With Xbox Series X and PS5 on the horizon, major changes are about to become the new norm. For starters, it seems that next-gen games will be $10 more than usual starting with NBA 2K21 and not all games will have free upgrades to next-gen.
Microsoft is actively encouraging developers who don’t support their Smart Delivery method to try other solutions. According to VGC, Microsoft has told developers they can’t charge players for a digital upgrade via DLC. They must use Smart Delivery or offer discounts for upgrades. This includes allowing developers to charge for a second version of the game at a discount.
Smart Delivery allows players to have two versions of the same game, essentially. If you buy on Xbox One, you will get an instant upgrade to the Xbox Series X version. This isn’t a backward compatible version, it’s two versions in one package. This allows you to get all the visual upgrades (and other features) on next-gen without having to buy the game twice.
In a statement, Microsoft noted that “developers and publishers ultimately decide how they deliver their games, and we work with them to provide the best possible experience based on their needs.”
Many key titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 will offer free upgrades but NBA 2K21 will charge for the upgrade via a bundle. If you purchase the $100 Mamba Forever edition of 2K21 on current-gen, you will gain access to the Xbox Series X version at no additional cost.
“At Xbox, the player is at the center of everything we do, which is why we’re committed to supporting exclusive Xbox Game Studios titles, including ’Halo Infinite,’ with Smart Delivery, providing the best available version for whichever console you choose to play on.”
Xbox Series X will launch this holiday season. Microsoft will debut an all-new look at first party titles such as Halo Infinite at an event later this month.
