THQ Nordic charges PlayStation 5 players $9.99 to upgrade Darksiders: Warmastered Edition from PS4 to PS5, while Xbox offers the same upgrade free through Smart Delivery. The pricing disparity reveals inconsistent upgrade policies across platforms for the 2012 action game.
The PS5 upgrade includes enhanced graphics, faster loading times, and performance improvements tailored to Sony's hardware. Xbox Series X/S owners receive identical enhancements at no cost through Microsoft's Smart Delivery system, which automatically provides optimized versions of compatible games. This creates a two-tier standard where PlayStation owners effectively pay twice for the game if they want the current-generation experience.
THQ Nordic hasn't publicly explained the pricing difference. The decision mirrors broader industry friction around paid versus free next-gen upgrades. Some publishers charge for enhanced editions while others bundle upgrades with game purchases or offer them free outright. Microsoft's approach with Smart Delivery has generally earned goodwill from players and positioned Game Pass as more attractive for upgrade-conscious consumers.
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition originally released in 2012 for PS3 and Xbox 360, launching on PS4 and Switch nearly a decade later. The franchise has moved on, with Darksiders Genesis releasing in 2019 and the mainline series continuing beyond this remaster. Charging for an upgrade on one platform but not another damages consumer perception, particularly when the underlying content remains unchanged.
Players on Reddit and social media quickly flagged the inconsistency. The backlash reflects growing consumer expectations that current-gen upgrades should be free when available, especially for older titles already purchased on a previous generation. THQ Nordic faces potential negative reception if the pricing stands unchanged, though reversing course remains possible before wider adoption.