Publishers Not Offering Free Upgrades To Next-Gen Versions Are On The Wrong Side Of History
There's been a fair bit of pushback in the last few weeks against developers and publishers who have announced that they will be charging players to upgrade their games to next generation versions. Originally it was 2K Games, who locked the upgrade for NBA 2K21 behind a more expensive version of the game; Control got into some trouble, because the only way to upgrade that to a next gen version is to buy the Ultimate Edition. And, most recently, Activision has confirmed that only a more expensive, $70 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War will get the free next gen upgrade treatment.
Now, there are some people who defend these moves by these publishers – the basic argument goes that when free upgrades have never been a thing in any previous console generation, why are they suddenly expected to be a thing now? Expecting a free next gen version when you buy a current one, this line of thinking goes, is entitlement.
That is, of course, an incredibly flawed way of looking at it – because do you know what other things haven't ever been a thing before, but are now? Persistent microtransactions in your video games, associated with your profiles tied to your console account. If I am playing NBA 2K21 on my PS4, and spend a few hundred bucks on its pervasive microtransactions, and then I am expected to spend another $70 (thankfully still not a next-gen standard price, for now) – that's an excessive amount of fleecing of your customer base, even for the video games industry.
The basic point I am making here is that the whole "this has never happened before" argument is flawed and disingenuous, and making a comparison predicated on false grounds to begin with. Video games haven't been persistent microtransaction riddled "live services" in previous generation transitions necessitating cross-gen ports either. In the past, a new generation has meant new games – not the third straight generation of GTA Online.
The most incredible thing about this whole situation is that some of those game series charging players for the next gen upgrade are the ones that arguably have been controversial in terms of microtransactions. In terms of microtransactions, there is no series worse than NBA 2K (last year's version very literally advertised itself as a casino); in the shooter market, Call of Duty is unmatched when it comes to its monetization, with battle passes and microtransactions galore (mercifully, paid season passes have been dropped as of last year). For 2K Games and Activision to have the temerity to then charge extra on top of that is some galaxy brain thinking right there.
Control, of course, is not a game with exploitative monetization. What it is, however, is a game that barely works on current generation base consoles, with incredible slowdown, but a game that has a loyal and devoted fanbase, many of whom have presumably purchased its DLC. And all those loyal fans are now out of luck – this game that would actually benefit from a free next generation upgrade will not be getting one, and fans who have already spent money on the game plus its DLC will now need to repurchase the Ultimate Edition to get their next generation upgrade. Again, you have to hand it to 505 Games, because this shameless practice is honestly a sight to behold.
These games wouldn't have looked as bad as they do if there weren't other publishers offering next gen upgrades to their players for free, and if console manufacturers like Microsoft didn't have infrastructure such as Smart Delivery in place to facilitate that. CD Projekt RED typically has pro-consumer policies, so them offering free upgrades for Cyberpunk 2077 isn't much of a shock, but when a niche franchise like Yakuza, or publishers such as Ubisoft and EA (albeit not using the Smart Delivery framework in the latter's case, and using their own upgrade mechanism) can offer their players free upgrades, then really, this whole situation becomes recontextualized.
Even if there was any merit to the whole "this has never been a thing before" argument (which, to be clear, there isn't, but let's go with it for a bit), the fact of the matter is that multiple other big publishers are offering free upgrades to their customers anyway. Whether it is to inculcate goodwill or brand loyalty, or just because they think it's the best way to keep that microtransaction money flowing, their intentions are irrelevant. They are offering free upgrades, and in the face of some of the biggest publishers offering those for some of their biggest games, publishers such as Activision have made a conscious, active, deliberate choice to not do that. Which, it is their prerogative. It's their product, they will handle it however they want. But it's deliberate and a way to suck out more money from their consumers, plain and simple.
On the whole, however, I do think that Activision, 2K, 505, and whoever else decides to join them in the coming months, will be on the wrong side of history. Video games have become more about continuous ecosystems extending across hardware, and the games as a services movement (which these same publishers have spearheaded) has only hastened that transition. Much like with the mobile market, people have an expectation of compatibility, as long as it is within the same hardware family if nothing else. And slowly, excruciatingly, kicking and screaming, everyone will be dragged into this new paradigm eventually. Maybe it won't happen this generation, in fact, having holdouts as high profile as Call of Duty and NBA 2K ensures it won't. But eventually, come the next generation transition, these free upgrades will be commonplace, routine, and expected, and all publishers will have to offer them, even the ones not doing so right now. And that's great, because that is the pro-consumer march forward that we should all be supporting – rather than going through hoops to defend million- and billion-dollar corporations who don't care about you beyond your capacity to keep giving them your hard earned money.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.
