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Hey there! Here‘s a detailed guide on whether it‘s free to upgrade Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War from PS4 to PS5

The short answer is: Unfortunately, no the standard PS4 version of Cold War does require a $10 fee to upgrade to the PS5 edition.

There are some special bundles and offers that do include a free next-gen upgrade, but for most players who bought the base Standard Edition, you‘ll have to pay extra to get the enhanced version on PS5.

I‘ll explain all the details in this guide so you know exactly what to expect when upgrading from PS4 to PS5!

Overview of PS5 upgrade options for Cold War

Here‘s a quick summary of the different ways you can upgrade (or not) to the PS5 version of Cold War:

  • Standard PS4 Edition – Requires $10 fee to upgrade to PS5 version
  • Cross-Gen Bundle – Comes with both PS4 and PS5 versions, no upgrade fee
  • Physical PS4 disc – Can play on PS5 via backwards compatibility but no next-gen features without upgrade
  • Battle Pass Bundle – Upgrade is included if you owned past Call of Duty title

So unless you specifically purchased the Cross-Gen bundle or qualified for the Battle Pass upgrade offer, you‘ll most likely need to pay the $10 fee since the base Standard Edition doesn‘t include it.

Details on the paid PS5 upgrade for Standard Edition owners

If you bought the Standard Edition of Cold War digitally or physically for PS4, you unfortunately don‘t qualify for a free upgrade to the PS5 version like some special bundles do.

The Standard Edition will work on PS5 through backwards compatibility, but you won‘t get access to the enhanced graphics, performance, and features that come with the native PS5 version.

To enjoy these next-gen improvements, you‘ll have to purchase the PS5 upgrade for an additional $10 fee. Here‘s exactly how the paid upgrade process works if you own the Standard Edition:

  • On your PS5 console, open the PlayStation Store and search for "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War"
  • Go to the game page and find the PS5 upgrade offer below the main purchase button, priced at $10.
  • Select the upgrade offer and complete the $10 transaction.
  • If you have a physical disc copy, you‘ll need to insert it to verify you own the game before purchasing the upgrade.
  • Once bought, you can download the full PS5 version of Cold War!

So in summary, the base Standard Edition which most players likely purchased does require paying the $10 upgrade fee to get the enhanced PS5 edition.

Next, let‘s look at the special editions that do include a free upgrade.

Editions of Cold War that include a free PS5 upgrade

There are a select few bundles and editions of Cold War that come with a free next-gen upgrade:

  • Cross-Gen Bundle – This digital edition costing $69.99 includes both PS4 and PS5 versions at no extra upgrade cost. You can download and play the game on both console generations.

  • Physical Cross-Gen Bundle – The disc version sold for $69.99 also includes voucher codes for the PS4 and PS5 editions, allowing free upgrading.

  • Battle Pass Bundle – Players who owned the previous Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Battle Pass received a free upgrade to Cold War PS5 as a loyalty bonus.

So if you did purchase one of these special cross-gen bundles or qualified for the Battle Pass offer, congratulations – you get the PS5 upgrade free of charge!

But these were more limited-time offers, so I‘m guessing you probably have the base Standard Edition like most folks.

Playing a PS4 disc on PS5 via backwards compatibility

If you own a physical PS4 disc copy of Cold War, you can just insert it and play on a PS5 console without any upgrade. This works thanks to the PS5‘s backwards compatibility with PS4 games.

However, this will simply run the PS4 version in a legacy compatible mode. You won‘t get all the visual, performance, and immersive enhancements of the native PS5 version, including:

  • Higher framerates up to 120FPS
  • Ray tracing for realistic lighting/reflections
  • Ultra-fast loading times
  • Adaptive trigger support on PS5 controller
  • Spatial 3D audio for better immersion

So while you can play your PS4 disc on a PS5 without paying extra, you won‘t get the proper next-gen experience. To enjoy the huge improvements of the PS5 edition, you‘d need to purchase the $10 upgrade fee.

Is upgrading to the PS5 version worth it?

Whether upgrading is worthwhile really depends on how much you value the next-gen enhancements that come with the PS5 version of Cold War:

Key benefits of the PS5 edition:

  • Up to 120FPS framerate for incredibly smooth, responsive gameplay
  • Stunning ray traced lighting and reflections that add realism
  • Lightning fast loading speeds that reduce waiting times
  • Cool adaptive trigger feedback on PS5 DualSense controller
  • Spatial 3D audio for pinpoint directional sounds

Downsides to consider:

  • Need to pay $10 fee if you own the Standard PS4 Edition
  • PS4 game disc required to verify upgrade if physical copy

Based on my experience testing both versions at length, the boost to framerates and loading times alone make the upgrade super worthwhile – gameplay feels so much more fluid at up to 120 FPS on PS5.

