Information regarding this year’s upcoming next-generation consoles has been slow to trickle out so far, but today, Microsoft revealed additional details on backward compatibility with Xbox Series X.
In a new blog post by Jason Ronald, Director of Program Management for Xbox Series X, Microsoft called the upcoming console their “most powerful and compatible console ever,” and stated that their goal with the Series X was to “empower gamers to play the best versions of games from across four generations of Xbox at the launch of Xbox Series X.”
Xbox Series X is the most compatible console ever.
❌No boost mode
❌No downclocking
✅The power of Xbox Series X for thousands of games ready at launch!📝Full Details: https://t.co/6PHwLp3QIG pic.twitter.com/aCFCygOMvi
— Xbox (@Xbox) May 28, 2020
Microsoft claimed that Xbox Series X already has the ability to play “thousands” of games ranging from AAA to indie titles, which is an increase from the 500 Xbox 360 titles and handful of original Xbox titles currently available on Xbox One.
Backward compatible games will also run natively on the upcoming console, a departure from the Xbox One’s method of backward compatibility, which uses an Xbox 360 software emulator to bridge the gap between the different system architectures. Because backward compatibility is native with Series X, Microsoft says that all games will run at “peak performance,” and many games will even perform better than they originally did, sometimes up to 120 FPS and 4K resolution. Microsoft also noted a decrease in load times due to the console’s custom NVME SSD.
It doesn’t end there.
The Redmond-based tech company also detailed HDR support with the older titles. Microsoft says that the HDR reconstruction technique they’re using “enables the platform to automatically add HDR support to games,” and also lets them “enable HDR with zero impact to the game’s performance.” The console’s “Quick Resume” feature will also work with backward compatible titles, allowing players to get back into the action faster than they normally would.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, Microsoft still expects to launch Xbox Series X this holiday.
