Obsidian Botches Free Upgrade for 2023 Outer Worlds Edition, Forcing Some Console Owners to Pay
Updated
Updated · Eurogamer.net · Jun 1
Obsidian Botches Free Upgrade for 2023 Outer Worlds Edition, Forcing Some Console Owners to Pay
1 articles · Updated · Eurogamer.net · Jun 1
Obsidian said console entitlement errors broke its newly promised free upgrade to The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition, leaving some PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players unable to claim it.
The problem flared after the studio delisted the original game on May 27 and made the 2023 Spacer's Choice Edition the default version, prompting many players to buy the base game expecting a free current-gen upgrade.
On May 28, Obsidian acknowledged that PS4 and Xbox One owners also need the expansion pass for the upgrade, undercutting the offer's "free" promise; buyers who purchased between April 30 and May 27 were told to contact support.
Backlash spread across X over the muddled wording and process, while some GOG users also reported PC upgrade issues even as Steam players appeared largely unaffected.
Is the 'free' upgrade fiasco a simple glitch, or does it reveal the fragile state of digital game ownership?
Can Obsidian's apology fix broken trust after its 'free' upgrade angered the fans it was meant to reward?
As publishers increasingly delist old games, are our digital libraries becoming temporary rentals instead of permanent collections?