PS4 box offers first look at ‘PS5 upgrade’ branding

Current-gen titles will include ‘PS5 upgrade available’ badge for compatible games.

[Snookies12]

Not really a fan of it, cuts way too much into the center of the artwork. Even if it is at the bottom, it's a bit annoying having something poking that far out into the box art.

[deleted]

As a big Playstation fan, I have to agree. It looks off aesthetically. Busy. Not nearly as bad as the "Optimized for Series X" logo was, before MS listened to feedback and removed it.

It's not a huge deal though, but maybe PS will listen to feedback as well. Plus, it's only on PS4 game boxes.

[deleted]

Yea sorry, guys! A lot of people don't agree obviously, but this is just one guy's opinion. I guess this is what I had in mind...

https://imgur.com/I9Mxdoi

I threw this together real quick in PS, moved the Ubisoft logo up a bit and placed it underneath. I chose AC Valhalla for my example, since it didn't already have the upgrade emblem covering. (keep in mind, I didn't pull from a hi-rez image, so not as clear as it would be seeing in person)....

I think the thing is, the Ubisoft logo lies completely in line w the rating symbol, and that's something they don't want to mess with, moving logos from that plumb line.

[deleted]

Actually here, I was able to remove it. (roughly) I'm not working w a vector of the logo, so it pixelated when I scaled down. This would look clearer in actuality, but here's my idea using it on the Immortals Fenyx Rising boxart.

The Ubisoft logo is moved up, actually plumb w the top of the age rating now.

https://imgur.com/j7VVIyI

[RgR]

Okay. 2 things.

The first is that your example is only okay if PlayStation really doesn't care about the ps5 upgrade feature. It is so small and tucked away that it can easily go unnoticed.

The second point bring that generally company brand guidelines don't allow for other company features tucked underneath them. It almost looks like it's a Ubisoft feature.

I think that given the current amount of logos on the box already that their first choice is a pretty good one.

[deleted]

Yea, RGR, I guess it was the asymmetry of it that was throwing me off from a composition standpoint (and covering more of central part of the artwork), but looking at it further, I do actually like how it lines ups perfectly with the PS4 on top.The size makes more sense now. I didn't tear it apart enough before I spoke. Here...

https://imgur.com/IsxM3Al

I'm liking it better now. I'm still not crazy about it covering more of the center of the artwork, but it's making sense. Like I said before, it's really not a big deal, lol It'll only be on a handful of PS4 titles. ;)

[olorin818]

Very nice attempt with the logo's reschuffle. However I feel placing it under Ubisoft logo, makes it feel uneven, as if too many pieces are stacked on the right hand side. I'd argue the Upgrade to PS5 should sit on the top blue gradient bar, currently only having PS4 logo. There's so much real estate, it could/ and should sit there as its part of PS marketing jargon, rather than developer's cover artwork.

[Marquinho]

We all should thank Microsoft for pulling off this initiative. I'm glad to see Sony and other publishers following suit. F**ck Activision, 2K Games. They may learn the hard way.

[RgR]

Nope. This is common practice through all generations. Specifically current gen.

Games were coming out on both for a while. Nothing new.

[Darkborn]

Didn't Sony offer more cross save, cross play and crossbuy games from ps3 to ps4? Pepperidge farms remembers.

[Marquinho]

@RgR

"This is common practice through all generations. Specifically current gen."

I think you're not getting what this is all about. The "common practice" in the last generation was Paid Remasters for the newer generation.

[rainslacker]

You mean this thing that Sony was doing with the PS4P a year before MS even had the means to do it?

[Teflon02]

@Marquinho
There's no way you're serious. We're going to pretend now that PS3 didn't have a bunch of games that gave you PSP versions and sometimes PS4 versions on release? Ratchet and Clank Full Frontal Assault did exactly that. Where you bought on PS3 and when the PS Vita version released later, I got it for free. PlayStation All-Stars and Sly 4 game me free Vita versions with the PS3 versions etc. It was to the point the feature was built into the disc and registered straight to your account when you did it. The only difference is Sony told everyone and most devs didn't want to do it. So only Indies and Sony did it.

The remaster thing is because games couldn't just patch to PS4 and Xbox one specifically. MS had to add the ability to use the games through back compat and even then, the upgrades aren't the same. This Gen coming because of the midgen consoles the practice of game updates that can give you the version you need is already built into the game so all you do now is follow this. Devs only do it now because there's no excuse and MS is now doing it, while Sony already has been and now that BOTH have BC on release, no excuses exist

[TheProblem]

You probably somehow give Microsoft credit for your conception

[blackblades]

Oh you gonna hang the case on the wall like a poster amd stare at it.

[CantThinkOfAUsername]

You just made my day, thank you!

[Snookies12]

No need to hate, just because you don't appreciate artwork. It's an aesthetic thing, if you don't get it, you don't get it.

[1Victor]

I hope they trim it down to the upgrade symbol and the PS5

[Unspoken]

Branding and box art. Sony is killing it already!

[Darkborn]

It's supposed to be big and obvious that way casual gamers don't miss it.

[SierraGuy]

Are you serious?

[Christopher]

Serious question: How would you do it with it being smaller and easily understood by the consumer that they would get a free PS5 upgrade copy with the game?

[Seraphim]

why not just slap it on the back of the box with everything else. Or idk, maybe placing it in the header of the box art, say, across from the PS5 logo or even below the ratings box. Better yet, just slap a sticker on the cellophane of each game.

