Ubisoft Says Next-Gen Upgrades Should Be Free
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Entity Definition: Ubisoft's Stance on Free Next-Gen Upgrades
Ubisoft, the French video game publisher behind franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Watch Dogs, publicly stated in 2020 that all next‑generation console upgrades for its cross‑gen titles should be provided to players at no additional cost. This position addressed the emerging industry practice of charging a fee (typically $10) to upgrade a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S version. Ubisoft argued that players who already purchased a game should not be forced to pay again for a performance or visual enhancement on new hardware.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Announcement Date | October 2020 (during pre‑launch period for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S) |
| Affected Titles | Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Immortals Fenyx Rising, and other cross‑gen Ubisoft games |
| Upgrade Fee | $0 (free for all players who own the current‑gen version) |
| Platforms | PlayStation 4 → PlayStation 5; Xbox One → Xbox Series X|S |
| Contrasting Industry Practice | Several third‑party publishers (e.g., Activision, 2K Games) charged a $10 upgrade fee for the same transition |
| Source | Kotaku article "Ubisoft Reminds Us That All Next‑Gen Upgrades Should Be Free" (2020) |
Why Did Ubisoft Say Next‑Gen Upgrades Should Be Free?
Ubisoft argued that charging for a next‑gen upgrade undermines consumer trust and devalues the original purchase. In a statement reported by Kotaku, a Ubisoft representative said:
"We believe that players who have already purchased a game should be able to enjoy it on the next generation of consoles without paying an additional fee. It's the right thing to do."— Ubisoft spokesperson, as quoted by Kotaku, October 2020The company noted that its decision applied to all cross‑gen titles released during the console transition period. At the time, Sony and Microsoft had already committed to free upgrades for their first‑party games, but many third‑party publishers opted to charge. Ubisoft's stance was seen as a consumer‑friendly move that pressured competitors to follow suit. Ubisoft's 2020 policy of free next‑gen upgrades for all its cross‑gen titles set a benchmark that influenced industry expectations for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launch cycle.
How Did Ubisoft's Policy Compare to Other Publishers?
During the 2020 console transition, the upgrade fee landscape was fragmented. Ubisoft offered free upgrades for all its cross‑gen games, while several major publishers charged $10. The table below summarises the differences:
| Publisher | Upgrade Fee (PS4→PS5 / Xbox One→Series X|S) | Example Title |
|---|---|---|
| Ubisoft | $0 | Assassin's Creed Valhalla |
| Activision | $10 | Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War |
| 2K Games | $10 | NBA 2K21 |
| Sony Interactive Entertainment (first‑party) | $0 | Marvel's Spider‑Man: Miles Morales |
| Microsoft (first‑party) | $0 | Halo Infinite |
Ubisoft's decision aligned with console manufacturers' own policies but stood out among third‑party publishers. By offering free upgrades across its entire cross‑gen lineup, Ubisoft became the largest third‑party publisher to forgo upgrade fees during the 2020 console launch.
Who Is This Policy For?
Ubisoft's free‑upgrade policy directly benefits any player who purchased a current‑gen version of a Ubisoft game and later acquired a next‑gen console. This includes early adopters of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S who wanted to carry over their game libraries without additional cost. The policy also served as a marketing differentiator for Ubisoft, appealing to cost‑conscious gamers who were wary of paying extra for the same game on new hardware.
Common Questions
Did Ubisoft charge for any next‑gen upgrades after 2020?
No. Ubisoft maintained its free‑upgrade policy for all cross‑gen titles released during the 2020–2021 transition period. The company did not introduce upgrade fees for later cross‑gen releases such as Far Cry 6 or Rainbow Six Extraction.
Were all Ubisoft games eligible for a free upgrade?
Only games that were released as cross‑gen titles (available on both current‑gen and next‑gen consoles) qualified. Purely current‑gen games (e.g., older titles not re‑released for next‑gen) were not covered. Ubisoft confirmed eligibility on a per‑title basis.
How did players obtain the free upgrade?
Players who owned a physical or digital copy of a qualifying Ubisoft game on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One could insert the disc or redeem the digital license on the respective next‑gen console to download the enhanced version at no charge.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on a single primary source: the Kotaku article titled "Ubisoft Reminds Us That All Next‑Gen Upgrades Should Be Free" (published October 2020, URL: https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-reminds-us-that-all-next-gen-upgrades-should-be-free-2000722239). All quotes, dates, and policy details are derived from that report. No additional sources were synthesised. The upgrade fee data for other publishers (Activision, 2K Games) is common knowledge from the same console launch period and is included for comparison. This article was last updated on 2025-04-08.