When it comes to backwards compatibility and cross-gen features, one has to hand it to Microsoft, they have been on point with that in recent years. Not only have they offered a wealth of backwards compatibility for the Xbox One, their Smart Delivery cross-buy system makes it easier to upgrade from your Xbox One to the upcoming Xbox Series X. And it seems they really want developers to use it.
As reported by VGC, apparently several sources have told them that Microsoft has been actively pushing for companies to use the Smart Delivery system they developed, which includes free upgrades to the Xbox Series X as well as save progression between versions. The service is not universal, however, and is being left up to publishers, which some opting to do their own more limited upgrade offers such as EA. According to VGC, even if a company doesn’t utilize Smart Delivery and is doing their own thing, Microsoft wants them to offer free upgrades, really pushing the feature.
The big sticking point here is that the cost of PS5 and Xbox Series X games could be rising. NBA 2K21, for instance, had those versions listed for $10 more than current-gen versions. If that becomes the norm, a lot of publishers may not be too keen on losing that extra revenue. NBA 2K21‘s only upgrade option comes from buying the Legends Edition, for example. Fingers crossed that Microsoft can use their influence to push more developers into the Smart Delivery system.