Xbox Series X and S Backwards Compatibility Explained

Published 10/28/2020, 2:41 PM EDT

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With the arrival of next-gen consoles in mid-November, fans expect much more than just high-end specifications. There are several additional features that will decide the fate of the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S. One such feature is backwards compatibility. Jason Ronald from Xbox’s team recently tweeted about backwards compatibility in Microsoft’s next-gen consoles:

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Fans can play all the Xbox One games on the Series X and S

Since the arrival of Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s approach towards gaming has been limpid. The company is focusing on the expansion of its gaming eco-system and to do so it has ensured backwards compatibility in its consoles.

With this feature, players can play games that were originally built for previous generations. For example, a Series X user will be able to play Assassin’s Creed3, which was originally built for Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

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Jason explained that after 500K+ hours of testing, the developers are sure about the backwards compatibility on the Series X/S. Players can now easily play a lot of their current-gen and previous-gen games on the Series X and S.

“All Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games playable on Xbox One today, except for the handful that require Kinect, will be available-and look and play better-on Xbox Series X/S at launch.”

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What is the big deal with backwards compatibility?

A layperson might think a previous-gen game should obviously run on a next-gen console. However, consoles are built differently and games rely on a console’s hardware to run. As a result, developers have to work hard to ensure backwards compatibility in a console. In simple terms, they need to assemble Xbox One’s hardware inside of a Series X to ensure this feature.

For the fans, this feature is such a big deal because they can continue playing their favorite games with better graphics and performance. It reduces the burden of shifting the consoles while playing different games. Also, a lot of new gamers can experience old games on their latest consoles.

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Confused About Backwards Compatibility on PS5? Sony Explains How It Will Work

Undoubtedly, backwards compatibility on a next-gen console is a very important feature. Both Microsoft and Sony seem to realize this. Consequently, the console-giants ensure that their users will be able to play current-gen games with the utmost ease.

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Written by:

Aakrit Sharma

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Aakrit Sharma is an eSports author at EssentiallySports, and has written over 600 articles for their eSports division. He is an undergradate student at Delhi University. From getting chased by The Dahaka while playing Prince of Persia Warrior Within, to sweating his way up in ranked Apex Legends matches, he developed his consuming passion for the massive world of gaming and now writes about it with the same enthusiasm.
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