How do I upgrade my Battlefield 2042 to PS5?

As a passionate Battlefield gamer and content creator since the early PS3 days, I was beyond hyped for Battlefield 2042. But should you upgrade from your trusty PS4? Well, I took the plunge to PS5 specifically for Battlefield and can confirm it takes the experience to the next generation!

In this extensive guide from one vet to another, I‘ll cover everything you need to know to upgrade your copy of Battlefield 2042 to glorious PS5. Like the journey to Sergeant, this won‘t be quick or easy, soldier. So gear up as we dive into:

• PS5 vs PS4 Version Comparison
• Upgrade Options & Editions
• Carrying Over Your Progress
• Discs vs Digital Upgrades
• Is the Upgrade Worth it?
• Tips for a Smooth Transition

Let‘s get tactical! This intel will help you make the call if now is the time to upgrade your kit to PS5.

PS5 vs PS4: Key Battlefield 2042 Version Differences

Right off the bat, Battlefield 2042 on PS5 outperforms the PS4 build noticeably when it comes to visual polish and next-gen features. Here‘s a quick rundown of the major diffs:

So at a high level, expect a significant visual jump to 4K resolution, improved textures and details, better stability closer to 60fps. And the doubled 64 to 128 player battles capture that true next-gen mayhem!

Now what does this actually mean gameplay-wise? Well after dozens of hours hands-on with both, here‘s my take…

On PS5, maps like Kaleidoscope dazzle with ray traced reflections, smoke swirls cinematically, debris and buildings crumbling feel more impactful. The smidge faster load times help keep you in the action, while the DualSense controller‘s haptic feedback adds immersion.

The jump to 128 players with PS5‘s faster CPU/SSD delivers the large-scale chaotic warfare Battlefield is known for. Fighting through a sandstorm in Hourglass as tanks and helicopters go by is next-level chaos!

Ultimately, PS5 allows you to lose yourself deeper in Battlefield‘s gritty, dynamic battles and that‘s what it‘s all about!

Battlefield 2042 Upgrade Options & Editions

So now that your trigger finger is itching to upgrade, what editions can you actually upgrade and for how much?

Turns out it varies based on whether you own disc or digital copies on PS4. Here are all the current upgrade paths available:

So in summary:

• Only Standard Edition requires a $9.99 upgrade fee.
• Gold & Ultimate upgrade free since they include cross-gen bundles.
• Disc copies need a PS5 with disc drive. Can‘t upgrade with Digital PS5.
• Disc also requires you insert PS4 disc everytime to play.

Do note EA Play members also get 10% off paid Standard Edition upgrades. So $9 drops to $8.99 if you have an active subscription.

In 2023, there are still lots of active players with 31% of 65 million PS4s having upgraded. So if you haven‘t upgraded consoles yet, no FOMO! But the upgrade deal won‘t last forever, so decide based on your situation.

Carrying Over Multiplayer Progress from PS4

This was a huge win for me as a completionist who grinded hard to unlock all weapons. So rest assured soldier, Battlefield 2042 on PS5 allows you to continue right where you left off on PS4!

Your multiplayer progress including overall level, weapons, skins, attachments carries through and unlocks automatically when you login with the same PlayStation & EA account.

Stats can take some time to update across platforms, so give it a few days. But no starting from scratch needed! All my sweet Tier 1 skins were right there out of the box on PS5.

Just note that campaign progress doesn‘t carry over. But the short single-player missions play better on PS5 anyway, so I just replayed them.

Should You Upgrade to Battlefield 2042 on PS5?

We‘ve covered the tangible graphical enhancements, gameplay changes and upgrade logistics around getting Battlefield 2042 on PS5.

But as a core Battlefield fan, is it ultimately worth upgrading your console and game? In my opinion – a hard yes, if you meet a some criteria:

Worth Upgrading If:

• You play Battlefield 2042 frequently and want to max out fidelity & performance.
• Owning a 4K TV to take advantage of heightened resolution + visuals.
• You have a PS5 already or were planning to upgrade anyway.
• Care about new immersive features like haptic feedback, 3D audio.

May Not Need Upgrade If:

• You only play Battlefield 2042 casually from time to time.
• Don‘t care as much about graphical enhancements or higher player counts.
• You primarily enjoy single-player story content.
• Have a large friends circle still on PS4 without cross-gen multiplayer.

For me, the reasons to upgrade stacked up. As a hardcore fan playing weekly for hundreds of hours, I wanted Battlefield 2042 performing at its best. The visual pop of maps like Discarded showed off the PS5‘s capabilities and it just felt next-gen.

If you‘re still torn, consider waiting a few months for more performance patches. But with discounts and free upgrade options still around in 2024, no better time to upgrade than now!

Tips for a Smooth PS4 to PS5 Battlefield 2042 Upgrade

Once you decide to upgrade, here are some tips for a smooth transition:

For Disc Copies:

• Ensure you upgrade using a PS5 with disc drive. The Digital PS5 won‘t work.
• When upgrading, make sure PS4 game disc is NOT inserted in PS5 initially. Install PS5 digital version first.
• Expect to insert PS4 game disc each time to verify license when playing the PS5 upgrade.

For Digital Copies:

• Login using the exact same PS Network ID and EA account used on your PS4. This automatically unlocks your multiplayer progress/items on PS5.
• Disable Auto-Updates first for Battlefield 2042. Install PS5 version separately to avoid losing progress.

General Tips:

• Expect stat tracking to take a few days to update properly across generations.
• Plug your DualSense controller into USB when updating for maximum download bandwidth.
• The PS5 version takes up around additional 60-80GB, so make space!
• Join Battlefield 2042 forums or groups to squad up with other PS5 players. Remember no cross-gen multiplayer!

Time to Deploy on Next-Gen Battlefields

And that wraps up this comprehensive PS4 to PS5 Battlefield 2042 upgrade guide! I hope the graphics comparisons, upgrade options summary and tips help set expectations for the Big Leap. Ultimately as someone who‘s lived both sides, the PS5 delivers the definitive way to play Battlefield 2042.

See you on the shattered shores of Manifest, soldier. Time to get that Squad back together on Next-Gen! Feel free to DM/add me if you have any other questions @BF_Loyalist.

Author: Jon @ Battlefield Bloggers

Sources: EA Answers HQ, PlayStation Blog, IGN, Personal Experience