Xbox Series X, Series S Optimized games list (4K, 120 FPS, Ray Tracing)
Every game "Optimized" for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, including resolutions, framerates, and the other next-gen upgrades to expect.
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S define Microsoft's next-generation vision, promising major graphical upgrades across your games, now clearer, smoother, and faster than ever before. The two consoles pack a ton of cutting-edge technology to enable those gains, with the latest CPU and GPU architectures from AMD, and lightning-fast solid-state storage.
While Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S play existing Xbox One titles via backward compatibility, most upcoming games (and select upgraded titles) perform best on next-gen hardware. Assigned the "Optimized for Xbox Series X|S" badge, these titles draw the best from their respective systems. While still early days, we've assembled a list of every confirmed Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S game, including resolutions, framerates, and other new features.
What is Optimized for Xbox Series X|S?
Microsoft's next Xbox flagship introduces a sizeable leap in horsepower, while its low-cost counterpart proves ideal for budget-conscious and casual players. While the new generation facilitates countless titles once impossible before Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the consoles also play thousands of existing Xbox One games out of the box. The "Optimized for Series X|S" label clearly denotes titles designed for next-generation systems, whether built from the ground up or retroactively updated with enhanced visuals.
Optimized for Series X|S is the broad term for next-generation titles, with many embracing each console's signature features. Those can include boosted resolution, upgraded framerates up to 120 frames-per-second (FPS), or high dynamic range (HDR) for popping colors. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S also pack ray tracing support for advanced lighting and reflections, enabled across some cutting-edge titles.
The final component is Xbox Smart Delivery, which ensures your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S automatically pulls the best available version of your game. To ease the transition from Xbox One, supported titles provide free visual upgrades without needing to buy them twice. While not mandatory on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, it's a consumer-friendly initiative for some cross-generation releases.
In short, Optimized for Series X|S represents the best of the new consoles. Titles sporting this badge feature Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S upgrades, bringing out the most value from your new Xbox.
List of Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S games
With next-generation hardware soon on store shelves, a growing number of titles have committed to upgrades. But not all upgrades will be available on November 10. We've rounded up all the games with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S patches scheduled for launch day, including their performance targets and features for each console. This list will regularly update as new optimizations go live.
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Xbox Series X, Series S Optimized Games at launch
Game | Resolution | HDR | FPS | Ray Tracing | Smart Delivery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ailment & Endurance Bundle | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Anodyne 2 | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Another Dawn | - | - | - | - | Yes |
ARK: Survival Evolved | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Assassin's Creed Valhalla | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS on Xbox Series X, 30 FPS on Xbox Series S | No | Yes |
Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom | - | - | - | - | - |
Borderlands 3 | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Bright Memory 1.0 | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | No | 60 FPS | No | N/A |
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS - 120 FPS on Xbox Series X, 60 FPS on Xbox Series S | Yes | No |
Call of Duty: Warzone | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 120 FPS on Xbox Series X, 60 FPS on Xbox Series S | No | No |
Cuisine Royale | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | No | 60 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Dead by Daylight | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | No | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition | 1080p - 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 30 FPS - 120 FPS on Xbox Series X, 30 FPS - 60 FPS on Xbox Series S | Yes (On Series X) | No |
DiRT 5 | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS - 120 FPS | - | Yes |
Enlisted | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | - | 60 FPS | Yes | N/A |
Evergate | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS | No | - |
The Falconeer | 1800p - 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p - 1800p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60FPS - 120FPS | No | Yes |
Fortnite | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Forza Horizon 4 | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Gears Tactics | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Gears 5 | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS - 120 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Grounded | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
King Oddball | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | 120 FPS | No | Yes |
Maneater | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS | No (Coming Soon) | Yes |
Manifold Garden | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
NBA 2K21 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | Yes | No |
Observer: System Redux | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | Yes | No |
Ori and the Will of the Wisps | 4K - 6K supersampled on Xbox Series X, 1080p - 4K on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 - 120 FPS | No | Yes |
Planet Coaster | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | No | Yes |
Sea of Thieves | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Tetris Effect: Connected | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
The Touryst | 4K on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S | No | 120 FPS | No | Yes |
War Thunder | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | - | 60 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Warhammer Chaosbane: Slayer Edition | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | - |
Watch Dogs Legion | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 30 FPS | Yes | Yes |
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | Yes |
Yakuza: Like a Dragon | 1440p - 4K on Xbox Series X, 900p - 1440p on Xbox Series S | No | 30 FPS - 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Yes, Your Grace | - | - | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
But with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S serving an entirely new hardware generation, all the top upcoming releases have eyes set on optimizations, too. We've also rounded up all the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S still to come, including the performance targets and known features so far.
