If you love going through your old games and cracking open some classics, you're likely familiar with how well the Xbox line handles backward compatibility. However did you know that the Xbox Series X and S can enhance older games to run even better, using FPS Boost?
Let's explore what the Xbox FPS Boost feature does, and how you can use it to give those old games a fresh lick of paint.
What Is the Xbox FPS Boost Feature?
The Xbox FPS Boost feature allows you to squeeze out that extra bit of performance when you play an older generation game on the Xbox Series X or S. You don't need to re-buy the game, nor do you need to subscribe to any premium plans or buy anything to unlock FPS Boost.
FPS Boost exists because of the big jump in hardware specifications between the Xbox One and the Xbox Series X and S. With all that new and powerful hardware, the console has more resources available to it. That means it can render older games at a higher quality than the console game developers originally programmed them for.
Related: Almost 100 Xbox Games Now Look Better Thanks to "FPS Boost"
The best bet is, Microsoft can do this without the original developer lifting a finger. The game requires no additional patches, and the developer doesn't need to create a special "FPS Boost edition" of the game. Microsoft just flips the switch, and the game runs better.
Unfortunately, to get some games to run better, Microsoft has had to reduce the resolution of some titles. Here, FPS Boost won't work by default, so you can still enjoy the original resolution if you want to. However, if FPS Boost improves performance with no detrimental effects, FPS Boost will be the default setting.
Can I Play Any Older Xbox Game With FPS Boost?
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, FPS Boost doesn't support every older game. However, it is working hard to bring as many classic Xbox games onto FPS Boost.
Increasing the performance of an older game is not as easy as just giving it to newer hardware and calling it a day. The increased system power may push the game to limits developers didn't program it to handle, which causes glitches and bugs that don't exist in the non-boosted version.
Microsoft has to ensure that the game doesn't break after it applies the boost to it. This means a lot of testing and bug-finding before confirming that the game runs as stable as the original release.
To see all the games supported by FPS Boost, head over to the Major Nelson blog. There you'll find every game that's currently supported by FPS Boost.
Even if you don't see your favorite game on the list, be sure to bookmark the webpage and check in every so often. Major Nelson updates the table every time new entries get a next-gen makeover, so it's not exhaustive.
Is the FPS Boost Feature Weaker on the Xbox Series S?
Astute readers will wonder if the Xbox Series S has a weaker FPS Boost than the Series X. This is due to the weaker hardware that the Xbox Series S uses.
Related: Xbox Series X vs. Xbox Series S: Which One Should You Buy?
While the majority of the FPS boosted games run the same on both the Xbox Series X and S, some entries do fall by the wayside. Some games will only reach 60Hz on the Series S, while the Series X version can hit 120Hz.
For some of the really resource-intensive games, the Xbox Series S won't have an FPS Boost option at all. These are labeled as "not available" under the Xbox Series S category in the list above.
How to Enable FPS Boost for Your Xbox Games
If your game supports FPS Boost, you can turn it on with ease. While the game is running, push the Xbox button on your controller, then select your game. Select Manage games and addons, then compatibility options, then tick the box next to FPS Boost. Restart the game and it'll get some extra oomph from your newer hardware.
A Little Extra Boost at No Extra Cost
Xbox consoles have always been fantastic for backward compatibility, but the Xbox Series X and S take it up a notch. Some of the old classics from the previous generation now have enhanced graphics, and the list will only expand as time goes on.
For a while, the Xbox was the only console that had such a feature. However, Sony has since stepped up to the plate with its own version called "Game Boost."
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