Attention Madden fans: The Madden NFL 23 Standard Edition will not include a free PS5 or Xbox Series X|S upgrade.
If you choose the standard version of Madden 23 on PS4 or Xbox One, you will not be able to upgrade to its PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version later. According to an EA blog post (Opens in a new tab), you'll need to purchase the game a second time to get your hands on the next-gen version.
Only those who purchase the Madden NFL 23 All Madden Edition will be eligible for a free next-gen upgrade, as part of EA's Dual Entitlement program. But this special edition is $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149.95. That's a lot compared to the $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.95 price of the standard version on PS4 and Xbox One.
keep up the pace
Madden 23's pricing structure matches what we saw last year with the launch of FIFA 22. Those who bought the standard edition of EA's flagship sports game were unable to upgrade to next-gen consoles and instead had to rely on the expensive FIFA 22. Ultimate Edition to play on both generations of hardware.
This is far from the norm among video game publishers. Many next-gen upgrades are offered for free or sold for a nominal fee. Few publishers force gamers to buy an entirely new copy of a game they already own, just to jump from one console generation to the next.
Ubisoft released free next-gen upgrades for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, and Watch Dogs: Legion when the new consoles launched in 2020. Activision is offering a cross-gen version of Call of Duty: Vanguard for $10/€10/AU €10 extra, and Elden Ring also includes a free upgrade. When the native versions of PS5 and Xbox Series X | S of Cyberpunk 2077 was released earlier this year, the update was offered to all players in a free automatic update.
However, it's not uncommon for EA to offer free next-gen upgrades. FIFA 21 included a free PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrade right out of the box. Similarly, the next-gen upgrade for Battlefield 2042 was initially only offered to those who purchased the Gold Edition of the game, but a free upgrade was later offered to anyone who owned a standard shooter Digital Edition.
Don't expect a similar story with Madden 23, though. As one of EA's premier sports games, it will continue to attract players despite high upgrade costs. That's what EA is counting on.