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Update []: Darksiders publisher THQ Nordic has responded to stories of the disparity between the charges PS5 and Xbox Series X|S owners have to pay to upgrade their copy of the Warmastered Edition to current-gen.
However, it's responded in the sense that it doesn't want to talk about it. Via a PR representative, THQ Nordic said it has "no comment".
As I said earlier this week, I suspect the difference in upgrade path is because the price of the PS4 version isn't increasing. Therefore, anyone who just wants to grab the PS5 version today as a new customer would actually be getting it for cheaper than those on Xbox.
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However, this still doesn't account for why those who already bought the Warmastered Edition on PS4 are forced to pay $10 to upgrade their copy.
Original Story: The random PS5 upgrade for Darksiders: Warmastered Edition, which in itself is a PS4 remaster of a PS3 game, is now available. It's packing a few enhancements and updates, but what current owners of the PS4 version might be surprised to learn is they have to pay to access the new PS5 version.
That is despite the fact the Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S upgrade available on Microsoft consoles is free of charge.
Current PS4 owners have to pay $10 to upgrade to the new PS5 version, providing them access to "native 4K rendering", a Photo Mode, and support for the PS5 DualSense controller features.
The difference in upgrade options between PS5 and Xbox Series X|S appears to stem from how the dated action title is staying priced on PS4. According to a press release, the PS4 version of Darksiders is remaining at $20, while today's new PS5 version is $30. On Xbox, the Xbox One version is going up in price to $30 to match the Xbox Series X|S edition.
Therefore, the thinking is that if the PS4 version doesn't increase in price and a free upgrade is offered, then it's simply cheaper to grab the PS5 edition. Anyone wanting to buy the game as a new customer today pays the same price.
However, the ones losing out are the current PS4 owners looking to upgrade.
Because they already own the game, they have to pay the $10 to access the PS4 to PS5 upgrade path. The Xbox version of this upgrade path is free.
I've reached out to THQ Nordic to see if it can offer further explanation on the situation, but here's exactly how it puts it initially in the press release:
Owners of the PlayStation 4 version of Darksiders Warmastered Edition can upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version for 9.99€ / 9.99$. Players who own the Xbox One version will receive the upgrade to the Xbox Series X|S version free of charge.
With the launch on current-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X|S version will be available for 29.99€ / 29.99$, while the Xbox One version price will increase from 19.99€ / $19.99$ to 29.99€ / 29.99$.
The PlayStation 4 version will remain available for 19.99€ / 19.99$, while the PlayStation 5 version launches at 29.99€ / 29.99$.
The good news is you're not exactly missing out on all that much if you don't bother paying for the new PS5 version. While the first Darksiders title was a quality one at the time, it's looking and playing rather dated in 2026. You get 4K visuals and 60 frames-per-second on PS5, but the gameplay will still feel old.
Maybe skip this one and simply wait for Darksiders 4 instead. You'll save yourself $10 in the process.
Comments 79
How much does it cost to upgrade if it’s a Tuesday in November and Mercury is in retrograde?
Quickly to the pitchforks! It must be Microsoft's fault 😅😅.
Ah, that famous Sony consumer friendliness! Honestly, they're so bad this gen. After they got their mojo back last gen, they just don't give a crap what any of their players think anymore. Arrogance abounds.
This is weird.
What a totally odd way of working this. Sounds like someone had a very bad brain fart...
(Put up last gen Xbox price, sell PS4 version cheaper, requiring upgrade cost on PS, but not on Xbox - the mind boggles)
@MasterChiefWiggum It's nothing to do with Sony? The publisher, THQ Nordic, is the one dictating this.
This is good, right? Sony get 30% from that $10 upgrade so more money for Sony which they can invest into single player exclusive games. 😀
Sounds like a side effect of Xbox's Smart Delivery system.
I don't know why anyone wants to play remasters of these old games. They still play like ass but just in 4k and 60FPS for a small price. What a goofy demographic. I will wait for a remake.
For the payers 🧐
Hope the game flops massively then.
Is it not XBOX now rather than Xbox 😉
They need to fix this BS. Ether it's a free upgrade for everyone or not.
Well, I can safely skip this.
@themightyant Or you can say its a PS4 game and I can buy it £10 cheaper than if it were on Xbox one.
Given so little has changed I'd rather buy it on PS4 £10 cheaper anyway...
Crazy choice to show the whole game in the trailer.
