Xbox Series X Backwards Compatibility detail!

(Didn't see anyone covering this so I might as well do the honors)

Taken from MS homepage: XSX BC with thousands of games at launch

Backwards compatible games run natively on the Xbox Series X hardware, running with the full power of the CPU, GPU and the SSD. No boost mode, no downclocking, the full power of the Xbox Series X for each and every backward compatible game. This means that all titles run at the peak performance that they were originally designed for, many times even higher performance than the games saw on their original launch platform, resulting in higher and more steady framerates and rendering at their maximum resolution and visual quality.

In partnership with the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, Xbox Series X delivers a new, innovative HDR reconstruction technique which enables the platform to automatically add HDR support to games. As this technique is handled by the platform itself, it allows us to enable HDR with zero impact to the game’s performance and we can also apply it to Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles developed almost 20 years ago, well before the existence of HDR.

Techniques such as the Heutchy method, which enables titles to render with increased resolutions up to 4K, or applying anisotropic filtering to improve the final image quality bring these classic games up to modern standards, better than ever before.

The compatibility team has invented brand new techniques that enable even more titles to run at higher resolutions and image quality while still respecting the artistic intent and vision of the original creators. We are also creating whole new classes of innovations including the ability to double the frame rate of a select set of titles from 30 fps to 60 fps or 60 fps to 120 fps.

The team also continues to listen to feedback from the community on additional titles you would like to see added to the compatibility program. Resurrecting titles from history often presents a complex mix of technical and licensing challenges, but the team is committed to doing everything we can to continue to preserve our collective gaming legacy.

Just to be clear. The quote above says they will continue listening to community requests for backward compatible titles, so not all games will make it to BC list.

I must admit, I'm not interest purchasing XSX but this is awesome news for console gamers, even I say BC is more important for those who hates switching consoles just to play previous games. If MS price XSX right, I can see this becoming more attractive for consumers in the long run.

That is really awesome but as a PC gamer, it does nothing for me lol.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand 4K/120FPS/HDR/Raytracing. Make it happen.

Cool. It'll be interesting to see how far they can go with it.

just speculating but i would imagine quite a few Og xbox games would not like running above a certain framerate. game logic tied to framerate and all that...things can get odd. same with earlier 360 games too.

I heard this feature is for console gamers.😎

Good news for Xbox enthusiasts. They still need to add Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, the first two Brothers in Arms games, Def Jam: Fight for NY, Jet Set Radio Future, Battle for Middle Earth 2 and Freedom Fighters though!

Edit: My mistake, they already have that one.

This is impressive. I wonder why Sony has to implement BC so differently? Are MS software engineers that much better?

Team Xbox has been working on BC for years. Even got some OG Xbox games with X1X support. Higher frame rates and 1080p/4K resolution. Team PS has only been working on it recently so Microsoft has got one heck of a headstart and a lot more experience.

Awesome news to hear and backwards compatibility is something that’s definitely always a welcome feature for me.

Yeah, good shit. Already got the only two older titles I'd want, one of which with a much needed boost. So it's unlikely I'll get a series X.

But it's great that they're staying on this, and definitely wish other companies (especially fucking Nintendo) would follow suit.

Are we really gonna go through another gen hyping up OLD games? 🤣

You got to try better than that man because that argument is as dumb as you claiming to be a PC gamer.🤣

Doubling the frame rate? Would love to see that in action.

Dang, already offended. 🤣 This is gonna be a great gen. And my PC is better than your Neverland PC. And will be better this year.

Still pretending to be a PC gamer. 🤣

How do you pretend to be a PC gamer? I'm still waiting on this answer. You better buy that XSX and pretend you're gonna get some first-party exclusives after 2 years. 🤣🤣🤣

Remember the rules if it’s Xbox BC it’s bu bu bu old games,if it’s PS BC it’s a good thing HAH...MOOooooo

Anyhow these features are tip top,Xbox is killing it

I don't care about whether a game is exclusive or not so, take that console "PC" gamer mentality somewhere else.🤣

I don't either. It's just funny to hear people still leaning on B/C like it's still going to be the ultimate selling point for a console. Especially for one with the library like Xbox One. It's time to start looking forward. Switch and PS4 didn't need it to be wildly successful consoles.

