THQ Nordic has officially brought the first entry in the legendary action-adventure series back to modern consoles with the release of Darksiders: Warmastered Edition. While the launch brings the title to both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, a significant discrepancy in upgrade paths has left PlayStation players feeling a bit short-changed compared to their Xbox counterparts.
The Darksiders Warmastered Upgrade Controversy
The core issue lies in how players transition from previous generations to current hardware. If you are an Xbox user who already owns the original version of Darksiders on Xbox One, you are in luck: the upgrade is entirely free. This enhanced version provides native 4K rendering, a smooth 60fps gameplay experience, and a brand-new Photo Mode.
However, PlayStation 5 players face a different reality. If you wish to upgrade your existing PS4 version of the game to the Warmastered Edition on PS5, it will cost you an additional $10. This price tag has drawn criticism, as many developers have opted to provide similar resolution and frame rate bumps to their titles at no extra cost during this console generation.
Why Xbox Players Get The Deal For Free
The difference in pricing boils down to how Microsoft handles generational transitions through its ecosystem. Most Xbox games with available upgrade paths are included for free via the Smart Delivery system.
Key features of the Xbox Smart Delivery system include:
- Automatic Optimization: Ensures you always play the best version of a game you own.
- Seamless Transitions: Automatically provides current-gen versions when moving from Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S.
- Cost Efficiency: Eliminates the need for players to repurchase titles they have already invested in.
While the Darksiders: Warmastered Edition offers technical improvements like higher resolution and a new Photo Mode, the lack of a free upgrade path on PS5 remains a point of contention for fans looking to revisit the series on next-gen hardware.
