Demystifying Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Editions – A Gamers‘ Guide

As an avid Call of Duty gamer and content creator, I‘ve been asked many times – what‘s the difference between the regular and cross-gen versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War? With the recent release on next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles, there‘s been some confusion around the multiple editions available.

Well, you‘ve come to the right place my friend! In this extensive guide, I‘ll be breaking down exactly what you need to know around the platforms, upgrades, pricing and more when deciding which version to purchase. Time to load up on the details!

Platforms – Where You Can Play

The first major difference is of course, which consoles and platforms you can play on with each edition. Let‘s compare:

Regular Edition

The regular edition of Black Ops Cold War is playable on:

• PlayStation 4
• Xbox One
• PC

So this covers the current generation of Sony and Microsoft consoles, along with Windows gaming rigs. You‘ll enjoy buttery smooth performance at up to 4K 60FPS on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X systems.

(Insert table comparing technical specs of each console)

But what if you decide to upgrade to the next generation PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X down the track? Well unfortunately you‘ll have to purchase the game again…more on that soon!

Cross-Gen Edition

The cross-gen edition meanwhile opens up compatibility with both current and next-gen systems:

• PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
• PC

By investing in cross-gen you‘re future-proofing yourself for the next generation of consoles. You‘ll be able to experience an enhanced Black Ops Cold War with stunning 4K graphics at a blistering 120FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X. We‘re talking ultra realistic visuals, insanely fast load times, and buttery smooth gameplay.

Next-gen consoles represent a giant technical leap over the current generation. The SSD drives enable huge open world environments not possible before. And features like ray tracing unlock photo-realistic lighting effects.

(Insert comparison table of next-gen vs current-gen specs)

Basically you‘ll get the bleeding edge, enhanced edition of Call of Duty without paying extra when you ultimately get a PS5 or Xbox Series X!

Upgrades – Free vs Paid

Another major factor is upgrades paths to the next-gen version of Black Ops Cold War. This is where the regular versus cross-gen edition show key differences.

If you purchase the regular edition on PS4 or Xbox One, upgrading to the PS5/Xbox Series X edition will cost you extra. We‘re talking forking out another USD$69.99 or so for next-gen…ouch!

However, if you invest in the Cross-Gen edition from the start, you‘ll be entitled to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game at no additional cost. This lets you seamlessly carry over your progression and purchases to latest consoles when you eventually upgrade.

In a nutshell:

• Regular Edition: Pay extra fee for next-gen upgrade
• Cross-Gen Edition: Free next-gen upgrade included

So while regular will let you play now, you‘ll end up paying more overall if you plan to get a PS5 or Xbox Series X in the next couple of years.

Breaking Down The Pricing

At the end of the day price considerations come into play when deciding which version to buy. Here‘s a breakdown of the standard pricing for each edition across all major regions:

So in the United States for example, you‘d be looking at:

• Regular Edition – $59.99
• Cross-Gen Edition – $69.99

That‘s only a $10 difference to start with. But again, selecting Regular means you might need to fork out another $70 to upgrade to next-gen consoles later.

Ultimately, it‘s a choice between saving some money now, or future-proofing your purchase while protecting your bank account when you do pick up a PS5 or Xbox Series X down the road.

The Verdict – Which Should You Buy?

So at the end of the day, which Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War edition is right for you? Here‘s my take as gaming industry veteran:

• If you have no intention of upgrading to next-gen consoles over the next 2-3 years, then the Standard Edition makes sense to pocket some savings today.
• However, if you envision getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X at some point (trust me, you will!), then the Cross-Gen Edition by far provides the best value.

The Cross-Gen bundle guarantees you next-level visuals and performance now and into the future, without requiring additional payments when you pick up your shiny new hardware. Considering next-gen consoles are just getting warmed up, it places you in a prime spot to stay on the cutting edge for many Call of Duty releases yet to come.

While the Cross-Gen edition requires $10 more upfront, you end up saving money in the grand scheme, bypassing the $70 next-gen upgrade fee down the road. And you can seamlessly carry over your entire Black Ops Cold War progress/purchases to your new console without starting over. That community street cred doesn‘t come easy my friends!

For me personally as a hardcore COD fanatic, Cross-Gen was a zero-brainer. And I strongly recommend it as the smarter long-term choice for most gamers eager to embrace both console generations over the next few years.

But I hope breaking down all the nitty gritty details on platform options, upgrade paths, and pricing helps you make the best decision for your personal gaming situation. Never hesitate to hit me up with any other questions – happy gaming comrades!