How To Turn On FPS Boost on an Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X is a powerhouse of a console, and it’s also backward compatible. If you’re playing old games for the sake of nostalgia, the Xbox Series X can increase the framerate of certain games from the original 30 to 60 FPS. Of course, you need to be playing supported games only.

If you’re not sure how to turn on FPS Boost for your games, keep on reading. Here you’ll find out what games are compatible with this special feature. We’ll also answer some questions related to the topic.

What Is FPS Boost?

Many modern games are designed to run at 60 FPS – for every second that passes, the monitor you’re playing on will display 60 frames. 60 FPS allows for a very smooth experience and better response times.

However, games in the past might not have been able to reach 60 FPS. It was extremely demanding on older consoles, especially if the games were large. While some games like F-Zero GX ran at 480p60 on a GameCube, later games might only have reached 720p30 or 480p30.

Many older titles on the Xbox 360 were not at 60 FPS. Since Xbox One consoles didn’t give them any graphic improvements, Microsoft decided to act.

On the Xbox Series X/S, certain titles received “unlocks” for their framerate. Originally at 30 FPS, these games can now run at 60 or even 120 FPS. The latter applied only to certain games released on Xbox One.

Very old titles can now be played with a modern framerate for a better experience. 30 FPS games are now very rare except for cut-down versions on weaker platforms. 60 FPS offers a much more enjoyable gaming session and everything looks fluid.

FPS Boost doesn’t require you to have any knowledge of coding or programming. All you need to do is to press a few buttons. Some games don’t even require you to press any extra buttons.

Now that you know what FPS Boost is, you can check and see if your old games are compatible with it.

Xbox Series X: How to Turn On FPS Boost

Is the FPS Boost on by Default?

To enable the FPS Boost feature, you have to ensure your games are supported. Some games have it on by default, such as Battlefield 4 and Dying Light. By loading these games into your console, you can instantly experience boosted framerates.

Other games like Fallout 4 and Star Wars Battlefront II don’t have FPS Boost on by default. That doesn’t mean you can’t activate it, but you need to do it manually. FPS Boost will stay on for as long as you own the game or until you disable it.

As you can see, it depends on the game itself. A majority of games supporting FPS Boost will automatically have it enabled the moment you launch it.

How to Enable FPS Boost on an Xbox Series X

To enable FPS Boost, you need to own an Xbox Series X or S. Some games can only use FPS Boost on the Series X, which allows for 120 FPS gameplay. A Series S has fewer 120 FPS game choices, but there are still plenty of them.

To enable FPS Boost on your Xbox Series X, follow these steps:

1. Turn your Xbox Series X/S on.
   
2. Go to “My Games & Apps” on your Xbox.
   
3. Highlight any compatible game with the cursor.
   
4. Press the Menu button on your controller.
   
5. Choose “Manage Game and Add-Ons.”
   
6. Select “Compatibility Options” from the menu.
   
7. Ensure the “FPS Boost” box is checked.
   
8. Go back to the main screen.
9. Repeat for as many games as you like.
10. Restart your console for the changes to take effect.
11. Play any game with a higher framerate than previously possible.

According to Microsoft, all of the supported titles have been extensively tested to ensure the FPS Boost doesn’t break the game. As the Xbox Series X/S are powerful consoles, you shouldn’t experience any drops in performance. There are occasionally visual glitches or issues, but nothing major and game-breaking.

To enable FPS Boost, you should always have the latest update installed. If you haven’t updated your console in a while, you won’t be able to take advantage of the fluid visuals courtesy of the upgrades. Connect to the internet and start updating.

While you’re in-game you can tap the Xbox button to check if FPS Boost is on. The overlay will have the information at the top-right corner.

Auto HDR

Another possible upgrade with these games is auto HDR. This feature is a visual enhancer that boosts the game’s colors. It also helps with the lighting to an extent.

HDR works by digitally reproducing a scene with extra colors, focusing on detail. In older games, HDR can help the scenes appear more realistic, such as showing motion in the shadows or granting objects extra textures never seen before.

This feature can make visually stunning games compared to playing them on their original consoles. Combined with FPS Boost, you can almost forget they were made for previous-generation consoles. They would look almost like the high-quality games released today.

To enable Auto HDR, follow these steps:

1. Turn your Xbox Series X/S on.
   
2. Go to “My Games & Apps” on your Xbox.
   
3. Highlight any compatible game with the cursor.
   
4. Press the Menu button on your controller.
   
5. Choose “Manage Game and Add-Ons.”
   
6. Select “Compatibility Options” from the menu.
   
7. Ensure the “Auto HDR” box is checked.
   
8. Go back to the main screen.
9. Repeat for as many games as you like.
10. Restart your console for the changes to take effect.
11. Play any game with better colors than before.