Xbox gets the free upgrade regardless of what they originally paid for it, but if anyone wants to buy the game new, it's cheaper on PS than on Xbox. nobody wins. Should have just been free for everyone with no price bumps, like the upgrade for Darksiders 2.
I know its fun to jump on Sony for weird decisions but just so people know how this all works. The publishers set the price not the platform, so THQ is the one who decides what they want to do with price, PlayStation gets their cut of that sale and provides the infra.
The same with how the 70 dollar game was something Sony dictated, hell the first game to be 70 was I think NBA 2k21
I want to support the development of Darksiders 4, but this is gross. Not charging Xbox One owners and making Deathinitive Edition on PS5 free previously makes this whole situation baffling.
@LiamCroft citation needed.
I absolutely adore this series but I don't think I need to pay $10 for this, the PS4 port is fine as it is to me.
@LiamCroft Why would they charge on one platform and not the other?
@MasterChiefWiggum
"The difference in upgrade options between PS5 and Xbox Series X|S appears to stem from how the dated action title is staying priced on PS4. According to a press release, the PS4 version of Darksiders is remaining at $20, while today's new PS5 version is $30. On Xbox, the Xbox One version is going up in price to $30 to match the Xbox Series X|S edition."
The price for the Xbox version is going up to 30
FWIW, if you don’t own the game on Xbox, the bundle with both Darksiders I and II Warmastered is on sale for $10. So you can get the original game (including the upgrade) and DS II for the same price as the upgrade itself on PlayStation.
This is not to rub it in on PS gamers but to highlight it for those who have both consoles. I do think it’s total BS for the upgrade fee on PS.
I’d imagine this would be a decision made by the publisher and Microsoft paid them a lump some to drop the upgrade charge.
Already bought it on PS3 and PS4, so ill pass this time. Would be nice if they let ppl also upgrade for free on PS5, but not too bothered with it. Got the Darksiders 2 free upgrade but havent played it again, so doubt i would play this again anyway.
@MasterChiefWiggum Why Would they charge at all when The PS5 Upgrade for the Darksiders 2 was free across the board.
These numbers would me much easier to read if publishers didn't use .99 for pricing everything.
EDIT:
@awp69 Yeah, I checked the new prices and "Darksiders Fury's Collection - War and Death" bundle with both games is £8/€$10 right now, with a free Series X|S upgrade.
@UltimateOtaku91
Bit sulky.
The PS5 version of Darksiders 2 was free if you owned it on PS4 so its weird this isn't the same.
"...the dated action title..."
Liam, the prejudice bias is strong with this post.
I look forward to the day when PushSquare's "News" posts aren't riddled with personal opinions sprinkled throughout.
@Grumblevolcano Like it's "Thanks" to Smart Delivery, that Xbox has the free upgrade?
Xbox Smart Delivery handles game versions (new gen vs old gen) automatically in the background, whereas PlayStation requires manual selection, often leading players to download lower-quality (last gen) versions by mistake.
All it does is make sure you're downloading the correct version.
I can't see how that alone would have cost PS gamers $10 for this, or save $10 for Xbox players. It's just a utility.
EDIT: I see what you're saying now lol, and yeah maybe it did. More likely it simply made things more simple for THQ. Hence the price difference for new buyers. I'll keep my comment posted for those that didn't know what smart delivery does.
THQ Nordiq really are milking those franchises arnt they
Bummer. Would be nice if it were free, which is what I thought yesterday because the game seemed to share a PSN listing with the PS4 version, but hey, they put time into an update so fair enough to charge a small fee if they want to.
I’ll still probably buy the upgrade. I know people who bought Skyrim 5 times or whatever, and I prefer this game to that. Happy to pay £10 to platinum it again, but might hold off a couple of days in case THQ gets back to this site with more info or a fix.
Funny enough, if you buy the Warmastered Edition on Steam you get both the original and the remaster.
But I do think the last paragraph in the article is funny cause older games are still fun to revisit, especially when they get a resolution/framerate boost. Even older games that may feel dated are still worth revisiting with a fresh coat of paint.
@11001100110zero I saw it that the price is the same for new buyers ($30), just in a different form:
So it looks like THQ used Smart Delivery on Xbox and price increased the XB1 version because Smart Delivery means free current gen upgrade if you own the last gen version.
It's only a price difference if you already own the game on PS4/XB1.
@Deadlyblack Besides, some are better than the new ones.
