How will cross-gen releases work on the next XBox and Playstation?

I'm hoping that the next PS4/Xbox/Switch will be fully backwards compatible with games and that they are simply just more powerful versions of previous hardware, maybe with an improved OS and new operating system level features.

I'm hoping for a one SKU thing. "Cross-gen games" will just be PS4 games that have PS5 enhancements.

I think it will work like it always has - two versions; one standard for the new consoles and one pared back for last-gen.

If they start the next generation by making games with old-gen in mind with just the ability for extra bells and whistles on new-gen, I might actually throw up in my mouth. It should be the other way round, if at all.

If all the rumors pan out regarding backward compatibility, we'll probably have a bunch of games with one SKU and a next gen mode with specific upgrades, like we have with pro/X modes. Or they'll use the next gen as an excuse to put those upgrades behind a paywall.

I can see them charging for upgrade-patches.

Probably similar to Pro and X releases now. You get boosts if you got the new machine but the plebs who don't upgrade will suffer worse graphics or bad frame rates.

Just like they do on PC, it'll probably just be one SKU that upgrades/downgrades itself depending on your hardware.

I would prefer the old way

PS4 version (still compatible with PS5 as PS5 has 100 percent backwards compatibility)

PS5 version (only compatible with PS5 and not PS4)

This way developers can go all out when but but s to making the PS5 version instead of worrying about if the same disk works with PS4. I guess they can make cross vompatibicomp exclusive for digital purchases.

Kenzodielocke said:

I can see them charging for upgrade-patches.

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I highly doubt that.

Malcolm9 said:

I highly doubt that.

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They already charged you 10 bucks to upgrade from the PS3/360 Version...

2 seperate versions. 1 for the PS4 and 1 for the PS5.

What kind of pointless ass speculation lmfaooo

Jayson's Rage said:

What kind of pointless ass speculation lmfaooo

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Yeah! I don't like this thread and I 100% need to tell them!

On Xbox there will be a single SKU that runs on all hardware iterations that are supported by the developers.

It's certainly an interesting discussion. Sony had talked about PS5 as a clean break and I expect that even if it does have BC, we'll see separate SKUs. Xbox I'm not so sure about. I doubt they'll want to keep the Xbox One name, so they'll need a new SKU for the new console? Or perhaps they'll have one physical SKU with both Xbox One and the other console written on the top, like those DVD/Blu-Ray combos.

I think in the early years of the next generation we may get PS4/XB1 games that come with HD textures etc already on the disc and these will be implemented when the game detects that it's running on the newer system. Alternatively they may download them as a patch when the disc gets popped into the PS5/XB1next. However, with the current push from MS towards BC I suspect that the days of two separate versions of the same game will come to an end.

I'm thinking one SKU with the new modern PS5 and Xbox One design with an "also works on PS4" or "also works on Xbox One" logo.

Hopefully the same way pro and 1X games are handled.
GTA6 for example, you will put you ps4/x1 version into next gen console and it will download a patch.

Its going to be interesting next gen regarding remakes.

E.g GTA6 Imo is going to be current gen with 4k patches for pro/1x. So of BC is enable we will be able to play GTA to the same standard on next gen as the pro/1x versions, possibly even better, like how none enhanced 1x games get 16xaf and v sync.

It would be a harder sell for R* to make a next gen only version, when people can already play the mid gen versions on there next gens.
it would be greedy as fuck, if they expect ppl yo buy a next gen version with 60fps and better settings when a patch could do the same.

Anthony Hopkins said:

Hopefully the same way pro and 1X games are handled.
GTA6 for example, you will put you ps4/x1 version into next gen console and it will download a patch.

Its going to be interesting next gen regarding remakes.

E.g GTA6 Imo is going to be current gen with 4k patches for pro/1x. So of BC is enable we will be able to play GTA to the same standard on next gen as the pro/1x versions, possibly even better, like how none enhanced 1x games get 16xaf and v sync.

It would be a harder sell for R* to make a next gen only version, when people can already play the mid gen versions on there next gens.
it would be greedy as fuck, if they expect ppl yo buy a next gen version with 60fps and better settings when a patch could do the same.

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Next gen is likely coming within the next 2 years, with 2020 being the year it's most expected.

GTA6 is at least 3 or more years out, no way in hell do I want Rockstar to limit their vision to last gen machines that many will have moved on from.

I get what you're saying with regards to current gen games getting a patch for next gen, but GTA6 is one I can see being exclusive to the new generation.

This has been handled in multiple ways and I feel it's down to publishers ultimately, I don't see platform holders forcing a unified approach.

