Xbox Series X-Optimized Games Include Gears Tactics, Forza Horizon 4, And More

Microsoft has frequently touted its Optimized for Xbox Series X program--just look at that box art--which essentially utilizes the power of the Series X to enhance games. As part of the July Xbox Series X games event, the company confirmed several more games previously released or announced for Xbox One that will be optimized for Series X this holiday, including the latest entries in the Forza and Gears series.

Forza Horizon 4 will run at native 4K and 60 frames per second. Currently, on Xbox One X, you need to choose between Quality and Performance modes to favor resolution or framerate, but Series X will apparently allow you to have the best of both worlds. It's unclear if there are plans for a higher frame rate mode that drops the resolution below 4K. Microsoft also touts there will be "dramatically improved load times" for the game on Series X. Separately, it also confirmed a new Forza Motorsport coming to Xbox Series X--albeit not at launch. This game, like the other Motorsport games, is being developed by Turn 10.

Gears Tactics, the XCOM-style tactics game, is coming to Series X, and it'll run at 4K and 60 frames per second on the platform. The game has, to this point, not released on Xbox One at all, releasing earlier this year as a PC exclusive despite the series' history on consoles.

Gears 5, the latest shooter in the series, will feature quicker load times and visuals that support 4K and HDR while utilizing the game's Ultra graphics settings. The game, which is currently available on PC, is also set to come to Xbox One.

Rare's Sea of Thieves has improved dramatically since its launch and remains quite popular, and it'll be seeing improvements on Series X, for which it will release at launch. However, specific technical details weren't shared--we only know it'll take advantage of the enhanced Series X hardware in some way.

Finally, Ori and the Will of the Wisps was confirmed to be getting an optimized Xbox Series X version. It'll offer 4K and HDR support, as well as a 120 frames per second frame rate--provided you have a high-refresh rate display. The game faced some technical issues on Xbox One, so this is good news.

These five games join the existing lineup of games optimized for Series X, which, among other games, includes:

• Assassin's Creed Valhalla
• Bright Memory Infinite
• Call of the Sea
• Chorus
• Destiny 2
• Dirt 5
• Madden NFL 21
• Scarlet Nexus
• Scorn
• Second Extinction
• The Ascent
• Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
• Watch Dogs: Legion
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon