PS5 Upgrades Arrive as PlayStation Plus Reveals November Games

Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light receive free PS5 upgrades with enhanced performance, while November's PlayStation Plus lineup and a five-hour Crimson Desert trial bring more reasons to revisit PlayStation.

November is a huge month for PlayStation customers, with free upgrades, new monthly subscription titles, and an extended trial for one of the year's biggest open-world games. One of the best things is that Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light now have native PlayStation 5 versions. This allows current owners to play both games again, but with improved visuals and performance.

If you already own the Metro Saga Bundle, you’ll be especially interested in the improvements, since both games can now use the additional features Sony’s new system offers. And with the next big Metro game not arriving until 2027, this might also be a good opportunity for those who haven't played the series before to get in.

In addition to the Metro upgrades, Sony also revealed the November PlayStation Plus Essential line-up.

The lineup includes three games: a mix of popular titles and critically acclaimed indie games. Meanwhile, PlayStation Plus Premium users may also give Crimson Desert a second go, with a free five-hour trial that launched alongside the game’s massive expansion. The biggest news for Metro fans is that both Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light now offer free native PlayStation 5 upgrades.

Both games now offer higher performance settings, including native 4K resolution at 60 frames per second and upscaled 4K at 120fps. PlayStation 5 Pro owners will also get PSSR support, along with bug fixes, sharper graphics, and other enhancements designed to improve the overall experience. Now both games feel more like what you’d expect from a fresh console release, and owners won’t have to rebuy them for the enhancements.

Those who already own the PlayStation 4 versions can download the updates via the PlayStation Store or their game libraries. Native PS5 versions should be available with an upgrade for eligible owners. Another plus is that neither game takes long. Metro 2033 can be completed in seven to nine hours, reports claim, while Metro: Last Light is around the same length. With Metro Exodus already updated for the PS5, all three main titles may now be played on the system in better versions.

Sony has also revealed the three PlayStation Plus Essential games customers can grab in November. Monster Train 2, Dead Island 2, and Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered are all on the list. Dead Island 2 is perhaps the most recognizable game in the series, and members can play the zombie action game. But here's the catch: Sony is only selling the base game, not the Complete Edition that was on sale for around $6.99 earlier.

Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered is another great addition, especially for people who have played Lara Croft’s past adventures a lot.

The compilation includes three classic games, so it’s a solid option if you want to revisit the franchise's early days. That said, Monster Train 2 may be the biggest surprise. The strategy game has garnered predominantly positive reviews on Steam with over 5,000 reviews, 95% of which are positive. At around $25, it's a great value for this month’s choice.

Monster Train 2 may not be as interesting as Dead Island 2 or Tomb Raider, but it may be the most popular choice for users who appreciate strategy games. Finally, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can now play Crimson Desert for free for five hours. It's a good way to try the open-world voyage before you buy it, since it's so large.

However, five hours may not be enough to get the full experience of what Crimson Desert has to offer. The game's early elements may take time to get used to. After about nine or ten hours, the mechanics and overall experience get much more exciting. So some subscribers might cancel their trial when things grow more intriguing.

Crimson Desert also received a major add-on, Charting the Unknown, for $24.99.

With expansion comes new perils, tougher enemies, more storylines, and chances to go beyond the boundaries of Pywel. Now players can take command of ships, explore new islands, dive beneath the water, and search for secret treasures, ruins, and other mysteries. The expansion also adds more things to do, like managing facilities, making money, improving housing, and getting to know the people who live in Pywel better.

It follows Cliff, Unka, and Damianne as they face new issues, political disputes, and past secrets. The expansion brings a shit ton of new stuff, but the release timing makes me question something. Crimson Desert is already a fairly substantial adventure game with a completion rate of roughly 9%, so we’ll have to see how many current gamers are ready for even more material.