Imagine Being Able To Play Before Downloading It
Until now, Microsofts cloud service was limited to browsers and handheld devices , however, those in Redmond thought that bringing the service to their consoles would be a tremendous idea. And reason was not lacking. By offering access to xCloud from the consoles, users will be able to play games immediately, which would mean that they would be able to try a title without having to download it .
This is especially useful when you dont have enough storage space to be downloading a lot of games. In this way you could try those that are interesting to you, and later download them locally if you finally want to have them installed in your personal library.
How Does Backward Compatibility Work On Xbox Series S
Those that opt to pick up the digital-only and slightly weaker Xbox Series S will have a different backward compatibility experience from those that have an Xbox Series X. Firstly, and most obviously, you cannot use the physical copies of Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games you own for backward compatibility because the Series S does not have a disc drive. Also, while it doesn’t always hit the same heights as Microsoft’s previously released Xbox One X, Eurogamerstill highlighted how games will still be upgraded in their own way.
Original Xbox and Xbox 360 games will get upgraded to run at a 1440p resolution, which is a bit lower than the 4K the Xbox One X could achieve. This also means that when you play an Xbox One game on the Series S, you’re experience will be an upgraded Xbox One S game rather than the enhanced Xbox One X games that Xbox Series X players get to experience.
That said, many of the games will still come with performance enhancements on Xbox Series S that are better than what the Xbox One X could achieve. Eurogamer specifically points out better dynamic resolution scaling, texture filtering quality, HDR support, and loading times. It can also play some games at up to 120fps just like the Xbox Series X.
How Backwards Compatibility Works
The Xbox One isnt normally capable of playing Xbox 360 games. Instead, Microsoft created an emulator that simulates the Xbox 360s hardware and software. Xbox 360 games run inside this emulator. Its similar to how the virtual console games work on Nintendos Wii U and Wii, or how youd run old console games in emulators on a PC.
Not all games will run in the emulator. If you have an Xbox 360 game thats compatible with your Xbox One, you can insert it into your Xbox Ones disc drive. The Xbox One will then download a ported version of that game from Microsofts servers and make it available on your console alongside your other installed games. If you have a digital copy of the game, you can download it from Microsofts servers like youd download any other digital Xbox One game.
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Once you do get a game running, it should work well. You can even use the Xbox Ones Game DVR feature to record your gameplay in in Xbox 360 game. Eurogamer tested many major games and found that many of them performed better on the Xbox One than the Xbox 360, although some games had minor hitches and graphical problems that didnt appear on the Xbox 360.
But again: all this only works if the Microsoft has made the game compatible with the Xbox One. Each games publisher will need to sign off on this, and not every publisher has done so.
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How To Stream Xbox Games On Your Laptop
As long as your Xbox One and Windows 10 PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, meaning youre in the same house, you can stream all your Xbox One games on your Windows 10 PC.
Streaming games to your PC is an ideal solution if somebody is occupying your TV. The downside is that you probably wont be playing on a bigger screen. And you can only play if both devices are in close proximity you cant bring your PC on a work trip and expect to play your console games.
Best Backward Compatible Original Xbox Rpgs
The original Xbox was not known for having a particularly strong RPG library, although it did include several quality western RPGs that deserve notice. Most of the greats among these are fortunately included in the backwards compatibility list. While all of the Xboxs backwards compatible RPGs are also available on PC, and often other formats, the low price point, ease of use and access, and improved resolutions, make the Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles arguably the best way to experience these RPG classics.
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Which Xbox Games Are Backward Compatible With Xbox Series X And S
When it comes to Xbox One backward compatibility, Xbox Head Phil Spencer confirmed in July on Xbox Wire,“Itâs our intent for all Xbox One games that do not require Kinect to play on Xbox Series X at the launch of the console.” That means the vast majority of your titles will carry over, with the exception of some Xbox Game Studios published games like Kinect Sports Rivals.
As for Xbox and Xbox 360 games, the list of backward compatible titles does get a little more restrictive, though over 600 games are still available. Microsoft has a website dedicated to saying what Xbox and Xbox 360 games work on Xbox One, and these should all carry over to Xbox Series X. Check out the full list of titles to see how many Xbox games in your library are supported.
