Consumers deciding between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S have more information to work with, as a Microsoft spokesperson has clarified that the cheaper version of the next-gen console will play Xbox One S versions of its backward compatible games. Microsoft recently pulled back the curtain on its next-gen plans with a price point for both consoles, and the Xbox Series S has turned heads thanks to an agreeable $299 USD price tag - though it comes at the cost of less impressive hardware and a digital-only console infrastructure.
Regardless of which console consumers have been leaning towards, though, the debut of the Xbox Series X price has been a major victory for Microsoft. Interested parties were already becoming a bit more tepid on the PlayStation 5 as Sony continued to withhold the console's price and release date, but the Halo Infinite delay then threatened to deal a blow to anticipation for Xbox Series X, too. Revealing the release date and a price point that offers consumers two different, viable options has worked wonders for the perception of next-gen console gaming in general, though, and Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S remain a hot topic of discussion this week as a result.
A recent statement of clarification from a Microsoft spokesperson is a reminder that next-gen devices are still tech - and still have drawbacks depending on what sort of functionality they're offering. Such is the case with the Xbox Series S backward compatibility functionality, which, in a statement to GameSpew, was revealed by a Microsoft spokesperson to be a little less impressive than the Xbox Series X version of the service. Xbox Series S backward compatibility will use the Xbox One S versions of games. However, the spokesperson also stated they'd be upgraded on the Xbox Series S too:
"Xbox Series S was designed to be the most affordable next generation console and play next generation games at 1440P at 60fps. To deliver the highest quality backwards compatible experience consistent with the developer’s original intent, the Xbox Series S runs the Xbox One S version of backward compatible games while applying improved texture filtering, higher and more consistent frame rates, faster load times and Auto HDR."
While the revelation that Xbox Series S backward compatibility won't be quite as impressive as Xbox Series X, it's not the end of the world by any stretch. It's important to note that Xbox Series X backward compatibility and the Xbox Series S counterpart both upgrade games to look better through texture filtering and frame rate improvements.
One thing that's also worthy of mention is that Microsoft continues to prove it's taken a very pro-consumer slant to its Xbox Series X marketing. While Sony continues to mask its intentions regarding price and launch date, Microsoft has already announced the Xbox Series X release date, its price, and has now clarified some confusion on Xbox Series S functionality. Meanwhile, rumors have suggested Sony is strongly considering reducing the PS5 price to match Xbox Series X - which means it might be longer before fans actually know how much it'll cost to pick up Sony's next-gen console.
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series X release on November 10, 2020.
Source: GameSpew