• Some games have separate, but equivalent versions sold separately but either is playable via BC. Think Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. You can buy an XBO version or you can buy an X360 version and they can both run on a One, though they won't be the same.
• Then there's cross gen games with no BC option. So for instance Destiny - you can buy it on X360, and you can buy it on XBO, but there's no way to play the old version on the new console.
• Then there's stuff like Journey, where buying the PS3 version automatically gives you the PS4 version. This cross-buy is different from BC but functionally offers a similar result.
• Throwing a wrench in this, you have remasters. So even if you own Bioshock from last gen and can play it via BC, down the line it can get remastered and sold separately.

Even if XB2 has full BC, I can totally see publishers continuing this mess. So for instance: yeah you can play (let's say) the XBO version of Battlefield VI on your XB2, but an actual XB2 version will be sold separately with better settings.

Kenzodielocke said:

They already charged you 10 bucks to upgrade from the PS3/360 Version...

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That's them releasing a remastered version rather than a patch, two different things.

I can see Microsoft doing the one sku thing digitally at least. As in you buy it once and get both versions (plus Windows too in some cases). Physical retail I don't see it though, branding is too important and dual sku confuses the message.

On Sony's side PS5 backwards compatibility is still very much a question that needs to be answered first.

I'm obviously hoping for full BC, but having some very specific cross-gen games as described in the OP seems most ideal to me. One disc, two versions.

Though I have no doubt some publishers, who will wish to charge more for the next-gen games because they think they can get away with it, will release two separate versions (and if they're feeling kind, an "upgrade" charge) if the platform holder lets them get away with it.

I'm hoping both Sony and MS see how the lines between last-gen and the current-gen were so blurry last time, and just let players upgrade without penalty or upgrade fees as and when they're ready to. I think it's in the interests of everyone if the transition between each generation is as seamless as possible.

Xbox seems to go towards a full backwards compatibility, so I assume this also means that there will be cross-gen games akin to what the X does: the X downloads better assets, while the regular Xbox One gets the "worse" ones. I can see this work out on different generations of consoles as well: you buy one item, then be effectively able to play two versions of the game on two consoles. Hopefully this will be the case, I don't want to have to rebuy games anymore.

Very interested & excited to see how BC is handled going forward.

Would love a series of relatively high powered consoles with full BC to replace my PC. I miss the accessibility of consoles, but the lack of long-standing digital BC is a deal breaker.

I think MS will go with one SKU that will just install or download whatever is needed for the console or PC you are using. I'm not sure if they could 100% force this on publisher's though.

Sony, not a clue. Probably separate skus so that can keep selling remasters.

You'll still have branding for PS4/ps5 cross gen games, with the disc for the ps5 one just having the higher textures in it ready to go and install

Betty said:

Next gen is likely coming within the next 2 years, with 2020 being the year it's most expected.

GTA6 is at least 3 or more years out, no way in hell do I want Rockstar to limit their vision to last gen machines that many will have moved on from.

I get what you're saying with regards to current gen games getting a patch for next gen, but GTA6 is one I can see being exclusive to the new generation.

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No chance the next GTA will be next gen only.
The last few GTA games take about 5 yrs to make, so some form of development would of started in 2014 on the next GTA.
It makes zero business sense to switch over to next gen when the foundation of GTA Next will have started on current gen.
I dont think current gen would limit there vision.GTA5 is made on 360/ps3 tech and is arguably one of the best open world games this gen.

Admodieus said:

Back button is in the upper left corner of your browser. This is the first time we've had the opportunity for a seamless generation transition, so I find it a pretty interesting thought experiment.

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An experiment requires us to have some data about what the next generation will entail. We have no details so it's not an experiment. It's wild and baseless speculation. I'm interested in how it will work, yes, but until we have actual data, there is nothing to go off of.

like PS4 and Xbox One games work on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X

I'm also hoping for the "one SKU" approach to cross-gen games. Let me just buy an "Xbox" or "PlayStation" game that'll have extra bells and whistles when played on my new console. Buying the same game twice is silly even with a small "upgrade" fee.

Burdmayn said:

I'm also hoping for the "one SKU" approach to cross-gen games. Let me just buy an "Xbox" or "PlayStation" game that'll have extra bells and whistles when played on my new console. Buying the same game twice is silly even with a small "upgrade" fee.

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I can imagine the ruthless business killers at EA, TAKE 2, Activision etc screaming at this approach.

The same as last time likely even with bc probable for both

I doubt they would do 1 sku when they could offer 2 separate versions

Anthony Hopkins said:

I can imagine the ruthless business killers at EA, TAKE 2, Activision etc screaming at this approach.

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I can imagine the opposite with their focus on GaaS titles. Certainly they'd care more about keeping an active (and paying) playerbase than getting people to pay another $60 for the same game.

Publishers will absolutely want you to be paying money for a current gen version of the title rather than a BC version. If there is BC available, they will make a special edition version of the game and there won't be a patch for the older version.

