Demystifying Cross Gen vs Standard Edition Video Games: A Next-Gen Gamer‘s Guide

As a fellow tech and gaming enthusiast, I‘m sure you‘ve wondered about the differences between the cross gen and standard editions of games releasing on the latest generation of consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

There‘s a lot of confusion around which version to buy and what the benefits of cross gen are. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll use my industry knowledge and data I‘ve compiled to cut through the noise and provide everything you need to know to decide which edition is right for you!

Cross Gen – The Next-Gen Gamer‘s Choice

First, what exactly is a cross gen edition? Simply put, it includes access to the game on both the previous and current generation of consoles within the same family.

For example on PlayStation, the cross gen edition gets you the PS4 and PS5 versions. On Xbox, it includes the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions.

Based on my experience gaming extensively on both last-gen and new consoles, I strongly recommend the cross gen edition for most players, especially if you plan to upgrade to next-gen hardware at any point.

Here‘s why cross gen is the best choice for forward-thinking gamers:

1. Freedom to Upgrade at Your Own Pace

The biggest benefit cross gen provides is the flexibility to upgrade your console when you want. You don‘t need to feel pressured to rush out and buy an expensive PS5 or Xbox Series X right away.

With cross gen, you can keep enjoying the game on your PS4 or Xbox One, then seamlessly transition to the improved next-gen version later when you do get a new console. It lets you upgrade on your own timeline.

And your progress carries over too – cross gen means never starting over or losing your saves!

2. Access to Cutting-Edge Next-Gen Features

You‘ve probably heard about all the amazing next-gen features in these new games, including:

• Higher frame rates up to 120fps for super smooth gameplay.
• Faster load times thanks to the SSD in new consoles.
• Higher 4K and dynamic 4K resolution for crisper visuals.
• Enhanced ray tracing for more realistic lighting and reflections.
• 3D spatial audio for immersive surround sound.

Well, buying the cross gen edition guarantees you‘ll get to experience all these enhancements once you do get a PS5 or Xbox Series X. Don‘t miss out on the latesttech!

3. Never Get Left Behind Your Friends

For online multiplayer games, cross gen means you can play with all your friends even if some upgrade to new consoles. The player base isn‘t fragmented.

Imagine never being able to squad up again with your buddies who got a PS5 just because you‘re still on PS4. That won‘t happen with cross gen editions thanks to cross-play across generations.

4. Game Share with Family on Xbox

This is an exclusive perk for Xbox players. Microsoft allows cross gen digital games to be shared with any family member across both Xbox One and Series X thanks to their home console game sharing.

So buying one cross gen digital copy lets your whole family play together on both console generations thanks to home sharing – a great extra benefit!

5. It‘s a Small Price for Future Proofing

At the end of the day, the cross gen edition is your insurance policy if you ever decide to upgrade to new hardware down the road.

For only $10 more than the standard edition, it guarantees you‘ll never get left behind the technological curve and renders your purchase future proof. Well worth the peace of mind!

The Drawbacks of Choosing Standard Edition

Now you understand why cross gen is so advantageous. So what are you potentially missing out on by cheaping out and going for the standard edition instead?

1. Forced to Re-Buy the Game to Upgrade

The standard edition locks you into a single generation of console, either the old or new one depending on which you buy.

That means once you do upgrade your hardware, you‘ll have to repurchase the full game in order to play it on your new console. No free next-gen upgrade path.

2. Stuck Without Key Next-Gen Features

By limiting yourself to the previous generation standard edition, you won‘t be able to experience any of the new cutting-edge features I outlined earlier like 4K resolution, 120fps, ray tracing, 3D audio, and faster loading.

Sure you‘ll save $10 now, but at the cost of missing out on a lot of innovation that drastically improves gameplay experiences on new consoles!

3. Multiplayer Community Fragmentation

For online games, opting for the standard edition on for example PS4 means you‘ll only be able to play with others on PS4.

You won‘t be able to squad up with any friends who upgrade to PS5 and get the next-gen version. The player base is fragmented across console generations.

4. No Xbox Series X|S Optimizations

On Xbox consoles, standard editions do not support Smart Delivery. This technology automatically provides you with the optimized version of the game for your console generation.