I guess you missed the point that this thread is just giving information, just like the two Sony thread on BC but you are still in Sony fanny mode so I understand. 😎

@Juub1990: That's not really true though, the original ps3 had full BC, meaning it played all ps1 and ps2 games. No idea why they dropped BC for the ps4, and why their BC isn't for all their previous systems for the ps5.

@BenjaminBanklin: Your post history clearly shows you to be a playstation fanboy. Nothing else.

I'm in the mode that we're still hyping up OLD games for next gen consoles. Already smells like a repeat of the prior gen. If you really had a PC like you claim, you know that older games looking better on newer hardware should be par for the course, but not the driving reason you invest in new hardware.

@davillain-: ‘Backwards compatible games run natively on the Xbox Series X hardware‘

Does ‘natively’ mean they run off disc now or download onto the hard drive and the disc is used as a key like the last time?

Sweet. Cant wait till it releases. Have they showed the UI for xbox series X?

@vfighter: As you said OG PS3 did. The fat one but that was 13 years ago. They had to work from scratch with the PS4 to PS5 BC. Not like they could rely on the fat PS3 as a model so they effectively are trailing team Microsoft by several years as far as BC for next gen is concerned.

Sony boss says there not interested in making ps4 versions of ps5 games. Just crazy ! I guess the ps4 will stop getting support in 6 months. I got a ps4 pro i bet there not even going to support that. They most likely will have limited bc at launch. Sony really behind Microsoft in supporting there past systems in general .

I have always been pro Playstation. This time i am jumping that ship and going for xbox series x for console gaming. This will be the first time i do that. I bought an xbox one x in January i believe and that is the first xbox i have ever owned. So far the exclusives are more of what i want and like. I want more though and hopefully microsoft delivers in that area with their new console.

As for Sony i have been kinda getting burned out from them. They don’t seem to be doing anything in an organized manner and its just kinda thrown out there with what they were going to add to the PS4. Their updates take almost years ro get going and to add things. Its really crazy and i just dont think they are all there yet.

So basically when it comes to backwards compatibility, i think microsoft is in the right mindset. I am not seeing sony there yet but in all fairness, backwards compatibility isnt what makes me want to buy a console.

I think MS has been so smart to push hard on BC and cross-platform integration. Those initiatives specifically treat customers with respect and are very pro-consumer. There are a lot of issues with the brand, but many are historical and continued development of their first party will do wonders. I bought a PS2 in part because I could keep my PS1 games, and I bought a PS3 in part because I could keep my PS1 and PS2 games; and free online play. PS was the console platform that cared about a few more of the values I had as a PC gamer than the competition did. And then it all crumbled.

**** yeah, I've played (and beaten) maybe 4 BC games this gen, yay BC!

Edit: ... and that would be Xbox BC games.

I love the added hdr, improved frames and increased fidelity being offered by MS. I'm curious to see Sony's way of handling by and if it will offer the same features.

Sounds like a great implementation of BC.

I fully agree, I have only completed one PS4 exclusive this gen and I have all of them. TLOU was awesome and the TLOU2 leans WAY to left for my taste. All of their games are basically the same with different skins. I finished Until Dawn as well I forgot, that was great. I play Skate 3 in 4k still almost everyday on the X, looks awesome. I like the way MS is going despite this generation and will be buying the Xsex after the slim version or revised version comes out.

@davillain-: "Just to be clear. The quote above says they will continue listening to community requests for backward compatible titles, so not all games will make it to BC list."

