Xbox Series X and S get FPS Boost mode for backwards compatible games

By admin On Feb 17, 2021

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Microsoft is introducing an FPS Boost feature for the Xbox Series X and S. This will allow the consoles to play some backwards compatible games at higher frame rates. The feature is currently supported by five games, but will be added to more titles later.

The feature will now work with Far Cry 4, Sniper Elite 4, UFC 4, Watch Dogs 2 and New Super Lucky’s Tale, Microsoft reports. All those games run at 30fps on the last-gen Xbox One and One S. With FPS Boost, this framerate is increased to 60fps on the Series X and S. An exception to this is New Super Lucky’s Tale, whose framerate is increased to 120fps, with a 4k resolution on the Series X and a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels on the Series S.

Microsoft also comes with a new interface option for FPS Boost. Users can expect a compatibility options section in the menus of the Series consoles starting this spring. This allows users to toggle FPS Boost and Auto HDR on and off as they wish. The consoles will also get an FPS Boost indicator, which will be shown when users play a supported game and press the Xbox button.

Image via Microsoft

Eurogamer’s technical division Digital Foundry has tested the feature and confirmed that Microsoft’s performance claims are met. According to Digital Foundry, the claimed frame rates are almost always achieved stably; only the frame rate of Sniper Elite 4 drops to mid-50fps in certain scenes every now and then. Microsoft confirms to Digital Foundry that the function works at the Direct3D level, so no game code needs to be modified. In time, the “potential” feature could also be added to Xbox and Xbox 360 games, the tech company reports.

While the list of current FPS Boost games at release is limited, Microsoft writes that the feature will be added to more games in the coming months. The company states that “many of these upcoming FPS Boost games” will be part of Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s game subscription service. Sniper Elite 4 and Super Lucky’s Tale are already part of Game Pass.