It’s found near the FPS Boost check box, so you can turn them both on while you’re at it.

Auto HDR may not boost a game’s graphics the right way, so you need to see if your game looks better with it on. If not, you should turn it off and give your Xbox Series X/S a break.

Will There Be More Games Supporting FPS Boost?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Microsoft is continuously testing titles and confirming that FPS Boost will grant gamers a superior experience than before. The company will release updates gradually and increase the number of games compatible with FPS Boost.

That’s why it’s a good idea to stay up-to-date on the latest Xbox news. You never know if your old games are going to support FPS Boost and other features in the next update.

Additional FAQs

Which games feature FPS boost?

To show you how many games are capable of supporting FPS Boost, we found a large list. Here it is:

• Alien Isolation

• Anthem

• Assassin’s Creed III Remastered

• Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered

• Assassin’s Creed The Ezio Collection

• Assassin’s Creed Unity

• Battle Chasers: Nightwar

• Battlefield 1

• Battlefield 4

• Battlefield Hardline

• Battlefield V

• Beholder Complete Edition

• Dead Island Definitive Edition

• Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition

• Deus Ex Mankind Divided

• DiRT 4

• Dishonored – Definitive Edition

• Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

• Don’t Starve: Giant Edition

• Dragon Age: Inquisition

• Dungeon Defenders II

• Dying Light

• Fallout 4

• Fallout 76

• Far Cry 4

• Far Cry 5

• Far Cry New Dawn

• Far Cry Primal

• Gears of War 4

• Golf with your Friends

• Halo Wars 2

• Halo: Spartan Assault

• Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition

• Homefront: The Revolution

• Hyperscape

• Island Saver

• LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

• LEGO Jurassic World

• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2

• LEGO Marvel Superheroes

• LEGO Marvel’s Avengers

• LEGO STAR WARS: The Force Awakens

• LEGO The Hobbit

• LEGO The Incredibles

• LEGO Worlds

• Life is Strange

• Life is Strange 2

• Lords of the Fallen

• Mad Max

• Metro 2033 Redux

• Metro: Last Light Redux

• Mirror’s Edge Catalyst

• Monster Energy Supercross 3

• MotoGP 20

• Moving Out

• My Friend Pedro

• My Time at Portia

• New Super Lucky’s Tale

• Overcooked! 2

• Paladins

• Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare

• Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2

• Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville

• Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid

• Prey

• Realm Royale

• ReCore

• Sea of Solitude

• Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition

• Shadow Warrior 2

• Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition

• SMITE

• Sniper Elite 4

• STAR WARS Battlefront

• STAR WARS Battlefront II

• Steep

• Super Lucky’s Tale

• SUPERHOT

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

• The Evil Within 2 (PsychoBreak 2 in Japan)

• The Gardens Between

• The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame

• The LEGO Movie Videogame

• Titanfall

• Titanfall 2

• Tom Clancy’s The Division

• Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

• Totally Reliable Delivery Service

• Two Point Hospital

• UFC 4

• Unravel 2

• Unruly Heroes

• Untitled Goose Game

• Wasteland 3

• Watch Dogs 2

• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

To find more details about them, you can search for them on Google. The Xbox Series X tends to have better options and supports more games.

How do I disable FPS boost?

If you don’t want to have FPS enabled or it’s causing visual glitches, you should turn it off. The technology isn’t perfect, and there may be unforeseen bugs and problems. Here are the steps to turning FPS Boost off:

1. Turn your Xbox Series X/S on.

2. Go to “My Games & Apps” on your Xbox.

3. Highlight any compatible game with the cursor.

4. Press the Menu button on your controller.

5. Choose “Manage Game and Add-Ons.”

6. Select “Compatibility Options” from the menu.

7. Ensure the “FPS Boost” box is unchecked.

8. Go back to the main screen.

9. Repeat for as many games as you like.

10. Restart your console for the changes to take effect.

11. Play any game with a higher framerate than previously possible.

Play With Better Graphics

With FPS Boost on, your older games are given a new lease on life. You’ll find that the higher framerates make the game more enjoyable and smoother to play. Thanks to the powerful Xbox Series X/S consoles, retro-gaming can be extra fun.

Do you have a game you wish to see support for FPS Boost? What FPS Boost-enabled games do you play? Let us know in the comments section below.