Progress was not transferred from borrowed to owned version of the game

So, I borrowed Horizon Zero Dawn from a friend and now I'm obsessed with it. I figured I'd get my own, and not continue to use a borrowed copy.

Now, this may be the issue, but I bought my physical copy online from Ozgameshop, based in the UK (I live in Oz and refuse to pay the prices here) and when I popped it in, it started afresh and didn't carry on the progress from my friend's copy.

Is this just what happens when you play a borrowed game and get your own copy? Or is it to do with the fact it is from the UK (I thought they were region free)?

3 Answers

While the game is the same, the DRM that locks regions is causing your PS4 to think they are different. Note that any physical disk whatever the region will play in any PS4 from any region. However, they are incompatible as far as the PS4 is concerned. Since your game is UK (aka Region 2), it is not compatible with Australia (aka Region 4): thus no save game transfer.

Since you mention the DLC (before it was edited out of the question!):

⚠ You will not be able to play any DLCs with your copy of the game!

Any downloads are for the region where you bought the game. If you have pre-ordered, you should ask for a refund as soon as possible. I had the exact same problem with bloodborne.

Usually for PS4 games, the saved data is on the hard drive and has nothing to do with the disc.

The reason you are having to start over with a new game is probably because your old save is for the non-UK disc and since you are now using a UK based disc, it will not read it(region based).

To confirm this, just get that disc back from your friend and load it up, and see if your old file is still there.

I got a second hand HZD as a present and I started to play it but I wanted the expansions as well. When the complete edition got discounted on PNS, I got myself a digital copy of it and I'll get rid of the disc version since I prefer digital versions anyway.

As soon as the complete version downloaded I was able to simply continue where I left off in the regular version.

Now, I suspect both versions I have are most probably from the same region, but it worked for me.