Madden NFL 21 Will Come To Series X, Xbox One Owners Can Upgrade Free

As part of the Inside Xbox briefing, Microsoft confirmed that EA's upcoming NFL game, Madden NFL 21, is coming to Xbox Series X. While we didn't get to see much in the way of gameplay, we did learn that you'll be able to upgrade to the Series X version of the game for free if you buy it on Xbox One--but you'll need to do so by a certain date, as EA isn't making use of Microsoft's Smart Delivery service, and will instead be using its own program that has more restrictions.

In a press release, EA confirmed that to receive the free upgrade of Madden 21, you'll need to purchase the game on Xbox One by December 31, 2020 and upgrade to the Series X by March 31, 2021. EA had previously said some of its games will offer free next-gen upgrades, but it appears this upgrade program is separate from Microsoft's Smart Delivery feature.

During the Inside Xbox Madden 21 segment, Patrick Mahomes, cover star of last year's entry, teased that more details about the game will be revealed "soon." We didn't get much more information beyond that, but Mahomes said this year's installment "isn't just about what you can see, it's about what you can feel."

Madden NFL 21 will release for Xbox Series X following its initial launch on Xbox One, as well as PS4 and PC. The series typically debuts in early August, ahead of the start of the new NFL season.

Madden NFL 21 features Baltimore Ravens standout QB Lamar Jackson on its cover, a fact he seemingly leaked during a recent interview. The game will be joined by FIFA 21 and NHL 21 in coming to the Xbox Series X (and PlayStation 5) later this year.