We're on the cusp of trying out the Xbox Series X, with the next-gen Xbox console due to launch before the end of the year. While we wait, Microsoft has revealed a new "Optimized for Xbox Series X" badge.
The next-gen has been teased, trailered, and teaser trailered to death, but it's only in the last few months that we've really started to see the interesting stuff, like the tech inside the consoles, or how they look.
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While we wait to play Xbox Series X games for ourselves, read on to learn more about the logo that's been revealed and what "Optimized for Xbox Series X" actually means.
Optimized for Xbox Series X expained
"Optimized for Xbox Series X is the indicator for games that take advantage of the full power of Xbox Series X," Microsoft said in an Xbox Wire post.
"Since Xbox Series X offers developers unparalleled power and speed, this empowers them to create the experiences they want and embrace a range of features and capabilities based on what is best for their individual titles. When you hear a game has been Optimized for Xbox Series X, you’ll know that the developer has either natively designed or fully rebuilt their game to take full advantage of the unique capabilities of our most powerful console ever.
"Games featuring the Optimized for Xbox Series X badge can showcase anything from virtually eliminating load times via the Xbox Velocity Architecture, heightened visuals and hardware-accelerated DirectX raytracing powered by our custom, next generation GPU, to steadier and often higher framerates up to 120fps."
Optimized For Xbox Series X games: Which games are optimized for Xbox Series X?
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, Watch Dogs Legion, Halo Infinite and Gears 5 are all examples of games that will work on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
When you see that special "Optimized for Xbox Series X" badge, you'll know you've got your hands on the next-gen version of the software.
In a recent Xbox Wire blog post, Microsoft confirmed that the following games will proudly wear the Optimized For Xbox Series X badge...
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Bright Memory Infinite
- Call of the Sea
- Chivalry 2
- Chorus
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Destiny 2
- DiRT 5
- FIFA 21
- Gears 5
- Halo Infinite
- Hitman 3
- Madden NFL 21
- Marvel’s Avengers
- Outriders
- Scarlet Nexus
- Scorn
- Second Extinction
- The Ascent
- The Medium
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon
These optimized versions of the games will benefit from the SSD, the teraflops, the ray-tracing for graphics, and everything else that the Xbox Series X is adding to the technological mix.
What are the downsides to Optimised for Series X?
You may be wondering what the possible negatives of optimising these games could possibly be.
While nothing major, the 'Optimised for Series X' logo spoils the box art of any games that support the upgrade.
Perhaps this is just a move to entice players to buy their games digitally from now on.
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