Xbox Series X, Series S Optimized Games coming soon
Game | Resolution | HDR | FPS | Ray Tracing | Smart Delivery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 Minutes | - | - | - | - | - |
Apex Legends | - | - | - | - | N/A |
As Dusk Falls | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | - | - |
Avowed | - | - | - | - | N/A |
Balan Wonderworld | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead | - | - | - | - | - |
Bright Memory: Infinite | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Call of the Sea | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Chivalry 2 | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Chorus: Rise as One | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Concept Destruction | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
Control | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | No — Upgrade via Ultimate Edition |
Cris Tales | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | - |
CrossCode | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | No | Yes |
CrossfireX | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | Yes |
Cyberpunk 2077 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | Yes |
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing | - | - | - | - | - |
Dead Island 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
Dead Static Drive | - | - | - | - | - |
Demon Turf | - | - | - | - | - |
Destiny 2 | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Dustborn | - | - | - | - | - |
Dying Light 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
Echo Generation | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
Everwild | - | - | - | - | N/A |
ExoMecha | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | - | Yes |
Exo One | - | - | - | - | - |
Fable | - | - | - | - | N/A |
Far Cry 6 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
FIFA 21 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | No | No — Limited Time Upgrade via EA |
Football Manager 2021 Xbox Edition | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Forza Motorsport | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | Yes | N/A |
For Honor | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60 FPS | No | - |
Flea Madness | - | - | - | - | - |
Ghostrunner | - | - | - | - | Yes |
GONNER2 | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Gothic | - | - | - | - | - |
Grand Theft Auto V | - | - | - | - | - |
Halo Infinite | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 120 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Halo: The Master Chief Collection | Dynamic 4K on Xbox Series X, 1080p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 120 FPS | No | Yes |
Hello Neighbor 2 | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | Yes |
HITMAN 3 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | Yes |
Hood: Outlaws and Legends | - | - | - | - | - |
Hyper Scape | - | - | - | - | - |
Immortals Fenyx Rising | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Just Dance 2021 | - | - | - | - | Yes |
JYDGE | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | No | Yes |
Lake | - | - | - | - | - |
Last Stop | - | - | - | - | - |
Madden NFL 21 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | No — Limited Time Upgrade via EA |
Mad Streets | - | - | - | - | - |
Marvel's Avengers | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | Yes |
Metal: Hellsinger | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | - | Yes |
MicroMan | - | - | - | - | - |
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | - | - |
Mortal Kombat 11 | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Mørkredd | - | - | - | - | - |
No Man's Sky | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS on Xbox Series X, 30 FPS - 60 FPS on Xbox Series S | - | Yes |
Nth^0: Infinity Reborn | - | - | - | - | - |
Orphan of the Machine | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | - | - |
Outriders | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | Yes |
Overcooked! All You Can Eat | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | 60 FPS | - | - |
Overwatch 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
Paradise Lost | - | - | - | - | - |
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Poker Club | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | Yes | Yes |
Pragmata | - | - | - | - | No |
Psychonauts 2 | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | - | - | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
Recompile | - | - | - | - | - |
Resident Evil Village | - | - | - | - | N/A |
RIDE 4 | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | Yes | Yes |
Riders Republic | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | No | Yes |
Rogue Company | 4K on Xbox Series X, 1440p on Xbox Series S | - | 120 FPS | - | Yes |
Roots of Pacha | - | - | - | - | - |
Samurai Shodown | - | - | - | - | - |
Scarlet Nexus | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | - | - | Yes |
Scorn | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | 60 FPS | - | N/A |
Second Extinction | - | No | 120 FPS | - | Yes |
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II | - | - | - | - | N/A |
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One | - | - | - | - | - |
Shredders | - | - | - | - | - |
Song of Iron | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS | - | - |
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 60 FPS | Yes | N/A |
State of Decay 3 | - | - | - | - | N/A |
Starfield | - | - | - | - | - |
Star Wars: Squadrons | Dynamic 4K on Xbox Series X, Dynamic 1440p on Xbox Series S | HDR | 60FPS - 120FPS on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S | No | No |
The Artful Escape | - | - | - | - | - |
The Ascent | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
The Big Con | - | - | - | - | - |
The Elder Scrolls VI | - | - | - | - | - |
The Gunk | - | - | 60 FPS | - | Yes |
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum | - | - | - | - | - |
The Medium | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 30 FPS | Yes | N/A |
The Outer Worlds | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | - | - | Yes |
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine | - | - | - | - | - |
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege | 4K on Xbox Series X | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Tunic | - | - | - | - | - |
Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
Undead Horde | 4K on Xbox Series X | - | 120 FPS | No | Yes |
Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy | - | - | - | - | - |
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 | - | - | - | - | Yes |
Warframe | - | - | - | - | - |
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | 60 FPS | - | N/A |
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood | - | - | - | - | - |
World of Tanks | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | Yes |
World of Warships: Legends | 4K on Xbox Series X | HDR | - | - | Yes |
Expect new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S Optimized titles in the lead-up to (and beyond) the console launch, currently scheduled for later in 2020. Let us know which existing or upcoming games you'd like to see upgraded for Xbox Series X in the comments section below.
