As the current console generation comes to a close, multiple studios have confirmed certain titles will be usable on Sony's PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X for free if players own them on PS4 and Xbox One. Bungie's Destiny 2 is one name with free next-generation upgrades planned as the developers have announced expansions through 2022, and today it was confirmed that Crystal Dynamics' Marvel's Avengers will offer free upgrades to the PS5.
This news comes through a PlayStation Blog post published by Crystal Dynamics' Chief Technology Officer Gary Snethen discussing how the team is planning to push its proprietary game engine "to its limits" on the PS5. At the end of the post he says that if players upgrade consoles, they "get the PS5 version of the game with all its enhancements free of charge" whether they have a digital or physical copy of Marvel's Avengers.
Enhancements to the game will include performance and graphical upgrades, such as texture resolution and ambient occlusion, that way developers can put "every ounce of power" into making the highest image quality possible with targeted 60 FPS and 4K resolution. The game will also have faster loading times due to the console's SSD and make use of the DualSense controller's haptic feedback, according to Snethen.
The PlayStation Blog post is full of images taken using Marvel's Avengers' higher graphical capabilities, and it adds that Crystal Dynamics wants to make it easy for players to enjoy the additional features of the PS5. Snethen's distinction between digital and physical copies of the game is important, as Sony confirmed there will be two versions of the console during its "Future of Gaming" livestream event earlier this month.
As exciting as this free upgrade confirmation must be for prospective fans, Marvel's Avengers has run into marketing issues. Crystal Dynamics received backlash for a controversial Tweet depicting a defaced statue of Captain America with police drones as Black Lives Matter protests continue around the world, many of which have been tearing down statues of racist figures.
That said, developers have confirmed they are looking to incorporate a diverse range of heroes to help "normalize representation," including disabled character Cerise. Marvel fans can look forward to playing these characters come the game's launch in September, and again when the PlayStation 5 comes out.
Marvel's Avengers releases on September 4 for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
Source: PlayStation Blog