How To Check If An Xbox 360 Game Will Work On Your Xbox One
Before you go out of your way to get an Xbox 360 game for your Xbox One, be sure its actually compatible. The Backwards Compatibility page on Microsofts Xbox website contains a comprehensive list of backwards compatible games and shows games that were recently added to the program. Theres also this text-only list.
If a game you want to play isnt backwards compatible yet, check back in the future. Microsoft regularly adds more games to the backwards compatibility program.
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Can Xbox Series X/s Games Be Played Online With Xbox One Players
Yes, thankfully, Xbox Series X and S players can continue to play online with their last-gen brethren on the Xbox One.
However, cross-gen online gaming is split into two categories.
They are:
- Xbox Series X/S console playing an Xbox One game and Xbox One console playing an Xbox One game
- Example: An Xbox Series X/S plays the Xbox One version of Call of Duty and joins a game with a player playing the Xbox One version of Call of Duty on an Xbox One.
- This is cross-gen backward compatible online gaming
Microsoft has made cross-play between gens a major part of their next-gen game plan. To enable this, theyve ensured that all Xbox One games are 100% compatible with the Xbox Series X and S.
Any game you currently own for the Xbox One that you play online with your friends can be slipped into your Xbox Series X, installed, and played online with your Xbox One friends, just like you did on your old Xbox One.
As for cross-gen games, games such as Dirt 5 are built for cross-generation online gaming. If youve bought Dirt 5 on Xbox Series X, you can play online with your Xbox One totting friends who own the game.
These games, and others like them, offer cross generation online gaming.
Final Xbox One Backward Compatibility List
Here’s a full and final list of the original Xbox games that are available with backward compatibility for Xbox One:
- Armed and Dangerous
- Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge *
- Dead to Rights *
- Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb
- Jade Empire *
- Panzer Elite Action: Fields of Glory *
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time *
- Psychonauts *
- Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
- SSX 3 *
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy *
- Star Wars Jedi Starfighter *
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic *
- Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords *
- Star Wars Republic Commando *
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind *
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
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Will My Old Discs Work On Xbox Series X
This side of the question is a little more complicated. Microsoft made it clear from a very early stage that the Xbox Series X supports a massive degree of backward compatibility for older Xbox games, especially those for Xbox One.
With a 4K Blu-ray drive on board as part of the hardware, that means that you’ve got an extremely high chance of your Xbox One discs working without any hassle on your Xbox Series X, and in fact benefitting from potentially faster loading times and superior performance as a result of the upgraded hardware.
There are only a few wrinkles here. Microsoft explained earlier this year that one area of complexity surrounds Kinect, its ill-fated exploration of motion-sensing. If you want to play a game that relies on Kinect, you’re out of luck – the Xbox Series X doesn’t support the peripheral, which means the game won’t work.
It’s also a little more complicated when it comes to older discs, from the Xbox 360 era, some of which are supported, but in the absence of a final list of these games we can’t be certain which ones work. However, it’s relatively safe bet that discs that work in your Xbox One should be happy with your Xbox Series X, too.
Xbox Series X Load Times
| Game | |
|---|---|
| 43 seconds | 1 min, 52 seconds |
This fast storage also helps enable a feature called Quick Resume on both consoles, which allows you to switch between games incredibly quickly in a lot of cases. The big problem right now is that its not supported by every game, although Microsoft is working to enable it across more titles. When it works, though, Quick Resume is one of the consoles best new additions, and Sonys PS5 doesnt have an equivalent feature.
One of the most significant differences between the Series S and Series X is found in the graphics department. Although both consoles use AMDs RDNA 2 graphics architecture, the Series X has 52 compute units. Thats not only more than double the 20 compute units youll find in the Series S, but theyre also clocked faster at 1.825GHz compared to 1.565GHz. In total, that means the Series X has 12.15 teraflops of graphical horsepower according to Microsoft, compared to 4 teraflops for the Series S.
There arent many cross-platform titles that allow us to see how the performance of the PS5 and Series X compare in practice, but an analysis of Devil May Cry 5 by Digital Foundrysees Sony and Microsofts consoles performing very similarly. In some modes, the Series X offers slightly faster performance, while the PS5 is ahead in others.
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How To Do Xbox Series X/s Cross
Im not a big fan of jumping through technical mumbo-jumbo lined hoops when it comes to my gaming. I like an Apple-like simplicity to all that I do.
