Microsoft Confirms “Doubled Frame-rate” Performance For Backward Compatibility On Xbox Series S Among Other Details

After the very abrupt reveal for the Xbox Series S earlier this month, many still questioning the integrity of the smaller, entry-level unit had inquires on how the system would still operate in contrast to the Xbox Series S. With only a third of the CPU power of its sibling console, the Xbox Series S is posed to still push the envelope of the next-generation offering 1440p resolution output with 60 frames per second and the potential to even reach 120 frames per second also.

Howbeit, while the console is capable to pull its weight for the new line of hardware, it cannot do everything. In that, it was confirmed by a statement Microsoft made where the firm clarified the Xbox Series S will not perform 4K enhancements found on the Xbox One X and the approaching Xbox Series X. But that was expected since the cheaper unit does not pursue the resolution target as said on the box.

Now, in a new report from Eurogamer, the publication spares new details on the capabilities for Xbox Series S and what it can perform when running backwards compatible titles. As you would presume from the new components in the Xbox Series S, games of prior generations are said to introduce visual outputs unachievable on its original platform: original Xbox and Xbox 360 games can expect 1440p pixel count.

For Xbox One titles, although certain entries were developed with a locked resolution in mind, it is told that these games are forecasted to perform at framerates double what was found on the original hardware.

We designed the Series S to enhance the Xbox One S games in a way that the Xbox One X can’t do. We made it easy for existing Xbox One S games to be updated to run with double the frame-rate when played on Series S as well. When games are updated, existing games can query to determine whether they’re running on the new console.

And in terms of the performance, the Series S provides well over double the effective CPU and GPU performance over the Xbox One, making it pretty straightforward for the games to do this. And in fact, the Series S GPU runs the Xbox One S games with better performance than the Xbox One X.

Andrew Goossen, Xbox System Architect

Expanding on how the game’s operated on the newer hardware, Goossen disclosed that both next-generation units offer complete overhauled power of its CPU & GPU to bring better results unlike the GPU-centered systems currently. Facing certain hiccups along the way when achieving games to work for backward compatibility, it is told that the situation at hand fluctuates based on the project’s source code. But in other situations, either internal teams or the developer themselves would have to jump in to resolve the issue.

“In some cases, for more service-based games or games that are still have active communities, it’ll actually be easier for the developer to do it,” Jason Ronald, Xbox Director of Product Management explains. “And then in other cases, we may be able to do things at our level, on behalf of the title, similar to how we’ve done it in the past.”

Alongside the promised functionality that can be found for Xbox Series S-powered backwards compatibility, HDR support implemented for older titles is also said to be present on the system also. What are your thoughts on the Xbox Series S’ capabilities?

Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X is set to release on November 10, 2020.

Source: Eurogamer