Obsidian Entertainment is apologizing after failing to deliver on a free upgrade offer for The Outer Worlds, leaving players who believed they qualified suddenly locked out of the deal.
In late April, the studio announced plans to delist the base version of The Outer Worlds starting May 27, replacing it entirely with the Spacer's Choice Edition on digital storefronts. To soften the blow, Obsidian said anyone holding the base game before that cutoff date could upgrade to the enhanced edition at no cost.
When May 27 arrived, the promise fell apart. Players discovered they were being asked to purchase additional DLC content despite owning the base game before the deadline. The issue surfaced across console platforms, with Xbox One and PlayStation 4 users reporting they needed both DLC packs or an expansion pass to claim the upgrade they believed would be free.
The frustration erupted on social media. One player detailed their experience buying the base game on PS4 and upgrading to PS5, only to find the upgrade blocked unless they paid for missing DLC. Another confirmed the same thing happened on Xbox. Players online called it a bait-and-switch, with some invoking legal terminology about potential class action lawsuits.
Obsidian initially acknowledged the problem in a brief statement, attributing the mix-up to "unforeseen platform limitations" that prevented Xbox One and PlayStation 4 digital owners from getting the same treatment as PC players. The company directed frustrated users toward support.
A Microsoft spokesperson later provided more detail, framing the upgrade as a thank-you gesture that fell short due to "entitlement restrictions and backend issues." The statement acknowledged players were "rightfully upset" and promised that anyone who bought the base game on last-gen consoles between April 30 and May 27 could contact support to resolve the problem.
Going forward, the free upgrade will remain available to PC players who own the delisted base game. Console players, however, will permanently need to own both the base game and DLC content to qualify. Microsoft said it will continue working with affected players on a case-by-case basis.
Author Emily Chen: "This is what happens when publishers try to quietly close the books on old versions of games without thinking through the technical realities, and it's a reminder that digital entitlements are far messier than companies want to admit."
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