Insider Dusk Golem – also known as AestheticGamer – has been quite active with leaks for a number of things for a long time now, and recently, he took to Twitter to drop brief but potentially huge leaks for several things in one go.
Let's start with the biggest first, with him saying that a PS5 event is currently planned for the first half of September. Previous reports had suggested that PS5 information would be coming in August end, but August is ending, and here we are. It seems plans may have been delayed (which has been a running theme with all companies this year), and with questions about the PS5's price and its exact release date heating up by the day, mid-September seems like the time where Sony pretty much have to talk about those things.
Speaking of the PS5, something else that's been in the rumour mill for pretty much the entirety of 2020 is an alleged Silent Hill reboot that is being developed internally at Sony thanks to a partnership with Konami, and will be coming exclusively to the PS5. Despite a number of leaks and no shortage of speculation, this game has yet to be revealed, but Dusk Golem says in his tweet that it is still very much in development.
Interestingly enough, he also talks about Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, saying that a new game is being made for the Nintendo Switch, and will be revealed "soon" (perhaps at that fabled mid-September Nintendo Direct?). This might fall in line with comments by Capcom earlier this year about a new Monster Hunter game meant for younger audiences. Interestingly enough, Dusk Golem says this new entry in the series is being made using a modified, Switch-compatible version of the RE Engine, which is the engine Capcom have used for Resident Evil 7, the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes, Devil May Cry 5, and the upcoming Resident Evil Village.
Something else the insider talks about is a new Shenmue-related announcement that is coming in the next couple of weeks, though he clarifies that it's not Shenmue 4, describing it as "smaller than Shenmue 4 but bigger than a novel series" and something that's "more for people who care about Shenmue's story."
That's a lot of leaks in a single series of tweets, and definitely lots to take in. As is the case with all unverified info coming from insiders, it's best to take this with a grain of salt for now, but most (if not all) things mentioned here are supposedly being revealed soon, so we should know one way or another not long from now.
We'll keep you updated either way, so stay tuned.
In other news, RE8 will most likely be great, RE4 is in a bit of a worrying position right now, Silent Hill is still in dev, something Shenmue related will be revealed in 1-2 weeks, a PS5 event first half of September, Monster Hunter Switch is being revealed soon, have a good day
— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) August 28, 2020
I've shared this before, but the Shenmue thing is smaller than Shenmue 4 but bigger than a novel series. I believe it'll be revealed late next week, but not positive. To clarify, it's more for people who care about Shenmue's story.
— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) August 29, 2020
Assassin's Creed Valhalla Gets Fantastical With Mythical Beasts Gameplay
The Assassin's Creed franchise has always relied on its historical settings. The upcoming game in the series, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, will be no different as you explore the Viking era through the lens of either a male or female version of a mighty warrior named Eivor. But as the franchise has evolved, it's become more open to exploring its fantastical side, with Origins and Odyssey both using mystical creatures and figures in its narrative. It seems Valhalla will be doing that, too, although a tad more grounded in nature.
During the Future Games Show, we got a highlight of the mystical beasts gameplay you'll be experiencing in Valhalla. The enemies in question aren't quite as bold as the Greek gods of Odyssey, for instance, but you'll fight a massive wolf-like creature, as well as three sisters that seem to have fantastical abilities (though they are sneaky there since said abilities could be due to hallucinogens), and six warriors who are followers of a legendary Viking warrior that came to the land before you. These are decidedly more grounded than the mystical beasts we ended up fighting in the last game, but of course, this could just be a taste. And there's always the DLC for things to get truly wild.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla will release November 17th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC and Stadia. We got a chance to talk to the game's Narrative Director about its story, quests, and so much more you can read about through here.
NBA 2K21 Highlights MyCareer Story And New Beach Neighborhood In Latest Trailer
The NBA was one of the first sport leagues to make something of a real life comeback, which has not…quite gone as planned due to a lot of circumstances. But the virtual court is going to be wide open at the beginning of next month, as always, with NBA 2K21. The annual sports title isn't going to miss a year, and today we got a look at both the story and the new Neighborhood you'll explore.
The trailer you can see below, and shows what the story mode will be like this year. Once again you'll follow a basketball player as he follows his dream from High School to College to the big leagues of the NBA. We also get to see the newest Neigherhood, where you'll want to bring your best MyCareer character. This year you'll need to bring the sunscreen as it'll be beach-themed. Check it out below.
NBA 2K21 will release on September 4th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC and Stadia. You can see a video of those versions in action here. The game will also come to PS5 and Xbox Series X at a later date. 2K21 will also mix up your MyTeam mode a bit this year, and you can read more about that through here.