So even if you get an Xbox Series X, you‘ll still have the Xbox One version without any next-gen enhancements. A real missed opportunity!

5. Can‘t Game Share on Xbox

And without the entitlements included in cross gen editions, standard editions don‘t allow home console game sharing between generations either.

Your family members on Xbox Series X|S won‘t be able to access or play your Xbox One standard edition digital purchase. Their loss!

Should All Games Offer Cross Gen Editions?

Ideally yes, all new major releases should offer gamers the choice between standard and cross gen. However, it‘s ultimately up to each game‘s publisher. Here are a few notes on current cross gen availability:

• Annual franchises like Call of Duty and FIFA now provide cross gen bundles.
• Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla had cross gen, but older entries didn‘t.
• NBA 2K23 has cross gen, but 2K22 surprisingly didn‘t.
• Some games like Gotham Knights haven‘t announced any cross gen edition.

My advice is to always double check if cross gen is an option for any game you intend to buy at launch. It‘s not guaranteed, but highly recommended if you want to future proof your purchase.

How Much More Does Cross Gen Cost?

You‘re probably wondering how much more you‘ll pay for the cross gen edition. Based on retail pricing across platforms, the difference is:

• Standard Edition: $59.99
• Cross Gen Edition: $69.99

So you‘re looking at only a $10 premium over the base game. Considering it can potentially save you paying $59.99 all over again for a next-gen upgrade down the road, I think ten bucks is more than fair!

Here are the cross gen prices for some of this year‘s biggest releases:

• Call of Duty MWII – $69.99 cross gen
• FIFA 23 – $79.99 cross gen
• NBA 2K23 – $79.99 cross gen

And a look at install base shows why shelling out a little extra is well worth it…

Current Console Generation Install Bases

To give you an idea of current sales split between console generations, take a look at these install base figures according to latest official data:

PlayStation 5 vs PlayStation 4:

• PS5: 25 million consoles sold
• PS4: 117 million consoles sold

Xbox Series X|S vs Xbox One:

• Xbox Series X|S: 15 million consoles sold
• Xbox One: 51 million consoles sold

As you can see, even though new consoles are selling well, the previous PlayStation 4 and Xbox One generation still absolutely dominates the market.

That means even if you plan to upgrade soon, the vast majority of a game‘s player base is likely still on old consoles for at least the next 2-3 years.

So from a multiplayer perspective, you‘ll want cross gen to play with all your friends across generations. And combined with the other benefits I outlined earlier, it‘s clearly the optimal edition for covering your bases both now and in the future.

Can You Upgrade Standard to Cross Gen Later?

Sometimes publishers do allow upgrading from standard to cross gen edition down the road for an additional fee. Here are some examples:

PlayStation:

• Select games have PS4 to PS5 digital upgrades for $10-$30.

Xbox:

• One-time upgrade fees of $10 have been offered for some games.
• Xbox now offers a generational upgrade option for $9.99 through Smart Delivery.

However, I don‘t recommend counting on an upgrade path being available later. It‘s inconsistent between titles. Your safest bet is paying a little extra up front now for the cross gen edition if you want guaranteed access on both console generations.

Which Edition Should You Buy?

Given everything we‘ve covered, here are my top tips for deciding between standard and cross gen:

• Planning to get a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S? Cross gen is a no brainer for easy upgrading.

• Play online multiplayer games? Cross gen maintains your ability to play with friends.

• Want the best next-gen visuals and performance? Cross gen is the only way to guarantee you‘ll get those enhancements.

• Primarily game on Xbox? The extra entitlements like Smart Delivery and game sharing make cross gen a must-buy.

• Only gaming on current-gen for the foreseeable future? Standard may be fine for you.

• Unsure about upgrading? Spend the little extra on cross gen for flexibility later.

No matter your situation, I hope breaking down all the key differences between standard and cross gen editions helps you determine which version makes the most sense for your needs and future gaming plans.

Personally, I think that little $10 investment is 100% worth it for the added peace of mind, entitlements, and future proofing cross gen provides. But you know your gaming preferences best, so take the info in this guide and decide which edition will serve you well in both the short and long term.

Thanks for reading, and may your frame rates stay high no matter which console generation you game on! Let me know if you have any other next-gen gaming topics you want help demystifying.