Next-gen is quickly approaching with Microsoft recently providing even more details on the Xbox Series X, including technical specs like variable shading and the ability to quick resume for multiple games.
To go along with this, CD Projekt Red announced that anyone who buys Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox One will receive a free upgrade to Xbox Series X, when it’s available.
Cyberpunk is the first big game that has acknowledged any kind of cross-gen deal, and it’s something that should be the precedent going forward. There’s still a lot of unknowns about the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but onboarding players with the biggest games of 2020 would be a huge step to making the new consoles successful.
Cyberpunk 2077 Sets the Precedent For Other Publishers
The PS5 and Xbox Series X are going to be the most advanced consoles ever seen, no matter what their specs are in the end. Of course, with those advancements comes a higher price point, and there needs to be enough incentive for players to make the jump from current-gen consoles.
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of, if not the, most hotly anticipated games of 2020. It’s a smart move for CD Projekt Red to make Cyberpunk a cross-gen deal, encouraging players to jump on board when the game comes out knowing they’ll get that upgrade down the line. This also helps round out the game lineup of the Xbox Series X, even if Cyberpunk isn’t available at launch. CD Projekt has a history of painting themselves as the developer that puts gamers first, and this decision only helps forward that idea even more.
The impetus is now on other publishers releasing the biggest games of the year. Now that Cyberpunk has done it, the pressure will be on games like Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last of Us Part II, and Avengers. Players will be expecting something similar, and it’d be smart for publishers to pursue the same options, especially if they’re releasing anywhere near Cyberpunk. No one wants to buy the same game twice, even if there are significant enhancements on newer consoles. Yes, it’s a feature that favors the consumer, but it’s also one that could benefit publishers and developers in the long-run.
Sony and Microsoft Need to Pursue Cross-Gen Features
Microsoft has officially announced that Xbox Series X will be backward compatible with all three previous generations of Xbox, although to what extent isn’t clear. Sony, on the other hand, hasn’t announced any details on the PS5. Regardless, both companies should actively pursue cross-gen deals like with Cyberpunk 2077. They need to be working with publishers and devs to try and bring more games with cross-gen upgrades.
At this point, it seems like Microsoft is pursuing that line of thinking, as Cyberpunk 2077’s announcement was made in tandem with the Xbox Series X details. Because of that, there’ll be more pressure on Sony to do the same. If someone’s looking to buy a next-gen console, the system that upgrades their current games for free looks a whole lot more attractive than the one that doesn’t. On top of that Microsoft has Game Pass, and between these two features, the Xbox Series X will instantly have a whole library of games to play, regardless of new titles that Microsoft releases. Again, free cross-gen upgrades are something that makes players feel like their time and money are valued, and it should absolutely be the precedent as the industry moves on.
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