Microsoft has already promised that their Xbox Series X will support new games running at high resolutions, with above average refresh rates supported on the console. But older games will also benefit from the Series X’s power. Backwards compatible titles won’t just run via emulation or through included legacy hardware—they’ll be running natively on the system. Features that will be available for Xbox Series X titles, such as HDR, Quick Resume, and fast loading times will also apply to Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, allowing for better visuals and performance on next-gen hardware. Some games previously only playable at 30fps will even be unlocked to play at 60 or even 120fps. Through this, “thousands” of games, both new and old, will be playable on the Series X at launch.

Source

 

[MikaDubbz]

This is definitely poised to be the best handling of backwards compatability that we've ever seen from a console. And I say that as not much of an Xbox fan.

 

[Anxiety_timmy]

I kinda feel like some animations will be sped up

 

[Bladexdsl]

make OLD games better so this is their answer for having NO exclusives?!

 

[Zense]

Now this gets me intrigued. The title is a bit misleading as "allowing" could mean anything but the article says that there will definetely be higher frame rates in some games.

 

[PROTOBOY]

Can't wait to see how Black Ops 1 and other games will perform on the series X..

 

[MohammedQ8]

I bought all kingdom hearts games again on xbox due to this.

I hope they add more original and 360 xbox games.

 

[Teletron1]

The Series X will be able to add HDR and has A.I to reprocess older games to higher image quality according to Xbox something they should be talking more about ,would be sweet if they kick in full backwards compatibility

 

[JFizDaWiz]

[redacted]

 

[Goku1992A]

make OLD games better so this is their answer for having NO exclusives?!

I still don't know why people say this? Microsoft have plenty of exclusives every console have exclusives

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

That's really neat. MS is definitely pushing really hard to win next gen, and seeing how Sony still can't be bothered to share PS5 info, they're definitely succeeding so far.

I kinda feel like some animations will be sped up

I would imagine those games that tie physics and game speed to framerate probably won't see framerate upgrades.

 

[AshuraZro]

make OLD games better so this is their answer for having NO exclusives?!

Can't deny the drought of exclusives up to this point (the new studio acquisitions will beef that up) but feature and policy-wise they seem to be setting a bar that I hope Sony matches. Microsoft has done an excellent job of making my PC the best device for playing Xbox games so that my next-gen console purchases can just be the PS5 (and inevitably whatever the next Nintendo box is for Nintendo games).

 

[leon315]

Honestly if one seeks higher framerates, just go for pc gaming, without any true exclusives, it's simply has no reasons to get Xbox

 

[tech3475]

Honestly if one seeks higher framerates, just go for pc gaming, without any true exclusives, it's simply has no reasons to get Xbox

I know people who simply prefer consoles for one reason or another e.g. simplicity, size, portability, cost, etc.

If I ever pick up a Series X as of now, it will be because I want to play games which are on the platform in a place I don't want a PC and don't want to stream e.g. my bedroom.

 

[MikaDubbz]

make OLD games better so this is their answer for having NO exclusives?!

Justification for it or not, I wish every console released tried this hard to be backwards compatible with nearly their entire backlog of games going back to the first system at launch, while also improving the performance of these old games at the same time.

Of course I can't even imagine how ridiculous a Nintendo system would look if it tried to do that, so many different ports in addition to a disc drive lol. Should be feasible for Sony considering all their consoles were also disc-based, of course it sadly doesn't appear they're going as all-in on the feature as Microsoft is on the idea.

 

[leon315]

I know people who simply prefer consoles for one reason or another e.g. simplicity, size, portability, cost, etc.

If I ever pick up a Series X as of now, it will be because I want to play games which are on the platform in a place I don't want a PC and don't want to stream e.g. my bedroom.

if the price is not a matter, a wise one would undoubtedly go for pc, which outperforms in every ways any consoles.

 

[FAST6191]

"will be running natively"
As in actually code found and recompiled (or recompiled to work with a hypervisor at least)?

Impressive if so. That would be a serious play in this backwards compatibility dance.

"HDR, Quick Resume, and fast loading times" could be achieved easily enough via emulation though -- I assume we have all seen high res textures on things and that becomes HDR easily enough, quick resume is savestates by any other name and fast loading times could happen back on the original xbox if you copied it to the hard drive on a hacked box and then on the 360 with the whole NXE hard drive install thing.

 

[tech3475]

"will be running natively"
As in actually code found and recompiled (or recompiled to work with a hypervisor at least)?

Impressive if so. That would be a serious play in this backwards compatibility dance.

"HDR, Quick Resume, and fast loading times" could be achieved easily enough via emulation though -- I assume we have all seen high res textures on things and that becomes HDR easily enough, quick resume is savestates by any other name and fast loading times could happen back on the original xbox if you copied it to the hard drive on a hacked box and then on the 360 with the whole NXE hard drive install thing.

The code should already be x86 in some way and the Xbone OS uses a modified Hyper-V to run games/software.

Worst case I can see the system running old Xbone games in a separate VM to the Series X games.

 

[Teletron1]

Honestly if one seeks higher framerates, just go for pc gaming, without any true exclusives, it's simply has no reasons to get Xbox

Well that depends if the custom ssd drives come to market because nothing comes close to them especially Sony’s you literally are in game in the blink of the eye

 

[huma_dawii]

I'm so impressed how much love towards games has been put onto the Xbox Series X, this will be the definitive Xbox to buy! I am not even an Xbox fan but I love my backwards compatibility and this even enhance it. Day one purchase.

 

[Teletron1]

I also wonder if Microsoft is able to convince Sega to merge something is brewing between the two and this would help them gain some street credit in Japan plus give Sega the cash flow to tap into their Ip’s

now let’s see what Sony has to offer and what Big N will counter with