Do you have to buy FFXIV again for PS5?
As a long-time FFXIV player and passionate gamer, I‘m thrilled we don‘t have to repurchase the game for next-gen. PlayStation owners can upgrade to the PS5 version with all progress and purchases intact, for free. Keep reading as I dive deeper into transferring your characters, Square Enix‘s seamless upgrade process, and what new PS5 players need to buy.
FFXIV‘s Commanding Presence on PlayStation
FFXIV has seen immense success on PlayStation platforms. As of August 2021, over 2.5 million FFXIV players were on PlayStation – that beats out PC at over 2.2 million players! This makes the PlayStation ecosystem crucial to Square Enix. So it‘s no surprise that they want to incentivize PlayStation gamers to upgrade to PS5 by providing free next-gen upgrades.
PS5 Upgrade Adds Faster Loads, 4K, and More
The PS5 upgrade unlocks:
- Faster load times thanks to the SSD
- Spatial sound through 3D audio
- Support for up to 4K resolution
- Enhanced graphics and textures
- Better framerates for super smooth performance
- Immersive feedback via the DualSense controller
As a lifelong RPG gamer, these enhancements take the already magnificent world of FFXIV to new heights. I‘m especially hyped for almost instant loading when teleporting or entering dungeons!
Here‘s How to Transfer Your FFXIV Data from PS4
Unfortunately, your PS4 FFXIV data like characters, progress, settings, and hotbars do NOT carry over automatically. But Square Enix provides an easy Server Backup system to transfer data. Here are the steps:
- On your PS4, open FFXIV and go to System Configuration > Server Backup
- Select backup and wait for it to complete (can take 15+ minutes)
- On your PS5, go to Settings > Data Transfer > Continue with PS4TM System Storage
- Plug your external PS4 drive into your PS5 and select FFXIV backup file to import
After transferring the backup, fire up FFXIV on your PS5 and everything will be as you left it on PS4! The instructions might seem complex, but the data transfer legit only takes a few minutes.
How Many FFXIV Players Will Upgrade to PS5?
PS5 sales surpassed 30 million globally as of June 2022. With over 2.5 million FFXIV fans on PlayStation, that means potentially millions of players upgrading to PS5 in the next few years! As next-gen adoption grows, we can expect substantial improvements to FFXIV catered towards beefier PS5 hardware.
What New Players Need to Buy for FFXIV on PS5
For gamers just starting their adventure in Eorzea on a brand new PS5, you have a few options:
| Purchase | Price | What You Get |
| Free Trial | $0 | Play up to level 60 for free |
| Starter Edition | $19.99 | Base FFXIV game to progress past level 60 |
| Complete Edition | $59.99 | Base game + all expansions/DLCs |
| Collector‘s Edition | $119.99 | Max bundle with bonuses |
The Complete Edition with everything unlocked is your best bet to experience the full FFXIV story start-to-finish. Or try the very generous free trial first!
No matter if you‘re transferring from PS4 or just starting out on PS5, Eorzea awaits with no need to buy FFXIV again! I‘m beyond excited to see the exclusive PS5 enhancements like fast loading. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions.