[Christopher]

People don't read the back of boxes.

Stickers on cellophane cost a lot more as it adds to the manufacturing process and material costs.

[Wolf873]

Agreed. There's enough space up on the blue PS4 label to put console pertinent information there, sort of to complement it; you know the game being a PS4 title but it can also be upgraded to PS5.

[blackblades]

"No need to hate, just because you don't appreciate artwork. It's an aesthetic thing, if you don't get it, you don't get it."

Lol riiiight, just to let you know I draw and looked at a lot of art on deviant art and other places for around 2 decades now. You saying "I dont appreciate artwork" well try again with another comment.

[GaboonViper]

Not a fan myself, better then thst horrid XSeX badge though, i think it would be best to put it on the back of the case.

[Chocoburger]

Would look better without the word "Available" its not even needed. Simply: "PS5 Upgrade" or "PS5 Upgradable".

[Baza]

The way it’s stated is straight to the point and clear. Some consumers will misinterpret “PS5 Upgrade”.

[nirwanda]

It sounds like you should go looking for a ps5 version (were is it available?)or it's at extra cost.

[BrainSyphoned]

I also read PS5 upgrade available as something extra or different to buy. It does have the 1 next to it so it will be explained on the back of the case. Of course most shoppers that wouldn’t know better are shopping somewhere that the game is behind a glass case.

[nirwanda]

Ps5 upgrade available makes it sound like it's at extra cost

[Teflon02]

and PS5 upgrade sounds like this version is only a PS5 version. Saying it's available will atleast make you understand it's a PS4 game and the upgrade is available in some way

[StoneyYoshi]

People are stupid. Believe me, putting available is necessary. Not everyone has common sense like us.

[aaronaton]

Maybe i'm in the minority, but i don't plan on buying a single cross-gen game for my PS5. If i'm honest, i don't think i will even consider a 3rd party game until maybe Cyberpunk or Battlefield 6.

[Atom666]

Unless you plan on waiting a good bit, you won't be playing many games.

[BlaqMagiq1]

You will be waiting a good 2 years after the launch exclusives to get what you want. Why limit yourself like that?

[Hakuoro]

We're not talking about the xbox... PlayStation is going to have exclusive games.

[BlaqMagiq1]

@Hakuoro

Yeah and they take time to be made not heavily rushed out the door.

[Sirk7x]

Well, might be in the minority. Many people wanting to be early adopters are probably already Xbox and PS4 owners. I think it's great that I can get upgrades on my large digital library. First thing I'll be doing is replaying Witcher 3 lol.

[gravedigger]

Better than that Optimized for Series X

It's unintrusive, as it should be

[thesoftware730]

You for real? get your eyes checked or stop being a fanboy, its just game covers no need to bring MS into this really.

[gravedigger]

Get your eyes checked too. It's at the bottom, and it is smaller than that crap "optimized for XSX" which was way bigger. By a half

Just as a reminder how "Optimized for XSX" looked like :
https://images.squarespace-...

[Jerlemar]

Pointing out something that was bad doesn't make this look good.

[lellkay]

I wish they wouldn't put this on the box art and either a sticker on the case, or as part of the case.

[Rimeskeem]

Why not put it on the top right with the blue border?

[ILostMyMind]

White border now.

[StoneyYoshi]

PS4 cases are still blue which will be the only cases with that upgrade message.

[ILostMyMind]

@StoneyYoshi
True! My bad.

[Teflon02]

Because if it says Only on Playstation they won't have anywhere to put it

[BLAKHOODe]

It looks fine to me, but I would like it to say FREE UPGRADE AVAILABLE to avoid any confusion. I'll definitely be looking for that tag, tho, because from here on out, if it's not playable on PS5 also.. I'm not interested.

[thesoftware730]

I'm the same way, I wanna play with all the bells and whistles.

[SullysCigar]

EVERY game released on PS4 from July 2020 HAS to work on PS5. Sony mandated this in order for games to be published on PS4.

This banner is just to indicate that it's enhanced by PS5, rather than it just works.

[StoneyYoshi]

Every game SUBMITTED to Sony. Not for every game releasing after July. If the game was submitted to Sony and we already knew about it before July, then thats not necessarily the case.

[rainslacker]

They have to run on PS5, but they don't have to offer upgrades. Same as it was with the PS4P. Basically, it has to have a PS5 executable.

[SullysCigar]

^ that's actually what I said, to be fair rainslacker lol

[thesoftware730]

I dont really mind.

But can we get the price of the system already.

[purple101]

499 dollars. Your welcome.

[thesoftware730]

LMAO,

What about the DE?

Might as well throw in the launch date as well.

[SullysCigar]

^ Who cares about the digital? Both will launch November 20. You're welcome.

[lonewolf10]

Lets blame MSoft as Sony cannot make their own decisions, lol indeed, Sony made this choice (even after the back lash MSoft got).

[mastershredder]

Wow. This is some next level entitlement. Freak’n little babies. Oh yeah totally the type of “winners” that would return an item claiming damages if the box it came in has a crease in it. now you are bitching about info icons/indicators on the box that ruffle your precious little gamer feathers. It’s not just for marketing you dips. .Oh...you fan that hard? that’s adorable. Do go on professing your importance of box art due to your beloved visual presentation preferences lol. holy hell.

[NeoGamer232]

My question...

How is this different then cross-buy? Kind of confusing.

[MADGameR]

They should've put that branding next to the ''PS4'' branding logo on the top front of the blue strip line of the PS4 box cases.