What is 4K resolution for Xbox Series X?
Many Xbox Series X Optimized games support 4K, referring to the output resolution, or the number of pixels shown on-screen. The 4K output of Xbox Series X results in 8.2 million pixels, arranged in a 3840 x 2160 arrangement, bringing improved clarity over much of the Xbox One family. While the Xbox One X supports 4K gaming, the Xbox Series X treats 4K as a baseline and more consistently hits that target without visual trickery. The Xbox Series S does not target 4K gaming, commonly delivering 1080p and 1440p instead.
What is HDR for Xbox Series X?
High dynamic range (HDR) has seen a steady rise in gaming, with Microsoft first jumping aboard with Xbox One S and Xbox One X, with efforts extending to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The technique relates to how images are displayed on-screen, outputting higher contrast ratios and wider color gamuts across visuals. The result is striking vibrance, with darker blacks, blinding whites, and all the intertwined details. It's less taxing than many other enhancements but has a considerable impact on games' overall tone.
What's the difference between 60 FPS and 120 FPS?
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S put a notable focus on higher framerates, enabled by upgrades to hardware. The number of frames displayed over a certain period directly relates to gameplay's fluidity, measured in frames-per-second (FPS), with higher framerates enabling smoother experiences. For example, while many Xbox One games run at 30 FPS, some push to 60 FPS in pursuit of fluid gameplay.
While the Xbox One supports 60 FPS and beyond, many games failed to push beyond 30 FPS due to hardware limitations. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S alleviate several bottlenecks, with Microsoft suggesting 60 FPS will emerge as a more frequent baseline for the next generation. Many Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S titles also pursue 120 FPS, enabling previously impossible experiences, once reserved for PC.
What is ray tracing for Xbox Series X?
Interest and investment in ray tracing have risen, with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, and NVIDIA's GeForce RTX GPU lineup all tailored for support. This advanced rendering technology elevates video game lighting and better simulates how light interacts with virtual objects. It's the next advancement in lighting and reflections, with a profound impact on scenes' portrayal.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S deliver ray tracing through Microsoft's own DirectX Raytracing technology, coupled with internals specifically designed to support its debut. The best example comes with Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox Series X, showcasing London in an all-new light.
Are Xbox Series X, Series S games free upgrades?
It depends. Xbox Series X|S Optimized denotes games designed with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in mind, enabling higher resolutions, improved framerates, and other upgrades previously impossible with the Xbox One family. If an Optimized game releases on Xbox One too, developers can choose to provide free cross-generation upgrades, making a move to the new console a little easier.
The main upgrade route involves Smart Delivery, Microsoft's standardized initiative for friction-free upgrades between consoles. Supported Xbox Smart Delivery titles automatically grant the best available version for your console, meaning that if you buy Halo Infinite on Xbox One, a better version awaits when you switch to Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. That works for physical discs and digital downloads, with Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and more among early adopters.
However, Smart Delivery isn't mandatory, and developers aren't obligated to provide a free upgrade. For example, when a developer puts additional time into developing visual enhancements, they're allowed to charge for their effects on Xbox Series consoles. For added confusion, publishers like Electronic Arts opted out of Smart Delivery with Madden NFL 21 and FIFA 21, while still providing a free upgrade via a more restrictive limited-time offer.
Xbox Series X/S
Main
- Xbox Series X: Everything we know
- Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
- List of Xbox Series X specs
- What is the Xbox Series X release date?
- How much does Xbox Series X cost?
- Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
- Best Xbox Series X Headsets
Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.