Hitman 3 includes a free next-gen upgrade
But only with its digital version.
Hitman 3 is the latest upcoming game to detail how it will handle its next-gen upgrade.
IO Interactive's stealth shooter will offer a free upgrade on each corresponding next-gen console - but only for digital copies.
That means any PS4 downloadable copy will unlock a PS5 version for no additional cost, and any Xbox downloadable copy will provide you with the Series X version via Smart Delivery.
There's no word on any plan for physical copies, or whether they'll cost the same for next-gen consoles.
The issue of next-gen upgrades has repeatedly hit the headlines this month, as 2K Games announced a pricier cross-gen version of NBA 2K21. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War appears to be following a similar route. Remedy, meanwhile, confirmed a new edition of Control will be the only one to receive a next-gen upgrade.
Other games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2 and Marvel's Avengers have said their next-gen upgrades will be free. Still others, such as EA's sports games, have said their upgrades will be free for a limited period.
Limiting a next-gen upgrade to digital copies avoids several difficulties - namely that there's no simple method of checking ownership of a physical copy.
Speaking to developers about the next-gen upgrade process, I've heard concerns people could use one physical copy to claim digital ownership across multiple consoles. You could grant ownership while the disc was physically present, of course, but there's also the issue of PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, and the still to be announced Xbox Series S. Neither will be compatible with physical discs at all.
Hitman 3 is set to launch in 20th January 2021 and includes an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery level. Here's a look at that:
