Microsoft has clarified some information about it FPS boost, the recently announced enhancement feature that can be applied to backward-compatible games.
In mid-February, Microsoft announced the first batch of backward-compatible titles to take advantage of FPS Boost, a feature that enhances older games with higher, more stable frame rates to make games visually smoother.
The feature works at the system level and offers the ability to boost Xbox One games so that they run up to four times their original frame rate.
However, if you’ve been waiting for a favorite legacy title of yours to get this treatment, there could be disappointment.
Jason Ronald, Xbox director of program management, took to the latest Major Nelson podcast this week to further explain the feature (above).
During a chat on the podcast, Ronald shared information on how Microsoft can’t implement the upgrade on all older games, thanks to the way some titles are designed to work with their original frame rates.
“Unfortunately, this technique doesn’t work with all titles,” he explained (thanks, VGC). “In some cases, the way the game was originally written… we’ve tested some of these titles, but we’ve seen animations run twice as fast, or physics twice as fast.
“What’s critical to us is that we always respect the original intent of the creator, so that’s why we can do that at the platform level and then we work with the developer and publisher to make sure they still believe that this really matches what they originally intended. “
The first games to take advantage of the new feature are Far Cry 4, New Super Lucky’s Tale, Sniper Elite 4, UFC 4 and Watch Dogs 2, with more to be announced soon.
As to which games are being upgraded with enhanced FPS, Microsoft has noted popularity comes down to it. Microsoft plans to release a new Xbox Series update this spring with new menu icons and system settings that make managing your FPS settings more intuitive.