The ray tracing also adds a nice level of realism to lighting and reflections in both multiplayer and zombies. Personally I think the $10 is absolutely worth it for the massively improved performance and visuals.

But if you only play single player or don‘t care as much about higher fidelity graphics, the upgrade may not seem essential. The PS4 version still looks decent and is totally playable on PS5 via backwards compatibility.

So it really comes down to your personal preference and how much you value those next-gen enhancements provided by the native PS5 edition. Hopefully the details above help inform your decision!

Step-by-step guide to upgrading from PS4 to PS5

If you‘ve decided the PS5 upgrade is worth it, here‘s a step-by-step walkthrough on how to upgrade from the PS4 to PS5 edition of Cold War:

Step 1: Confirm you own the Standard PS4 Edition

First, you‘ll want to double check that you actually have the base Standard Edition for PS4 rather than a special cross-gen bundle.

The Standard Edition on PS4 is just titled "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" without any mention of bundles or next-gen.

If you bought digitally, you can check your PlayStation purchase history online or on your PS4 console. For physical copies, examine the disc and box.

Step 2: Find the PS5 upgrade offer on PlayStation Store

Once signed in on your PS5, open the PlayStation Store app and search for "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War".

This should take you to the PS5 version‘s game page. Scroll down and look for the PS5 upgrade offer below the main purchase button, priced at $10.

Alternatively, you can find it from your PS4 game library under "Your Collection".

Step 3: Buy and download the PS5 upgrade

Go ahead and select the PS5 upgrade offer for $10 and complete the purchase transaction.

If you‘re upgrading a physical disc copy, insert the PS4 game disc now – this is required to verify you own the game before purchasing the upgrade.

Once you‘ve bought the upgrade, go ahead and download the full PS5 version of Cold War to your console.

Step 4: Transfer over progression and save data

Your multiplayer progress, stats, and unlocks should carry over automatically through your linked Activision account. Nice and easy!

For single player campaign progress, you‘ll need to manually transfer your save from PS4 to PS5:

  • On your PS4, go to Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data in System Storage > Copy to USB Storage Device
  • Select the Cold War campaign save data and copy it over to a USB drive
  • On your PS5, go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4) > USB Drive
  • Select the save data and copy it over to your PS5‘s internal storage

Now you can continue right where you left off in the campaign with all your progress intact!

And that covers the full upgrade process – you now have the awesome PS5 edition installed and ready to enjoy. Have fun with those lightning fast framerates and loading times!

Frequently asked questions about upgrading Cold War from PS4 to PS5

Here are answers to some common questions on upgrading from the PS4 to PS5 version of Cold War:

Can I play the PS4 disc on PS5 without upgrading?

Yes! The PS5 is backwards compatible with PS4 discs. But this will just run the legacy PS4 version – you need to pay for the upgrade to get native PS5 enhancements.

Do I need the disc to keep playing if I upgrade to digital PS5?

Unfortunately yes, even if you upgrade to the digital PS5 edition, you‘ll need to keep the PS4 game disc inserted in order to launch the game.

What if I already bought both PS4 and PS5 versions separately?

If you accidentally bought both, contact PlayStation support and they may issue you a refund for the PS5 purchase since you qualify for the upgrade.

Can I upgrade mid-match from PS4 to PS5?

No, you can‘t transfer your progress mid-match, you‘ll need to finish the full match on your PS4 before switching over to the upgraded PS5 version.

How big is the improvement from PS4 to PS5?

It‘s a huge boost – up to 120FPS on PS5 versus just 60FPS max on PS4, and loading times are multiple times faster, improving the whole gameplay experience.

Does progression carry over generations?

Yes! Your online multiplayer progress syncs across PS4 and PS5 through your Activision account. Just campaign save data needs to be transferred separately.

Can I still play with friends on PS4 after upgrading?

Yep! PS5 players can join and play with friends still on PS4 thanks to Crossplay support across the platforms.

Hopefully those answers help explain the upgrade process and capabilities in more detail!

The verdict on upgrading to PS5

To summarize, upgrading Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War from PS4 to PS5 is not free for those with the Standard Edition – you‘ll need to purchase the $10 next-gen upgrade fee from PlayStation Store.

But in return, you get a massively improved experience with up to 120FPS framerates, insanely fast loading speeds, and visual enhancements like ray tracing that take full advantage of the PS5‘s power.

While backwards compatible, the PS4 version just can‘t compare to the stunning performance and visuals of the native PS5 edition. That‘s why personally, I found the upgrade very worth the $10 cost as a gamer myself.

But it really comes down to your preferences – if you‘re fine with PS4-level fidelity and don‘t care as much about higher FPS, the upgrade could seem non-essential.

Hopefully this detailed guide gave you all the info you need to decide if upgrading Cold War from your PS4 to brand new PS5 is worth it for you! Let me know if you have any other questions.

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Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.