The PlayStation 5 seems not to have cross-saves so far. Multiple games have now reported that they won’t have a cross-save feature between generations.
So far, multiple games have announced that there will be no cross-saves for their PlayStation 5 title. Spider-Man Remastered and Yakuza: Like A Dragon will not feature cross-saving between PS4 and PS5. Dirt 5 also noted they wouldn’t have the feature.
This decision is discouraging players from upgrading and restarting progress from scratch. It doesn’t help that Sony is inconsistent about it either.
Cross-saves are crucial for next-gen success
Cross-saving is a crucial step into next-gen platforms. The ability to continue player progress after moving from one console to another is vital. Many people want their save files intact, and others can even get bonuses when doing so.
To clarify, physical owners of Yakuza: Like a Dragon on PS4 can also use the original disc to upgrade to the PS5 version when it releases on March 2, 2021.
Save data will not be transferable between the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game.
— RGG Studio (@RGGStudio) September 28, 2020
For the PC, the process is easy and usually a matter of choice for the developer. A good example is Phantasy Star Online 2, which will have limited migration capabilities. PSO2 players can get items and magic when they migrate to PSO2: New Genesis.
For the Xbox, the brand’s Smart Delivery System allows players to enjoy Xbox One games on the Series X. The system also lets players cross-save between generations, something Dirt 5 devs Codemasters noted.
“Currently on Xbox, all progress can be carried over between generations,” said the tweet from Codemasters. “On PlayStation, your Playgrounds creations can be carried over, but other game progress (Career, currency, saved liveries) cannot. If that changes, we’ll let you know!”
Currently on Xbox, all progress can be carried over between generations. On PlayStation, your Playgrounds creations can be carried over, but other game progress (Career, currency, saved liveries) cannot. If that changes, we'll let you know!
— ONE MONTH TO GO #DIRT5 (@dirtgame) September 24, 2020
Sony allows some games to have cross-saving features
Cross-saves on the PlayStation 5 are a different story compared to other platforms. So far, many games have confirmed that they won’t have cross-saves available. While this would be acceptable if it were a hardware limitation, it’s not.
Hi there, you will be able to transfer your save to PS5. We'll share details closer to launch
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 29, 2020
Spider-Man: Miles Morales can use cross-saves from the PS4 to the PS5. Many devs are reporting that they won’t have cross-saves available to them between generations. This situation begs the question if Sony has a hand in it.
Sony is gung-ho about pushing its “generations” mantra throughout the entire marketing process. While they give a free upgrade or backward compatible games, losing progress is painful. For games with 200 hours in them, it’s hard to dedicate as much after.
Not having cross-gen saves will not be a big issue in many cases. Depending on the grind, some people will be more than happy to replay their old games. Even then, the sneaky nature of a lack of cross-saving feels more like a marketing strategy.
The PlayStation 5 will be an awesome next-gen console. Even then, some of Sony’s moves, like the lack of cross-saves and strict exclusivity deals, feel very anti-consumer so far.
Featured image courtesy of PlayStation/YouTube Screenshot