You’ll have to hang onto your PS4 or Xbox One disc
EA is taking its own particular approach to free next-gen game upgrades, andFIFA 21,much likeMadden NFL 21, is using the Dual Entitlement system. In short: if you buy the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version of these games, you’ll be able to get the PS5 or Xbox Series X counterpart at no extra cost.
Strings are attached, of course. And the offer won’t stick around forever.
“If you purchaseFIFA 21for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you’ll be able to upgrade your copy once you have the corresponding next-generation console (PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, or Xbox One to Xbox Series X) at no extra cost by downloading it to your consoleup until the launch ofFIFA 22.”
Another caveat to contend with: the PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrade process is smoother if you’re consideringdigital. The Dual Entitlement will more or less just work – you can “download and playFIFA 21from the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store at no extra cost once it releases later this year.”
“If you buy aphysicalcopy ofFIFA 21[on PS4 or Xbox One], you’ll need the disc to be inserted into your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X to be able to launchFIFA 21on those consoles. If you intend to buy a disc-less console, you will need to purchaseFIFA 21digitally to take advantage of the Dual Entitlement offer as physical discs cannot currently be used to upgrade to disc-less consoles.”
What about cross-gen saves? “Any progress you make inFIFA 21Ultimate Team and VOLTA FOOTBALL will transfer from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 and back, or Xbox One to Xbox Series X and back. Progress within all other modes including Online Seasons, Co-Op Seasons, Career Mode, Pro Clubs, etc. will be specific to the console you are playing on and won’t transfer between consoles.”
I’m not going to take ’em up on this offer – I saw the obligatory next-gen player sweat atEA Play Live, and that’s the extent of my interest inFIFA 21– but I do think it’s interesting to see how companies are handling the transition to a new console generation. I expect things to get messy and convoluted.