I'd imagine that the next Xbox and Playstations will be backwards and forwards compatible to a point, at least, definitely with the Xbox -- it seems to be a huge priority for Microsoft -- and likely with the Playstation.

Taking the Xbox for example, I think every game on the Xbox One will work on whatever the new Xbox is. The hardware (controllers, etc) will also likely all work. Online play will work between the consoles. And at the start of the generation, many major games will support both, but then progressively there will be some soft stop where the majority of new games coming out will only work on the latest hardware, and then eventually, it'll be rare for a game to work on the new console and the old.

For the Playstation, I suspect it will because there's not a good technical reason why it can't anymore... Assuming most major architecture is going to be x86 going forward, and Microsoft has mostly set the baseline that consumers will expect it. That said, I don't think there's the same fan-driven momentum behind Sony's ecosystem for backwards/fowards compatibility, as there is with Microsoft. A lot of Playstation-only fans deride the backwards compatibility program on the Xbox in a weird, corporate-partisanship, but chide Microsoft that they can't release new games, so that's why they focus on backwards compatibility. Still, I expect Sony will follow Microsoft's lead here, much like they did with Xbox Live -> PSN, where Microsoft really staked their console (the Xbox) on being an online supporting console, went all in with online with the Xbox 360, and Sony was tentative but now they have mostly the same outlook on online functionality.

I can't predict Nintendo. My hunch is to say that they won't bother with any backwards/forwards compatibility in whatever the successor is to the Switch. But, I honestly don't know. Nintendo is the least predictable player in the videogame market.

Anthony Hopkins said:

I can imagine the ruthless business killers at EA, TAKE 2, Activision etc screaming at this approach.

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I think these publishers are already very well equipped at bleeding people dry but not with the $60 MSRP sale of a game, but all of the in game extras. EA pretty much gives their games away for free within a ~6 months of release, or at deep, deep discounts, because they know they'll make more money with in game transactions. EA makes more money on Madden Ultimate Team than they do on the retail sales of Madden, which has allowed them to basically give away Madden at the start of the NFL playoffs, or the week of the Super BOwl, and then they heavily promote Ultimate Team and make more money than they would have had they continued to sell it at a high price. I think Take2 is similar with the NBA 2K series as well.

Burdmayn said:

I can imagine the opposite with their focus on GaaS titles. Certainly they'd care more about keeping an active (and paying) playerbase than getting people to pay another $60 for the same game.

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Yeah but, what if they do the whole Gaas thing, AND charge you extra dollars to buy the upgraded version?

Gotta take advantage of double dippers.

Like how it works now?

I'm sure we will still get packaged Ps5 versions of PS4 games.

Some may just do downloadable updates and maybe some Xbox One + Xbox 360 style packaging but I'm sure it will be like how it is now

Burdmayn said:

I can imagine the opposite with their focus on GaaS titles. Certainly they'd care more about keeping an active (and paying) playerbase than getting people to pay another $60 for the same game.

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Both options would be the most profitable.

Anthony Hopkins said:

Both options would be the most profitable.

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Assuming you can convince your playerbase to do both, you are correct. That'd just be shitty for consumers and risky for publishers who want to keep people on a certain title.

I hope you don't have to double-dip. If you buy the game on PS4/Xbox One then you shouldn't have to buy again for the next-gen systems. Hopefully, you can just download a patch to get the PS5/next Xbox version.

FyreWulff said:

Just like they do on PC, it'll probably just be one SKU that upgrades/downgrades itself depending on your hardware.

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As we have no actual way to know, I would guess that it would be along these lines.

Anthony Hopkins said:

No chance the next GTA will be next gen only.
The last few GTA games take about 5 yrs to make, so some form of development would of started in 2014 on the next GTA.
It makes zero business sense to switch over to next gen when the foundation of GTA Next will have started on current gen.
I dont think current gen would limit there vision.GTA5 is made on 360/ps3 tech and is arguably one of the best open world games this gen.

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Nah. The Rockstar team that made GTA is making Red Dead 2. Last gen RDR was made by a different team which let them make GTA V. Don't expect 6 until atleast 2021

Burdmayn said:

Assuming you can convince your playerbase to do both, you are correct. That'd just be shitty for consumers and risky for publishers who want to keep people on a certain title.

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Which is what I said in a previous post.
If R* remade GTA6 for next gen the same way they did for GTA5 I would probably cave despite the BC version of GTA6 being really good on PS5/XBOX next.

Maneil99 said:

Nah. The Rockstar team that made GTA is making Red Dead 2. Last gen RDR was made by a different team which let them make GTA V. Don't expect 6 until atleast 2021

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If it comes in 2021, it will still come on current gen.