It doesn't "just play" the version; if you're on a Series X, presumably you have to download the whole Series X version from the internet. Granted, AFAIK, if you're offline you can still install and play the original disc version through back-compat but I'm not sure.

On Xbox specifically (not sure about PS) it does. It's technically the same game, but it can tell which Xbox you're on and uses the settings preset for that specific console.

And of course it downloads it from the disc, all games are downloaded from the disc. Been that way for a long time. I do kind of miss just popping the disc in and playing, but I understand there are limitations to the tech.

I can tell you that this isn't true, or at least isn't universally true. Series X games were built with a newer version of the SDK. Unless the game was pressed with a game built on that SDK version, the Series X will simply be playing in backwards compatibility. Not all games marked as Smart Delivery, especially the ones released before the SDK for Series X was finalized, had any concept of the Series X.

Games released that are built on the new SDK may have everything needed on disc for new and old generations. That does not apply to games built on the older SDK; those will require digital updates for the next-gen hardware. You can not get a new disc with the new bits and they may not ever release a new disc with the new bits.

It sounds like what he is talking about is something like PS4 back compat using PS5. It plays the game, but it might bump the framerate or resolution, or graphics settings. But it's the same game.

But what about an actual next gen version of the game, where it's a whole new version of the game built to take full advantage of the new console? How does this work in that scenario?

That’s what Smart Delivery is (on Xbox). Your disc will work as a license that allows you to download the Series X version. I have no idea if the same thing will work on Playstation. It works with digital versions, but no idea if I can stick an old Miles Morales disc in a PS5 and then get the actual upgraded version.

On both consoles, that automatic upgrade is still up to the publisher’s discretion to allow.

Sorry, but this is still confusing for me.

It’s not exceedingly clear for anyone, honestly. That’s what MS was trying to solve with the Smart Delivery moniker. If you see that, you know it doesn’t matter which generation of consoles you purchase for, you’ll get the appropriate version automatically. Throwing physical discs into the mix further complicates things, and I haven’t bought one on five years, so I can’t actually vouch for how it works.

It is not going to install from the disc. There isn’t a Series X version on the disc for No Man’s Sky or Gears 5 or Forza Horizon 4. It’s just using the disc as a key and letting you install the Series X version. If you stick any of those discs into a Series X without an internet connection, you are absolutely not going to be playing the Series X version of that game.

Maybe we are talking about two different things?

It sounds like what he is talking about is something like PS4 back compat using PS5. It plays the game, but it might bump the framerate or resolution, or graphics settings. But it's the same game.

But what about an actual next gen version of the game, where it's a whole new version of the game built to take full advantage of the new console? How does this work in that scenario?

Sorry, but this is still confusing for me.

It doesn't "just play" the version; if you're on a Series X, presumably you have to download the whole Series X version from the internet. Granted, AFAIK, if you're offline you can still install and play the original disc version through back-compat but I'm not sure.

On Xbox specifically (not sure about PS) it does. It's technically the same game, but it can tell which Xbox you're on and uses the settings preset for that specific console.

And of course it downloads it from the disc, all games are downloaded from the disc. Been that way for a long time. I do kind of miss just popping the disc in and playing, but I understand there are limitations to the tech.

P.S.: Discs work, too! :)

So if I have a disc version, then I can for free get the disc version of the next gen? From what is indicated having the disc just lets your download the next gen version.

No, it just recognizes the game, and plays whatever console version you're playing on. The discs are multi-generational.

It doesn't "just play" the version; if you're on a Series X, presumably you have to download the whole Series X version from the internet. Granted, AFAIK, if you're offline you can still install and play the original disc version through back-compat but I'm not sure.

This is my question.

Is the next gen version and all assets/code on the disc, or is it just retrieving a newer version digitally to play?

P.S.: Discs work, too! :)

So if I have a disc version, then I can for free get the disc version of the next gen? From what is indicated having the disc just lets your download the next gen version.

No, it just recognizes the game, and plays whatever console version you're playing on. The discs are multi-generational.

Woah slick. I gotta say MS figured that out.

P.S.: Discs work, too! :)

So if I have a disc version, then I can for free get the disc version of the next gen? From what is indicated having the disc just lets your download the next gen version.

No, it just recognizes the game, and plays whatever console version you're playing on. The discs are multi-generational.

It doesn't "just play" the version; if you're on a Series X, presumably you have to download the whole Series X version from the internet. Granted, AFAIK, if you're offline you can still install and play the original disc version through back-compat but I'm not sure.

P.S.: Discs work, too! :)

So if I have a disc version, then I can for free get the disc version of the next gen? From what is indicated having the disc just lets your download the next gen version.

No, it just recognizes the game, and plays whatever console version you're playing on. The discs are multi-generational.

P.S.: Discs work, too! :)

So if I have a disc version, then I can for free get the disc version of the next gen? From what is indicated having the disc just lets your download the next gen version.

Some companies like CDPR may have said they would, but this seems like the minority position?

I know you don't really follow the topic but it is industry standard for both XB and PS. Hence the outcry.

P.S.: Discs work, too! :)

How do I know if I bought the right disc?

If you bought a Smart Delivery game, all of its discs will work and you will get the best available version of the game for your Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles. Many Smart Delivery games will have the Smart Delivery icon the upper right corner on the front of the game case and “Smart Delivery” listed on the back of game case. Some games that were released on Xbox One prior to the Xbox Series X console release, like Gears 5 for example, may have older game cases that do not include the Smart Delivery icon. The Xbox One disc will still work in an Xbox Series X and Smart Delivery will provide you with the best available version.

I think most of the games that use Smart Delivery on Xbox also give you the next gen version on the Playstation side, it’s just not an automatic process like it is on Xbox. Meaning, on Xbox it just downloads the appropriate version based on which generation console, whereas on PS5, you can still download the backwards compatible PS4 version of an upgraded game.

I don’t actually have the breakdown of every game in front of me, but it sure seems like it’s more common to just give you the next gen version if there is one available. Control is the only one I know of off the top of my head that makes you buy the new version. I think Madden had a limited window where it was available for free like was pretty common last gen.

The biggest problem for me (and I realize this is incredibly niche), is that there is digital to digital upgrade, disc to digital upgrade, but no disc to disc.

So for me, I'd be buying it again anyway since there seems no other way to get it on a disc. I gotta hand it to these companies: they will probably be successful in killing of physical game media if disk space can keep up.

https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/games/upgrade-ps4-game-to-ps5-version/

There's not a ton of new games this generation, so both backward compatibility and free upgrades have been pushed by both.

Enough so that though it may have been foolish to assume you'd get a free upgrade, it wasn't foolish to think it was likely this late in the cycle.

Ah okay. I had no idea it was this widespread.

I don’t actually have the breakdown of every game in front of me, but it sure seems like it’s more common to just give you the next gen version if there is one available. Control is the only one I know of off the top of my head that makes you buy the new version. I think Madden had a limited window where it was available for free like was pretty common last gen.

There's not a ton of new games this generation, so both backward compatibility and free upgrades have been pushed by both.

Enough so that though it may have been foolish to assume you'd get a free upgrade, it wasn't foolish to think it was likely this late in the cycle.

You’re aware of this little game called Destiny 2, right?

The one that's FREE TO PLAY? Lol of course they'd give you the PS5 version for free!

Okay so smart delivery is a thing, but what on the PS side is equivalent to that?