Bulletstorm: Full Clip Won't Be a Free Upgrade on PC, Here's Why

Gearbox Software founder and president Randy Pitchford has confirmed those that own Bulletstorm on PC won't be able to upgrade to the new Bulletstorm: Full Clip version of the game for free.

Posting on Twitter, Pitchford said although Gearbox is teaming up with Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly for the new version, the game was originally released by EA, thus making a free upgrade impossible. Additionally, it was made available on PC through Games for Windows Live, which isn't the case for Bulletstorm: Full Clip.

In response, Twitter users brought up Darksiders, which was originally published by THQ but re-released as Darksiders: Warmastered Edition by Nordic Games. Pitchford noted that, in this case, Nordic outright purchased past and future rights to Darksiders from THQ, which enabled them to re-release the game and provide a free upgrade to existing owners.

Gearbox, however, is simply helping People Can Fly launch the re-release as part of its new third-party publishing program.

Bulletstorm: Full Clip releases on April 7, but those that preorder will be able to play through the entire game as Duke Nukem.

"Updated with hi-res textures, increased polygon counts, sterling audio, smoother framerates, and running in up to 4K resolution on PC and PS4 Pro, this upgraded version of the game comes with all of the previously-released DLC along with all-new content," reads a press release.

People Can Fly regained its independence from Epic Games in June 2015. It owned the rights to Bulletstorm during its partnership with Epic and retained them after the split.

Gearbox became full owners of the rights to Duke Nukem after a high-profile legal battle with 3D Realms--developer of the classic Duke Nukem titles--and Interceptor Entertainment. It went on to complete development on Duke Nukem Forever and launch the title.

Gearbox has said it is working on all-new entry in the series that has the potential to turn heads when it is finally released.

"I did not acquire the franchise merely so we could all experience Duke Nukem Forever. That was the toll to pay to give Duke a chance," Pitchford previously said.

As of yet a new Duke Nukem game from Gearbox has not been announced.