It might be regarding original Xbox and Xbox 360 BC, after all they put out last round of BC titles to XB1 a while back, said they'd put that BC support on hold until after new console releases. They could just mean resuming to further build that catalog later, they use to take suggestions for that. Anyhow, fingers crossed it rolls out smoothly. XB1 BC became great but it started out messy. I am hoping it was a valuable learning experience going forward to Series X.

When the ps5 announced that I would have limited bc lems went crazy. Now they act like its acceptable to them lol

Boy has this gen has been nice to sony playstation fans

In other words, Boobisoft has no new games so they'll depend on old game 2-3 people will play. Lol, flopbox series sex.

@Pedro:

But he is right if you want old games stay on last gen. New gens are about new experiences not old ones.

New gens are not about new experiences. Its old experiences with prettier graphics. Nothing more. All of the hype for next gen are sequels (Spiderman 2, God of War 2, Horizon Zero Dawn 2 etc). Lets not pretend that next gen is going offer new experiences. That is just ignorant.

What is even more surprising is that we have threads on Sony's BC but neither of you were bitching about they having BC. Did you create a thread damage controlling that the PS5 would have more than 100 BC PS4 games?

They are supposed to and it sure as heck ain't gonna happen if they let last gen tech hold them back.

They are supposed to? Since when? You all are old enough to know better but here we are talking about a next gen of consoles and supposedly being educated in hardware acting as if you all are new to console launches. This isn't 20 years ago where computational power for substantial for newer experiences. People speaking as if we are shifting to a new era of computational performance are severely detached from reality.

But this thread is about BC and somehow we sidetrack to other stuff. Surprise. 🤦‍♂️

Since the aging hardware becomes a roadblock to elements of game design.

That's really cool. Hoping Sony can do the same for supported title, sounds kind like they will -- minus the HDR part.

Didn't know that teh Series X wouldn't be 100% BC, though. Always thought it would be. Regardless, very good move by MSoft.

How often is that a problem? We have late gen games being ported to the Switch.😒

When the new systems launches, I would open to anyone pointing out the games that simply cannot be done existing platforms. I am not referring to just graphical upgrades.

And despite being released in 2015 run and look like trash on the Switch and it's widely thought to be miraculous they even managed to port TW3 on the Switch.

The second part of your post is exactly what they want the new experiences. They want them to showcase games that otherwise could not be done on current hardware. If they end up showcasing the same old trash with nicer graphics it's certainly wouldn't be the new hardware's fault but rather a lack of creativity.

The hardware is there for devs to exploit new possibilities and creative endeavors.

"Natively" just means it runs same emulator. There's no "Xbox One" mode or "Xbox One X" mode....it just runs....at the full extent of the Series X spec....just like a PC would. I think there's no blockade for Original Xbox to Xbox 360 as well but only licensing and testing the game before it can be released.

Getting newer AAA games is going to take longer then it is now. MS knows BC will help ease the time which is what Pedro is saying.

@Juub1990: All I'm saying is they have lots of experience with BC, the ps2 could run ps1 games and upscale them a bit (although I could never see the difference) and the ps3 could run both ps2 and ps1 games. Sony isn't new to BC and they aren't really starting from scratch.

Not sure how relevant BC from 20 years ago is to today honestly. Sony hasn't done BC compatibility in 13 years.

This is very true. However, that is always dependent on the developer. If while they are developing any game they find that the constraints of the older systems is just too much, I am all in favor of cutting ties. But, if their design is not constraint by the older systems, then I see no reason to cut ties.

Well yeah and this is what I want. For instance, Larian said Baldur's Gate 3 isn't possible on current-gen systems. I wouldn't want them to compromise their game to have it run on current gen. We want new experiences exactly because we don't want the same old shit. If it turns out they still deliver the same recycled stuff then I'm all for supporting systems all the way to the Xbox One or even Switch. I just hope they leverage the power of the new systems to give us something worthwhile with as little constraints as possible.

Another reason why XSX is my console of choice next gen... BC is very important to me.