Players who have not yet bought an Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X can still play some current-gen games on the Xbox One. While not every new game can be played on last-gen consoles, anyone can play Series X games on Xbox One as long as that game's developer supports Smart Delivery and they have a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Microsoft's Smart Delivery allows for up and down compatibility across systems, and it is also how players can enjoy older titles, like ones from the original Xbox, on the Series X.

Lately, Microsoft has been decently generous when it comes to interchangeable Xbox game compatibility. Consumers have been aware for a while that the Xbox Series X and S can run an extensive list of older titles - including ones from the original Xbox - allowing for faster loading times, higher resolution, and more stable frame rates for classic games dating all the way back to 2001. With recent updates to Xbox Cloud Gaming combined with Smart Delivery, playing both older and newer games is easier than ever.

Looking for a quick video walkthrough on how to play Xbox Series X games on Xbox One? Check out the breakdown from Xbox On on YouTube below to see how easy it is!

Smart Delivery ensures that each game is being played at its best version possible for whatever console is being used, no matter whether players are on the Series X or playing Series X games on Xbox One.

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How To Play Series X Games On Xbox One

A split-screen image of an Xbox Series X and an Xbox One

Players looking to play Xbox Series X games on Xbox One will need to have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, as this is the only way to be enrolled in Xbox Cloud Gaming. Once a Game Pass Ultimate subscription is held, players simply need to navigate to the Xbox Cloud Gaming icon on their desktop to view the list of available titles. Xbox Cloud Gaming can also be accessed through PCs, phones, smart TVs, and tablets, provided players have a fast enough internet connection.

Allowing Xbox Series X games to be played on Xbox One is a major change to how the video game industry has traditionally done things, as Microsoft is now putting the focus back on the games themselves. Essentially, it's rewarding faithful fans who've previously invested in Xbox products to be able to enjoy new content without dropping hundreds of dollars on an Xbox Series X. It allows for players to feel confident they've made a good investment in the Xbox brand, as they will not have to repurchase a game to experience it on a different Xbox console.

Wondering just exactly what Xbox Series X games are playable on Xbox One right now? The list of titles is constantly changing depending on what gets removed or added to Game Pass, but the most up-to-date catalog can be found on the official Xbox Cloud Gaming website!

Additionally, Smart Delivery-supported games' save data will also carry over across systems. This means if a user has been enjoying a game on Xbox One and they purchase an Xbox Series X, that data will be available for them on the new console. Similarly, if a household has one version in the living room and another in a bedroom, they can hop on either and pick up where they left off. Smart Delivery also supports both digital and physical Xbox Series X and Xbox One games.

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  • Xbox Series X Logo Poster
    Xbox Series X/S
    Released:
    2020-11-10
    Platform:
    Xbox (Original), Xbox One S, Xbox Series X, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One X
    Publisher:
    Xbox Game Studios