Darksiders has returned to consoles, as THQ Nordic has re-released the first game’s Warmastered edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The good news is that if you’re on Xbox and already own Darksiders for Xbox One, that upgrade is free and brings with it native 4K rendering, 60fps gameplay, and a new Photo Mode.
The bad news is that if you’re on PS5, upgrading the PS4 edition is going to cost you $10 (via Prima Games). It’s worth noting that, beyond the photo mode, the new current-gen edition only adds a bump in resolution and frame rate, features that many game developers have added for free to their respective titles throughout the current console generation.
So what’s going on here? Most Xbox games with upgrade paths are free as part of the console’s Smart Delivery system. Introduced alongside the Xbox Series X|S consoles in late 2020, the feature automatically ensures that you’re getting the best version of a game you’ve previously purchased, regardless of your console’s generation. For example, purchasing a Smart Delivery game for your Xbox One means that you’ll gain access to its optimized version if you hop to Xbox Series X|S.
Not every game is supported, but the compatible titles will feature a “Smart Delivery” icon on the physical game case or in the Xbox digital marketplace. In comparison, the PS5 does not have a similar feature. Many games released for it do offer free graphical upgrades, whereas several other first-party titles like the remastered The Last of Us and Horizon games required you to purchase those upgrades.
On its own, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions of Darksiders: Warmastered cost $30, up $10 from their last-gen standalone versions. Darksiders was originally released for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 in 2010, with the Warmastered Edition arriving in 2016–a year after its sequel, Darksiders 2, received a Deathinitive Edition upgrade on last-gen consoles.
If you’ve never played Darksiders, then you’ve missed out on a fun adventure featuring the horseman of the apocalypse, War, and his steed, Ruin. The debut game from developer Vigil Games, Darksiders combined chunky action with a Legend of Zelda-inspired adventure and a slick art direction led by comic book legend Joe Madureira. The franchise has expanded over the years with sequels and spin-offs, and Darksiders 4 was officially announced during the 2024 THQ Nordic Showcase.