Cyberpunk 2077 Will Take Advantage of Xbox Series X Smart Delivery
Earlier today, Microsoft announced a major new offering for the upcoming Xbox Series X; that of Smart Delivery. Despite being a nominally pro-consumer system, several major publishers have already announced that they will support Smart Delivery, including CD Projekt Red. The Polish publisher announced two months ago that gamers would get free access to the Xbox Series X version of Cyberpunk 2077 if they owned it on Xbox One. Now we know that this is because of Smart Delivery.
What Smart Delivery Means for Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox Series X
Smart Delivery is essentially a program designed to prevent gamers from being forced to buy two versions of a new game. If a game is cross-generation (i.e. launching on both the Xbox One and Xbox Series X), and its publisher has signed up to the program, Smart Delivery will give you free access to the Xbox Series X version of the game if you already own the Xbox One version.
With the launch of the new console approaching, there are going to be plenty of games launching on both platforms; Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, for example. Smart Delivery will mean that, if you buy Cyberpunk 2077 on Xbox One when it launches, you can then get the Xbox Series X one for free as and when you get your hands on the new console. The delay to Cyberpunk 2077’s release date had caused many to express concerns about the proximity to the upcoming next-gen console release. Indeed, it could actually harm the game’s sales at launch if many choose to wait for the next-gen version. Smart Delivery removes that problem from the equation.
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of 13 major titles which Xbox announced today would support Smart Delivery. Others include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Chorus, DiRT 5, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. Notably, this includes four major publishers; CD Projekt Red, Ubisoft, Sega, and Bandai Namco. EA appears to be the exception, at least for now. The publisher is offering its own version of a free upgrade for Madden NFL 21. However, there are strict dates which players must purchase the game between in order to qualify for the upgrade. It remains to be seen whether they will adopt Smart Delivery for any other titles.