New information has revealed that Microsoft isn't too keen on having developers charge players extra money in order to upgrade their current-gen video games to next-gen titles on Xbox Series X; or so claim sources that have some knowledge of Microsoft's next-gen policies.
Video Game Chronicles reports that Microsoft not wanting developers to charge extra money to upgrade their games is an alternative to their new SmartDelivery service.
For those unaware of how SmartDelivery works, it is basically a feature that reassures players that they will always get the best version of the game that they have purchased. If players purchase, say, Cyberpunk 2077 on the Xbox One, they should have access to the enhanced version of this game on the Xbox Series X.
Microsoft issued an official statement in which they mention that "developers and publishers ultimately decide how they deliver their games, and we work with them to provide the best possible experience based on their needs," although the decision to charge extra for the next-gen upgrade ultimately goes to the developers and publishers, not Microsoft.
CD Projekt RED, actually, is one of the developers that just recently revealed that the next-gen upgrade for Cyberpunk 2077 will be completely free of charge. Other games that will also give players the choice tu upgrade without additional costs are Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Bungie's Destiny 2, and Electronic Arts' FIFA 21.
This will likely not be an issue a few years down the line, once games are only announced and developed for next-gen platforms, but some games have already been announced for this generation of consoles, and Microsoft's initiative is quite exemplary. We'll have to wait and see how effective it is, however, since it's up to the developers themselves to do it.