Things you never knew your Xbox Series X could do

From a hardware perspective, there’s no doubt that the Xbox Series X is an outstanding console. While this new technology won’t be marked through as big of a soar in images excellent as we’ve visible in preceding generations, the Xbox Series X though has a few capabilities and abilties that make it experience like a real next-gen machine. If you simply unwrapped an Xbox Series X over the holidays, right here are a few remarkable matters you could now no longer recognize it could do.

Improve framerates in older video games

Backward compatibility has been a chief attention of Microsoft’s because approximately midway via the preceding technology. That the Xbox Series X can play Xbox One video games along side a few Xbox 360 and OG Xbox titles ought to now no longer come as a shock. However, what is probably a marvel is that the Xbox Series X can use its expanded images electricity to run older video games at better framerates via a characteristic referred to as FPS Boost.

FPS Boost is to be had in pick out video games from the Xbox 360 and Xbox One libraries. In maximum cases, FPS Boost will deliver video games as much as 60 frames consistent with 2nd whilst performed on Xbox Series X, however a few will pass all of the manner as much as one hundred twenty frames consistent with 2nd. While FPS Boost is became on through default for lots video games that guide the characteristic, a few video games must run at a reduced decision to hit that 60fps mark. In the ones cases, FPS Boost won’t be became on through default, however you may see how to show it on withinside the video embedded above.

You also can see a whole listing of video games that guide FPS Boost through finding out Major Nelson’s blog. He maintains an up to date listing of FPS Boost video games there, so that you can quick inform which of your older titles guide the characteristic. FPS Boost is a outstanding purpose to revisit conventional video games which could were caught at 30 frames consistent with 2nd on release, however be warned: after you get used to gambling at 60fps, it’s tough to head returned.

It could make older video games appearance higher, too

In addition to FPS Boost, the Xbox Series X gives a characteristic referred to as Auto HDR. While many Xbox Series X video games will guide HDR, Auto HDR permits you to use the ones visible upgrades to older, backward like minded titles that didn’t guide HDR at launch. Like FPS Boost, handiest a pick out wide variety of backward like minded titles guide Auto HDR, aleven though a complete listing of video games that guide it’s far more difficult to discover.

You can test to peer if man or woman video games guide Auto HDR through beginning the “Manage Game” settings for any identify for your Xbox library after which selecting “Compatibility Options.” You’ll want a TV that helps HDR10 to apply Auto HDR, and, as is the case with FPS Boost, maximum video games that guide Auto HDR will toggle the characteristic on routinely.

While Auto HDR isn’t going to enhance the images withinside the backward like minded video games you play, it’ll lead them to appearance higher, with deeper blacks and extra colourful colorings similar to every other HDR media. It’s a pleasant contact that elevates backward like minded video games, so when you have a TV that helps HDR10, make certain to play with Auto HDR became on whilst you dive into your conventional video games collection.

Use Dolby Vision to take HDR one step further

Standard HDR is a outstanding addition that facilitates video games appearance higher, however if you’ve were given a TV that helps Dolby Vision, you ought to recognize that Xbox Series X helps it, too. Microsoft rolled out reputable Dolby Vision guide for the Xbox Series X|S consoles returned in September, however unfortunately, now no longer each sport will guide the characteristic. Microsoft says that, in all, round a hundred video games guide Dolby Vision, aleven though that wide variety handiest stands to boom withinside the future.

You can see a few examples of the way Dolby Vision improves the usual HDR enjoy withinside the trailer we’ve embedded above. Keep in thoughts that the TV you’re the use of have to guide Dolby Vision itself earlier than you may use this characteristic. You can test to peer if the TV has this guide via your Xbox through hitting the Xbox manual button, then going into Settings > General > TV & show alternatives > 4K TV details.

If your Xbox tells you that your show does certainly guide Dolby Vision, you may flip it on through going into Settings > General > TV & show alternatives > Video modes > Dolby Vision for Gaming and faucet into the progressed HDR that incorporates it.

Don’t throw out your antique controllers

Generally speaking, whilst new gaming hardware is released, the add-ons for older consoles come to be obsolete. For instance, you may’t use a Super Nintendo gamepad with a Nintendo sixty four or a Wii U gamepad with a Nintendo Switch. Of course, there are a few exceptions to that rule, and the Xbox Series X is certainly considered one among them.

