Electronic Arts Hints At Cross-Gen Upgrades For Published Titles For New Consoles In Latest Earnings Call

As we continue to inch closer to the next wave of console hardware this coming holiday season, different aspects of the new units from both Microsoft and Sony are expected to unravel along the way. One being the ability to continue playing already purchased titles on the new consoles which as of yet is being pioneered by Microsoft with Smart Delivery. Although both platforms will support backwards compatibility to some extent, Microsoft’s new initiative tends to the consumer directly without requiring to buy an updated version for the new system.

Instead, users who own games – for instance Cyberpunk 2077 – via Xbox One can install a free update on the upcoming Xbox Series X and play the game to the new standards on the newer machine. Alongside CD Projekt Red’s upcoming title, Infinity Ward has also recently tossed the idea of cross-generation support for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s Warzone as well.

Now, publisher Electronic Arts has shared to be dabbling in the efforts as well according to the latest Earnings Call for the company. During the latter segments of the Prepared Remarks provided by the firm, Electronic Arts reveals to be pursuing a task to gift a ‘free update’ for upcoming projects for the next generation of systems.

Note that this year the phasing includes the effect of revenue recognition from the games we are launching for the current generation of consoles that can also be upgraded for free for the next generation.

Blake Jorgenson, Electronic Arts CFO & COO

Taken from the official document, this is the first that the firm has brushed upon the idea for cross-generation buying regarding both Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. Even more, this is also another first that directly addresses the same support to Sony’s approaching platform as well since we are already familiar with Microsoft’s in-house initiative.

Provided by the current circulated popularity from Electronic Arts’ lineup, it is expected that projects such as Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends & Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order alongside the myriad of EA Sports titles to be supported when the new consoles ship later this year. However, this is only speculation since nothing has been confirmed as of yet, so take the previous statement as conjecture until properly addressed.

What games do you want to be supported for the newer consoles?

Source: Electronic Arts