next-gen features.

Read more: PS5 restocks: When to expect the console to appear

You can also upgrade to PS5 versions if you have a physical PS4 game, as long as you bought the PS5 with a disc drive. You’ll always need to use the PS4 disc to play the PS5 version; upgrading doesn’t get you a free digital copy of the game. You’ll still download the PS5 update from the PSN, but you won’t need a PS5-specific disc — your PS4 one will become an authenticator.

If you opted for the digital-only PS5 and have a disc, you’re out of luck. There are a few more limitations and caveats:

  • Some PS5 versions of current PS4 games aren’t out yet.
  • Next-gen versions will be bigger files, so they’ll take up more precious memory on the console’s SSD.
  • You’ll end up with a fresh list of trophies (each version’s list is separate).
  • A few games’ saves won’t transfer, and some require you to upload your save manually from the PS4 version before you can access it on PS5.
  • Some game upgrades are available only in cross-gen bundles or special editions.

First-party policy change

Sony initially said 2022 exclusive Horizon Forbidden West wouldn’t let you upgrade from the PS4 to the PS5 version for free unless you bought the more expensive Digital Deluxe, Collector’s or Regalla Edition. It later reversed course, saying anyone who bought the PS4 version would be entitled to a free PS5 upgrade.

However, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan also confirmed that upgrading future first-party games will come at a price.

«Moving forward, PlayStation first-party exclusive cross-gen titles (newly releasing on PS4 & PS5)-both digital and physical*-will offer a $10 digital upgrade option from PS4 to PS5,» he wrote a blog post. «This will apply to the next God of War and Gran Turismo 7, and any other exclusive cross-gen PS4 & PS5 title published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.»

Free upgrades you can get now

Some upgrades will require you to pay or buy a specific (more expensive) version of the game:

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Meta Debuts More Instagram Protections for Teen Users. Here’s What’s New

Accounts for teenagers using Meta’s platform, especially Instagram, will be getting new protections for direct messages and to help users spot potential scammers.

Meta this week unveiled the latest efforts it’s making to bolster the safety of teens and kids on its social media apps, with a particular focus on the teen-skewing Instagram. The company has touted these new features for Instagram in a blog post, most notably adding more information and warnings about accounts that teens might try to contact via direct messages.

«We’ve added new safety features to DMs in Teen Accounts to give teens more context about the accounts they’re messaging and help them spot potential scammers,» the post explained. «Now, teens will see new options to view safety tips and block an account, as well as the month and year the account joined Instagram, all prominently displayed at the top of new chats.»

DMs have also been given new block and report function, which Meta claims will allow and encourage users to do both at the same time when they run into sketchy accounts. 

The company also reported that in June, 1 million Teen Accounts reported or blocked accounts, and another 1 million used the Location Notice feature to see if an account messaging them was in a different country.

Speaking to CNET, Meta confirmed that the new DM features and the block/report options are exclusive to Instagram for now, but that they «may explore bringing them to [Facebook] Messenger in the future.» The safety and location notices touted in the blog post are available on Instagram and Facebook.

Meta has faced many accusations over the years about the effects its platforms have on minors. Just last year, bombshell accusations emerged from a memoir by a Meta whistleblower, claiming that the company served ads to teenagers based on their emotional states. 

Meta denied those claims but has taken steps in recent years to offer improved safety features for underage users on its platforms, built around new «Teen Accounts,» which limit the ability of young users to be contacted and to see certain content. 

Meta will also be rolling out similar protections for accounts run by adults that share a great deal of content related to children, such as those who post pictures and videos of their children, and accounts for children managed by their parents. The blog post explained that while such accounts «are overwhelmingly used in benign ways, unfortunately there are people who may try to abuse them, leaving sexualized comments under their posts or asking for sexual images in DMs.»

For those family blogging-style accounts, Meta is extending protections including, «automatically placing these accounts into our strictest message settings to prevent unwanted messages, and turning on Hidden Words, which filters offensive comments.»

The changes will be rolling out in the next few months. 

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These $130 Asus Gaming Headphones Get Almost Everything Right

The Asus ROG Pelta is a pair of fantastic gaming headphones at a great price.

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Written by  Jason Cockerham
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

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Asus ROG Pelta

$130 at Amazon

Pros

  • Sound great
  • Comfortable
  • Customizable sound
  • Affordable
  • Three connection modes

Cons

  • No noise cancellation
  • No Xbox support
  • Minimal headband adjustment

After reviewing the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 headset last year, I was impressed by just how much a good headset can improve the gaming experience. While headsets like the Stealth 700s are great, they’re also expensive. The ROG Pelta headphones from Asus, on the other hand, nail the basics while being more affordable.

I’ve been testing the Pelta’s for several weeks now and I’m quite impressed. They get just about everything right and only cost $130. That’s still a fair amount of money, but much of what you get with the Pelta is often only found on headsets that cost twice as much.

What I like about the Asus ROG Pelta

For starters, the 50mm titanium-plated drivers sound great. No matter what game I played, I heard everything clearly. Both music and movies sounded fantastic, almost as good as my $300 Sony XM3 headphones.

The best part is that with the Asus Armory Crate app you can customize the sound profile in detail. Asus gives you lots of options for tuning the headphones precisely to your liking, which is a welcome touch at this price. There are some custom profiles as well for those who just want to pick one and leave it. To be honest, I never felt the need to switch from the default settings during my entire time with the Peltas.

They’re also comfortable to wear. The earcups fit well over my ears, and the cushions are comfortable — more so than the Stealth 700s. They’re made of soft mesh material that gives them greater breathability than others I’ve used. They’re also very lightweight. There’s no carrying case, which is disappointing. 

Microphone quality is also solid. I never had any teammates complain about not being able to hear me, and I even took a few video calls with them and didn’t have any issues. The mic is also removable, which is convenient, so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re not using it. 

The 70-hour battery life (90 on Bluetooth) is quite decent, and you can get 3 hours of usage with 15 minutes of charging.

The Pelta’s can connect to PC, Mac, PlayStation, Switch and mobile devices via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle. There’s also an included USB-C cable with an adapter if you want to go the wired route. The odd part is that there’s no Xbox support. 

What I didn’t like about the Asus ROG Pelta

The only real downside is that the headband is not telescoping, which means there are only three predetermined positions for adjusting the headset. This may not be a problem for most, but I have a small, weirdly shaped head and the Pelta never quite fit as snugly as I would have liked. I always felt like they would slip off at any moment. They never did, but it always felt like they were about to.

There’s also no 3.5mm headphone jack. I get that this is becoming more common these days, but it’s still annoying. There are still those of us who want a good analog connection from time to time. 

Noise cancellation also doesn’t make an appearance, but that’s not uncommon on gaming headphones, especially at this price.

Should you buy the Asus ROG Pelta?

Overall, for $130, there’s really not much to dislike about the ROG Pelta headphones. They work with almost any device, sound great, have good battery life and are quite comfortable. If you’re looking for a good gaming headset that won’t have your wallet complaining, and you don’t have an Xbox, the Pelta’s should be high on the list.

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