Xbox Series X and S Get New 'FPS Boost' Functionality For Certain Backwards Compatible Titles

UPDATE:

Speaking on Major Nelson's podcast, Xbox's director of Program Management, Jason Ronald, has noted that the FPS boost tech won't work on all platforms (thanks VGC).

“Unfortunately, this technique does not work on all titles,” Ronald explains.

“In some cases, the way in which the game was originally written… as we’ve done some testing of some of these titles we’ve seen animations run twice as fast, or physics running twice as fast.

“What’s critically important to us is we always respect the original intent of the creator, so that’s why we’re able to do that at the platform level and then we work with the developer and the publisher and make sure that they still believe that this really aligns with what they originally intended.”

Original Story Follows:

Xbox Series S and X will get a new FPS Boost feature intended to increase the frame rates of backward compatible titles.

As revealed in a new blog post, the tech uses "a variety of new methods for nearly doubling (and in a few instances, quadrupling) the original framerate on select titles."

Read More: Xbox Series S and X Outsold PS5, Nintendo Switch in January

Xbox Series X and S Get New 'FPS Boost' Functionality For Backwards Compatible Titles

"We partnered closely with developers to enhance the experience while maintaining the game’s original intent," the post explains.

"While not applicable to all games, these new techniques can push game engines to render more quickly for a buttery smooth experience beyond what the original game might have delivered due to the capabilities of the hardware at the time."

As for which titles are included, the initial list is certainly varied. Far Cry 4, New Super Lucky's Tale, Sniper Elite 4, UFC 4 and Watch Dogs 2 will be able to use the new feature today.

UFC 4 has had its performance boosted from 30 FPS to 60 FPS, while platformer New Super Lucky's Take is now up to 120 FPS on compatible screens.

The team has promised new titles rolling out soon, with a new "compatibility options" button allowing players to turn on both FPS Boost and Auto HDR.

That means the process is entirely optional, so players can still go back to the original version of a title.

For more on the Xbox Series X, be sure to check out our review.

We've also rounded up the best titles in Xbox Game Pass.

This Article's Topics

Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!

Xbox
Have an opinion on this article? We'd love to hear it!