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Xbox Series X game upgrades could be free for all cross-gen titles, with Microsoft said to be pushing for publishers to refrain from charging extra to those who want a next-gen copy of a game they already own.
The information comes from a new report by VideoGamesChronicle, who cite multiple publishing sources revealing that Microsoft's next-gen policy hopes to include the guarantee that anyone accessing an Xbox Series X version of a game they already own on Xbox One shouldn't have to pay for the upgrade.
This request from Microsoft is apparently tied in to Xbox's Smart Delivery feature for its next-gen console, which ensures that players are enjoying the best version of a cross-gen game no matter which Xbox platform they're running it on.
In other words, Microsoft is hoping to crack down on an influx of next-gen remasters that publishers would likely charge full price for, instead asking them to either offer a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X port or, at the vert least, a discount to those who buy a next-gen version from the Microsoft Store.
It sounds like these policies aren't mandatory, however, though major games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2, and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla have already confirmed their next-gen versions will be available for free to whomever owns a copy on current hardware. Hopefully, for the sake of the player, a suite of other publishers will follow suit.
Here's what developers had to say about the recently revealed Unreal Engine 5 demo. You can also watch the entire thing for yourself in the video below. Here's everything we know about the upcoming Xbox Series X pre-orders too.
