Microsoft has released new information regarding the backwards compatibility capabilities of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
In a new Xbox Wire post, compatibility program lead Peggy Lo outlined how backwards compatibility runs on both the Xbox Series X and S, and detailed the numerous ways both systems will boost the quality of older titles.
She noted that “games play best on Xbox Series X and Series S” and will not run with a boost mode. Instead, games will run natively off of each system, using the full power of the CPU, GPU and SSD. Framerates will be more stable, games will be rendered at the maximum resolution, and they will also load much faster thanks to the custom SSD inside each console.
The systems will also use Auto High Dynamic Range (HDR) which, although seen on Xbox One X version of games, a majority of standard Xbox One titled only include Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). Auto HDR will transform past SDR games into full HDR, without any input needed from the developers. As a result, the image will become brighter and more colourful, utilising the full art style to its advantage.
Framerates on numerous games will also increase with the Xbox Series’ console power. Lo revealed that “the backward compatibility team has developed new methods for effectively doubling the framerate on select titles”. One such title is Fallout 4, which has its framerate to bumped from 30fps to 60fps.
Check out the full video below:
Lo also highlighted a feature known as the Heutchy method. The system allows for games previous to the Xbox One to be enhanced for next-gen. With the Xbox Series systems, the team plans to continue that.
According to Lo, the Heutchy system “allowed titles from Xbox 360 that rendered at 720p and original Xbox games that ran at 360p to play at 4K on Xbox One X, well beyond the capabilities of their original platform,” and will “continue to be used to bring a variety of titles to 1440p on Xbox Series S and 4K on Xbox Series X.”
Both the systems will launch worldwide on November 10, followed by the PS5 releasing in select territories on November 12, then a global launch on November 19.