As expected, the exceedingly popular, mind-bending sci-fi hit Control is getting an Ultimate Edition. These post-launch releases historically take the original game and re-release them with all of the downloadable content that has debuted since launch, sometimes including other extras such as unique cosmetic items or in-game currency. These special versions are supposed to be a way for those that may have missed the original launch to be able to jump in and see everything that the earlier audiences have enjoyed since the game’s release.
This Ultimate Edition, however, is toeing a very dangerous line. According to Control publisher 505 Games, the Ultimate Edition will give players free access to the upgraded version of the game to be released with next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. On the Ultimate Edition’s FAQ page, though, it is stated “The free upgrade path to Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 version of Control is only available for Control Ultimate Edition.”
No real information from 505 Games is given about this upgrade to next-gen on the Ultimate Edition fact sheet, only that players of the original release will not have access to the free upgrade path. Xbox has a long history of a strong backwards compatibility library, but this cross in generations seems to have thrown a wrench in that. Unless players pay up for this Ultimate Edition or follow through with a potentially unannounced paid upgrade path, those selling their old consoles to pay for new ones will lose access to the game. While less information has come out about backward compatibility on the PlayStation 5, the outcome will likely be the same.
Why Control's Upgrade Exclusivity Is Bad
This philosophy of requiring extra payment for the next-gen upgrade flies directly in the face of what Microsoft customers especially have come to expect. Smart Delivery, access to the best version of the game no matter the platform, has been a core feature of the Xbox Series X marketing since its debut at The Game Awards in 2019. With Smart Delivery, if a player buys a game on the Xbox One, and then buys a Series X, that game and all of its progress can be transferred to the new console along with any performance enhancements provided by the upgraded hardware, with no enhanced DLC purchase necessary. Other third-party developers have bought into this as well. Ubisoft has announced Smart Delivery for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla as well as CD Projekt Red for the highly-anticipated Cyberpunk 2077.
505 Games is not the first publisher to go this paid upgrade route, either. With the announcement of NBA 2K21, publisher 2K Games revealed that access to the next-gen version of their game was going to cost players as well. On top of the increased $70 price point for the base game, players would need to opt for the $100 Mamba Forever Edition to secure their “free” upgrade. Granted, the upgraded version of 2K21 also comes with an enhanced collection of cosmetics and an exclusive Kobe Bryant Digital Collection, but locking the next-gen upgrade to the premier version of the release still feels predatory.
Meanwhile, EA Games has taken somewhat of a middle road. Dubbed the Dual Entitlement program, owners of Madden 21 on current-generation consoles will be able to upgrade their game to the next generation for free, but only in a designated window of time. This offer expires the day of release for Madden 21, which will likely be within a matter of months of the next-gen console release dates.
As with previous generational transitions, console players are left trying to figure out which games they will continue to be able to play on next-gen versus those that will remain on the current generation or are locked behind some sort of paywall. It’s surprising that Control, a game that has seen a great deal of fan support and excitement, especially around their newly announced AWE expansion, has opted to not reward long-time fans with the free upgrade.
Source: 505 Games