@Grumblevolcano Yeah, I commented before the brain finished waking up. Happy gaming.
$10 to not have to play a game on an Xbox seems fair...
Gotta make that bread 🍞🍞
So what are the actual differenxes other than resolution bump from 1620p to 4k. It was already 60fps
I'm going to finish this game one day
Darksiders III Blades and Whip Edition is on sale for $16 on PSN. It includes Darksiders Warmastered (PS4), Darksiders II Deathinitive (PS4 + Free PS5 Update), and Darksiders III with all DLC. Add the $10 PS5 upgrade for the first game and you have them all for less than it costs to buy the DS1 PS5 version by itself.
Didn't Darksiders 2 have a free upgrade?
zero chance I'm paying to upgrade when DS2 was free to upgrade and xbox are getting a free upgrade.
@8thDoctor It could be worse, the trailer for the film Sinners literally gave away each twist and/or death/turning. I've seen some trailers that reveal too much but Sinners was taking that idea to the max!
@MasterChiefWiggum u know the publisher sets the price this has nothing to do with Sony
@MasterChiefWiggum Is it that hard to read the full report before posting "Sony arrogant is back!" comment? Sony is not even the publisher.
When talking about Darksiders, the first word that springs to my mind isn’t “dated.” It’s not a new game, but the PS4 version (I never played it on PS3) seems more modern than say, Uncharted or Shadow of the Colossus.
I might have tried the PS5 version if it didn’t cost me more, but the PS4 edition is just fine as it is so I’m good.
Its free on Xbox bc that user base doesnt pay for anything not on gamepass.
I tried this game not that long ago, didn't really do it for me. I much prefer the second game.
Good old "no comment". In this age of grandiose statements about how developers have "taken the feedback on board" and are "working hard to put this right", you don't see plain old "no comment" much any more. It's almost nostalgic
Never liked Darksiders. Turns out the price to upgrade if you don't like the product is still $0 on all platforms.
Is this outrage for the sake of it or does everyone really want this game??
I can help explain it: we want to raise our stocks in the platform with the higher install base.
I don't care, give me other chapters update and I will support them!
clearly xbox paid thQ.
Always remaster games im not bothered about lol.
“For the payers” 🤷🏻♂️
@MasterChiefWiggum Has nothing to do with Sony. This is from the publisher.
I feel like when you look at the pricing it’s pretty obvious why it’s done this way. On either console you’re gonna pay $30 for the game. If people would just read before posting fake outrage they’d be able to save up a lot of that fake outrage for future nonsense.
cue Mr Krabs "I like money" gif
There are so many angry and childish comments to this article. 😂 Why???
Maybe they think they can get away with it because that's what Sony charges for upgrades on their own games so the userbase has been trained to accept it?
@AtomB this isn’t a “news” site like PlayStation universe. This is a news reaction/ news opinion site. They aren’t actual journalists. I’m with you though, they should make that a bit clearer.
Publishers are going to price how they want. I’m ok with it. If it’s too much, I just decide not to buy it. Like the mass speculation that gta6 is going to be the “first 100$ game”. Ok not going to complain about it,but I’m not buying it. Also I have mixed feelings about thqnordic.
@MasterChiefWiggum How is it their doing that they ask a tenner to upgrade. And in the end if you buy the PS4 version you pay the same as the Xbox version.
Why not release a new version of part 3 instead.
@AhmadSumadi That's not true in the case of people who already owned the game. It's free to upgrade to the Xbox Series X|S version ($20 in total), whereas it's $10 for the PS5 edition ($30 in total) — that's the basis for this story.
@LiamCroft must’ve misinterpreted it then. Apologies.
sony and their policies for cross buys
Owners of the steam pc version will receive the upgrade for free.
@MasterChiefWiggum what has this got to do with Sony? weird take!
I guess this confirms I'll be playing the PS4 version first then, since I don't have the $10 to upgrade and won't for a long time.
No comment? Fine. No purchase.
@awp69 cheers mate
Part 2 was a free upgrade why cant part one be free
@MasterChiefWiggum THQ is the publisher, genius. Sony has no say in this.
With all the consumer friendly stuff Xbox was doing for early adopters, Smart Delivery, play anywhere. I bet Xbox paid a them so players could get it for free.
Concord and bungie tax. Gotta make that money back somehow. Hope they get enough to recoup and try again with Concord 2. 🤞
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