Select old Xbox games get FPS Boost on Series X, S

Higher frame rates take more work to enable than faster load times for older games.

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice

I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.

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Lori Grunin

Feb. 17, 2021 9:00 a.m. PT

wd2-ubicom-game-info-hack-everything — Watch Dogs 2 is one of the first games to benefit from Microsoft's FPS Boost on the Xbox Series X and Series S.
Ubisoft

Microsoft has created a new set of software tools for game developers dubbed FPS Boost, which make it possible to quickly improve frame rates of older games running on the new Xbox Series X and Series S game consoles on a case-by-case basis. FPS Boost will be applied to the first compatible games Wednesday via an automatic update. The company also says we'll see new menu iconography and options in an Xbox update rolling out this spring.

Some benefits automatically apply to all your old games running on the new consoles, thanks to speedier components like solid-state drives and systemwide features like Quick Resume. But despite faster hardware in the consoles, higher frame rates don't seem to be one of them.

The initial boosted titles are Far Cry 4, New Super Lucky's Tale, Sniper Elite 4, UFC 4 and Watch Dogs 2. As examples, Microsoft claims New Super Lucky's Tale can hit up to 120 frames per second, while UFC 4 targets 60 fps on the Xbox Series S. More frame-rate-adjusted titles are forthcoming.