The Medium Devs Talk Themes, Inspirations, And The Maw In Behind-The-Scenes Footage
While we will be getting next generation consoles, we won't be getting a lot of next gen only experiences. By and and large, games will be cross generational for a lot of the first year, but one game that is only for the new consoles is The Medium. It was one of the earliest next generation titles to be revealed, and one of the first we'll get our hands on. And today we got a look at behind the scenes. Also, yeah, Troy Baker is here, too.
Both videos come to us via IGN. The first is a little behind the scenes piece of the developers talking about the game's themes. While The Medium is obviously a horror game, it isn't necessarily out to just scare you, as they say a lot of the game's theme come to seeing two sides of a conflict, which mirrors its unique dual world gameplay. They also talk about some of the influences, such as Silent Hill which has been mentioned before, as well as some art and artists.
The second video is an interview with Troy Baker. The voice of gaming, as he must be known by at this point, is revealed to be in the game as an entity called The Maw. In his video he talks about how he became involved with the project, as well as his thoughts on the game and the creature he'll be playing. We only manage to see a very brief, but creepy, look at The Maw near the end.
The Medium is set to launch alongside the Xbox Series X this holiday season, as well as PC. Bloober Team will also launch Observer: System Redux for both PS5 and Xbox Series X around the same time frame, and you can read more about that game through here.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Highlights Asia And The Middle East In Gorgeous New Trailer
Microsoft Flight Simulator has returned to fly high here in 2020, and both, what flights you can have. The level of graphical prowess and detail is nothing short of incredible. Many people have used the game to fly over various locations, and now we get a highlight of those in the Asian and Middle Eastern regions.
The trailer is below, and while it's a bit much to harp on how something looks, it is rather amazing to see. You can simply glide over many different cities and landmarks, and you'd almost think you were there in the flesh yourself. There was a similar trailer around launch that highlighted Oceania, which you can see through here.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available now via PC, with the game also announced to come to Xbox consoles at some unspecified time. The game is also scheduled to have its first major patch, which you can read about through here.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Also Coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC
During the recent Future Games Show stream, Daedalic Entertainment announced that The Lords of the Rings: Gollum would also be coming to current-gen platforms. That means Xbox One, PS4 and Switch players get play as the grubby Gollum alongside those on Xbox Series X, PS5 and PC. Check out the presentation below with the developer outlining its goals with the game.
Along with a brief look at the visuals and gameplay, we can see the dialogues representing Gollum's inner conflict. Currently a work-in-progress, there are choices for the Smeagol and Gollum personalities, represented as green and red, respectively. Making a choice is a mini-game of sorts but there may be an unexpected outcome as well.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is currently slated to release in 2021. In a recent interview, the development team described the game as a stealth title with vertical parkour that echoed the likes of Prince of Persia. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay en route to its official release.
Age of Empire 3: Definitive Edition Gameplay Interview Highlights Updated Visuals, Changes
Xbox Game Studios finally unveiled Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition during Gamescom Opening Night Live after months of speculation. Developed by Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires, it's essentially an updated version of the RTS classic. A new gameplay interview by IGN with World's Edge creative Adam Isgreen, Tantalus director of development Joss Ellis and Forgotten Empires co-founder Bert Beeckman highlights all the new features that can be expected.
Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition encompasses all of the content released for the game with 14 different civilizations to play with. Along with 4K visuals and a remastered soundtrack, there are also two new modes – Historical Battles and challenge missions called The Art of War. Two new civilizations have also been added with the Inca and Swedes.
Online multiplayer also sees some updates with cross network play, spectator modes, mod support and much more. Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition releases on October 15th for PC. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the coming weeks.
Project CARS 3 is Now Available, Launch Trailer Released
Slightly Mad Studios' Project CARS 3 is now available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Unlike previous games, this title focuses more on arcade-style racing and being more approachable for new players. Check out the launch trailer below which contains some of the action that players can indulge in.
Billed as a spiritual successor to Need for Speed: Shift, Project CARS 3 does away with tire wear, pit stops and fuel depletion for a more fast-paced experience. There are over 200 cars to race on more than 140 circuits across the world. Seasonal weather and 24-hour cycles add more variety to each harrowing race.
Career Mode has also seen some changes and is now about building up your reputation and rising through the ranks. Players will earn XP and currency to unlock more cars which can be upgraded using parts. There's also a virtual driver avatar with cosmetic customization. More updates and content are likely to be added in the coming months so stay tuned.
10 Things You Need To Know About Black Myth: Wukong
Until very recently, Black Myth: Wukong wasn't a game that many people were talking about (or even know about), but it has caught the attention of many people over the last couple of weeks. Developer Game Science released the game's gameplay reveal trailer, and everyone seems to be taken aback by just how good it looks. If you're curious to learn more about it, here, we've compiled all the info you need to know on the game, its developer, its launch plans, and more.