With that in mind, my wish was for cross-gen online gaming between Xbox Series X and S to be as smooth as possible. To the point of being invisible.
Fortunately, this particular wish was granted.
You dont have to do anything special to do cross-play between Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One games.
There are no options to tweak, no hacks to botch your way through while following an online tutorial.
Cross-gen gaming just works.
All you have to do to enable online cross-play between an Xbox Series console and an Xbox One is invite a friend, as you normally would do to form a multiplayer party.
Essentially, if you and your mate have the same game, and you both have Xbox consoles, you can play online together.
That player can then, like normal, accept your invite. It is essentially seamless and you shouldnt notice what console the other player is playing on.
That all sounds great. But before I move on, lets take a look at an example:
Lets take a look at an example:
Lets take the frankly awesome Xbox one game Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare .
A gamer on Xbox One is playing COD: IW. They see their Xbox Series X owning friend online and they invite them to a game.
The Friend on Xbox Series X gets an invite just as he would on Xbox One prompting them to join the game.
You Can Now Play Xbox Series X Games On Your Xbox One
ByVic Hoodlast updated 18 November 2021
Xbox Cloud Gaming has launched on consoles
Xbox Cloud Gaming has launched for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, with the feature available for those with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
Xbox Cloud Gaming has been in beta for a while now, but has only been available on mobile devices, PC and for Xbox Insiders on console. The feature still remains in beta, but those with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription can now use the feature.Microsoft has said the launch will roll out to 25 regions, initially rolling out to a “subset of Xbox gamers” before scaling to all players in supported markets over the coming weeks with Brazil coming at a later date.
There are a number of benefits to using Xbox Cloud Gaming, the main one being that it means those on Xbox One who don’t own an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S – can now play some next-gen games like Recompile, The Medium, and The Riftbreaker. While the selection isn’t huge now, Microsoft has said that it will add more Xbox Series X/S games in the future, with Microsoft Flight Simulator becoming available in early 2022.
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Does It Cost Me Anything
Xbox offers backward compatibility for free.
If you own a supported game already, you do not have to pay anything to play it on Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S.
Obviously, it costs to purchase new Xbox 360 or Xbox games that work on the machine.
Many of the games with backward compatibility are also available as part of a Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. For £10.99 a month, you get access to more than 300 games to download and play on your console, made up of a mix of classic Xbox 360 and Xbox games, plus many more Xbox One and Series X/S titles. You also get online gaming access through Xbox Live Gold, EA Play, Cloud Streaming, and even Game Pass for PC.
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Can My Xbox One Play Xbox Series X Games
This is a bit of a complicated question, so let’s break it down. When it comes to Xbox Games Studios exclusives from Microsoft, Xbox Games Studios head Matt Booty has confirmed that there won’t be Xbox Series X exclusives for at least the first year after the console is released. When you buy an Xbox Game Studios game on Xbox One, you’ll automatically get the Xbox Series X version through a feature called Smart Delivery. As a result, as far as Xbox Game Studios titles, you’ll be good for at least a year after the Xbox Series X releases.
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How To Play Xbox Games On Your Laptop
For when youre traveling, or your roommates using the TV.
If youre an avid Xbox One player, being away from your console can be tough. That said, you can still play many of your favorite Xbox One titles without your Xbox One after all, both are Windows devices.
Microsoft is currently working new “cloud gaming” capabilities through the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Currently, a subscription will allow you stream games to compatible Android devices, though reports indicate that Microsoft is working on expanding this capability to desktop web browsers as well as iOS.
In the meantime, there are technically two ways you can play Xbox One games on your laptop.
Other Original Xbox Backwards Compatibility Greats
Outside of shooters and RPGs, there are many worthwhile original Xbox games available on the digital storefront, including platformers, third-person action games, and a lone fighting game. In addition to the games mentioned below, family-friendly classics like Grabbed by the Ghoulies and Blinx the Time Sweeper still hold up reasonably well, and games like Hunter: the Reckoning and Bloodrayne 2 still hold niche appeal, although these have aged more significantly relative to others.
Gamers looking to play original Xbox games that look better than they ever did have a small number of options relative to the size of the systems library, but there are enough quality games among those to make the feature worthwhile. Beyond those mentioned above, gamers can experience the first four home console entries in the Splinter Cell series through backward compatibility, explore several other Star Wars games, or play the Xbox version of Sid Meiers Pirates.
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