Even aleven though the Xbox Series X ships with a barely redesigned controller that borrows a few factors from the Xbox Elite Controller, you may additionally use your antique Xbox One controllers with the Series X, as properly. It doesn’t prevent at controllers, both, as many Xbox One add-ons will paintings with Xbox Series X. Have an antique Xbox One Stereo Headset you need to maintain the use of? It’s like minded. The equal is going for the Xbox One Chatpad, consider it or now no longer.

In a large win for accessibility, the Xbox Adaptive Controller is likewise like minded with the Xbox Series X, so that you can deliver your accessibility setup into the brand new technology while not having to extrade anything. If you’ve got got an Xbox Wireless Controller which you love (possibly one which changed into made with Xbox Design Lab?), you may maintain the use of that with Series X hardware. Sadly, the Xbox One Kinect sensor is one of the preceding-gen add-ons that aren’t like minded with Xbox Series X, so it looks as if Kinect is properly and without a doubt dead.

Boot antique video games from an outside pressure

One of the best matters approximately the Xbox Series X is the SSD it’s packing. Like the PS5, the Xbox Series X has a rapid inner SSD that cuts returned considerably on loading instances. There’s even an growth slot at the returned of the console that may be used with Seagate’s Expansion Cards, which are available in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB sizes and are simply as speedy because the inner SSD.

In addition to the ones growth playing cards, the Xbox Series X additionally helps USB 3.1 outside tough drives and SSDs with one fundamental caveat: Xbox Series X video games want to be mounted on both the inner SSD or one of these Seagate Expansion Cards to be able to boot. So, with that during thoughts, what use is an outside HDD?

While Xbox Series X video games must be mounted elsewhere, backward like minded video games may be mounted on and booted from an outside pressure. So, if you’ve were given a spare outside pressure laying round, plug it into your Xbox Series X and flow all your virtual Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox video games to it, leaving your inner SSD and growth playing cards loose to save your Xbox Series X video games. Just make sure that the outside pressure is USB 3.1, or it won’t paintings.

Kick it into night time mode and dim the lighting

If you’re a night time owl who, say, stocks a bed room with a person who’d instead sleep than be saved up through your late-night time gaming habits, then Xbox Series X’s night time mode is really well worth searching into. Not handiest can you operate it to dim the mild coming from the show, however you may additionally use it to dim the lighting at the Xbox controller and the console itself, even turning them off completely.

Night mode has a stunning wide variety of alternatives to it, permitting you to clear out out blue mild to severe stages or time table night time mode in order that it’s routinely enabled and disabled at positive instances every day. Even higher is that any screenshots or videos you’re taking whilst night time mode is enabled will seem as regular notwithstanding some thing settings you could have active. You can personalize your night time mode settings through going to Profile & System > Settings > Accessibility > Night mode.

Stream video games on your telecellsmartphone or computer

Microsoft already gives sport streaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, however did you realize that you may additionally move nearby video games out of your console to some other tool over the net? Through the oft-overshadowed Xbox Remote Play characteristic, you may do simply that and move video games which might be mounted in your Xbox to a telecellsmartphone or a PC.

You’ll want numerous matters to get going with Xbox Remote Play, beginning with a telecellsmartphone or pill going for walks both Android 6.0+ or iOS 10+ or a PC going for walks Windows 10 or 11. You’ll manifestly additionally want an Xbox Series X|S (or an Xbox One), and an Xbox Wireless Controller that connects via Bluetooth. Microsoft additionally recommends a 5GHz net reference to 10Mbps down load speeds or faster.

If you’ve were given all of that, then all you want to do is down load the Xbox app at the tool you need to move to and observe the setup commands for Xbox Remote Play. Do that, and in no time, you’ll be streaming your nearby video games library and dodging the $14.ninety nine price to move video games from the cloud through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Wrap-Up

The Xbox Series X is an outstanding console now no longer simply from a hardware perspective, however from a capabilities perspective as properly. We already knew that the Xbox Series X might play video games properly, however with the capabilities indexed right here – and assuming you’re fortunate sufficient to discover Xbox Series X stock – you may increase the enjoy past that of mere gaming consoles.