THE PREMISE
Black Myth: Wukong is based on the popular Chinese classic Journey to the West. It certainly isn't the first story to be inspired by it – Dragon Ball owes a lot to it, while Ninja Theory's 2010 game Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was based on it as well – but Black Myth's world and setting seem particularly interesting. There seems to be a lot of focus on the mythological and fantastic elements of the story, which is clearly abundant in all the magical combat and creatures we've seen in its gameplay video.
THE PROTAGONIST
For those who don't know, Journey to the West sees Buddhist monk Sun Wukong travelling to the Western areas of Asia, and that's who we will be playing as in Black Myth as well. Also known as the Monkey King, Wukong is blessed with countless fantastical abilities in book, from magical spells and the ability to transform into various creatures to even weather manipulation. Some of these were seen in Black Myth's gameplay reveal trailer as well, so here's hoping all of those find their way into the game.
COMBAT
The one aspect of Black Myth: Wukong that has stood out to most people more than anything else – perhaps with the exception of its stunning visual fidelity – is the combat. Developers Game Science are describing the game as an action-adventure RPG with inspiration drawn from the likes of Dark Souls and God of War- all of that is clear to see, but the combat here looks much faster and frantic. Players are equipped with an iron staff – which can apparently change its size on command – while magical abilities also figure into the combat, and changing stances on the fly to tackle different threats will also seemingly be an important mechanic. On the more defensive side of things, it seems dodging and blocking enemy attacks is key.
ABILITIES
Something that Black Myth: Wukong seems to be putting a lot of emphasis on is the variety of abilities players will have access to in and out of combat. Wukong's iron staff can change its size, as we mentioned, while players can also infuse it with magic for elemental attacks. Meanwhile, abilities serve defensive purposes as well. For instance, in the gameplay reveal trailer, we can see Wukong furiously spinning his staff to block projectile attacks from an enemy as he advances in its direction. According to Niko Partners senior analyst Daniel Ahmad – who has translated quite a few of the developer's interviews over on Twitter – there will be 72 different abilities in the game.
TRAVERSAL
Combat seems to be the star of the show from what we've seen of Black Myth: Wukong, but exploration of what look like very detailed environments also looks to be an important part of the gameplay. Interestingly enough, it seems the protagonist's unique abilities will have an impact here as well. We've mentioned earlier that Wukong can transform into various animals and creatures, and in the gameplay reveal, we see the player travelling through environments as a cicada. Towards the end of the gameplay trailer, we can also see Wukong flying around the world on top of a cloud, all of which would suggest that there will be various methods of traversal in the game.
ENEMIES
It also looks like there's going to be a pretty healthy variety of enemies in the game. During the course of the 13 minute-long gameplay trailer, we can see Wukong fighting against everything from tigers to foxes to monkeys, and at times even entire armies all by his lonesome. Given the fact that this was just a small slice of the game, we can probably assume (or hope, at least), that there will be lots of enemy variety in the game.
BOSSES
Of course, what's impressed us even more than the variety of enemies shown in the gameplay demo is the variety of bosses. Set piece boss battles against formidable foes is seemingly going to be a crucial piece of the puzzle in Black Myth: Wukong, and we're already excited about what the glimpses we got at some of these big bads in the gameplay trailer. From a giant spider to a giant wolf, it seems the bosses in Black Myth: Wukong are looking to strike the perfect balance between size, impressive visual design, and variety.
DEVELOPER
We've mentioned Game Science a couple of times so far, but who exactly are they? You would be forgiven for not knowing much about them. Founded in 2014 by several former Tencent developers, the Chinese studio has been making games for a while, but Black Myth: Wukong is their first major AAA production. Currently, the developer is operating with a pretty small team of about 40 developers, but they're looking to expand as they continue working on their ambitious new project.
LAUNCH
Black Myth: Wukong is in the middle of development, and clearly, it's looking rather impressive based on what Game Science have shown of it so far- but when can we expect to play it? Well, there's no firm release date for the game yet. The developers have said they don't want to take extraordinarily long to wrap up development, but they've also made it clear that they will only release the game once it's properly done. As for the platforms, it's supposed to launch on PC and consoles- which consoles it will release for hasn't been specified, but seeing as this probably won't be out for at least a couple of years, the PS5 and Xbox Series X seem like a pretty safe bet. It also remains to be seen whether the game will see a simultaneous worldwide release, though given the interest it has generated since reveal, hopefully that's something Game Science will be working toward.
FUTURE PLANS
Interestingly enough, it seems like the launch of Black Myth: Wukong – whenever that comes – isn't going to be the end of the road for Game Science. The developers have said that they might release DLC for it following its release, while they also mention on their FAQ page that they've already started mapping out future instalments in the Black Myth series. Of course, whether or not they can get to that point depends on whether or not Black Myth: Wukong will be successful, but it's interesting that they've already started planning ahead for possible sequels.