While there aren’t a ton of next-gen games on the market right now, Microsoft has made sure to include a few enhanced titles as part of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
It means for those picking up an Xbox Series X or Series S this month; they can set up a free XGP trial and test out what their new console can do.
As confirmed in the lead up to its launch, most Xbox One games are compatible and come with certain upgrades when played on Series X.
This usually includes faster load times and improved frame rates, but other games have gone further.
Ubisoft has made sure that titles like Rainbow Six Siege, For Honor, Assasin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion all offer improved performance.
And here’s a list of some of the other titles you can find on Xbox Game Pass to test out your new next-gen console:
ARK SURVIVAL EVOLVED
Getting a sequel in the years to come, ARK Survival Evolved is a great game to pick up and play to test out your new console.
Not only does it come with some challenging rendering distances, but playing on servers with respawning dinos and buildings offers a great technical class.
“The increased memory lets us keep nearly the entire game world loaded in the background, which enabled us to eliminate the so-called “tether” when hosting in certain multiplayer modes, while the next-gen console’s fast storage medium makes getting into Ark’s gameplay and travelling through its environments extremely quick and smooth. Together with the upgrade’s extreme graphics improvements in draw distance, texture resolution, and levels-of-detail, these changes make the feeling of playing Ark on a 4K HDR TV with the Xbox Series X feel like a new, engrossing adventure.”
GEARS 5
“On Xbox Series X|S, players will experience reduced load times, support for Quick Resume, variable refresh rates, variable rate shading and 120 FPS in Versus. On Xbox Series X, visual fidelity jumps to 4K Ultra resolution courtesy of the Ultra-HD pack and Ultra-Spec graphics quality settings previously only available to PC players. Real time lighting quality is enhanced with the addition of Screen Space Global Illumination and Contract Shadow. Xbox Series X also allows for 60 FPS in campaign cinematics, contributing to a seamless blending of gameplay and cinematics.”
DESTINY 2 BEYOND LIGHT
“Destiny 2 is playable in 4K resolution on the Xbox Series X. Additionally, both the Series X and the Series S play at a crisp 60 frames per second. This ensures that no matter which version of the Xbox you play on, the fluid gunplay and movement the action MMO is known for takes center stage.
“Taking things one step (or 60 steps) further is the new 120Hz Crucible Mode. This new optional mode provides Xbox Series X owners with the ability to increases their maximum FPS on compatible displays to a blistering 120. In high-level PvP where every frame matters, this new mode provides players with the fastest and most responsive Crucible matches available on console.”
FORZA HORIZON 4
While Forza Horizon 4 doesn’t include Ray-Tracing support on Xbox Series X, it’s still a great way to experience improved graphics via an Xbox console.
“Now optimized for the Xbox Series X/S, experience higher fidelity graphics and faster performance in Forza Horizon 4, similar to high-end gaming PC Ultra settings. Explore beautiful, historic Britain and drive hundreds of the world’s greatest cars in native 4K Ultra HD, now at 60fps. Take advantage of clearer visuals with increased shadow, reflection, and particle effects quality. Get behind the wheel faster than ever with Quick Resume and dramatically improved load times. The Series X/S update is a free download to all Forza Horizon 4 owners and Xbox Game Pass subscribers.”
ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS
“We have added a new special 6K Supersampled Rendering Mode, which allows unprecedented sharp image quality, making the game feel like printed concept art that comes to life on your TV at 60FPS while outputting a 4K final image.
“So for those that can’t yet experience the amazing 120fps mode, you still have this new awesome visual mode and the game will look better than ever before! Or maybe you prefer the sharper visual quality of the game over higher framerate – it’s up to you as a player and with the Xbox Series X, you can switch between both 4K 120fps and 6K 60fps options on the fly.”
SEA OF THIEVES
“The first thing you’ll notice is how it looks: next-gen console players will experience the beauty of our pirate paradise like never before when they experience it running at 60 frames per second in full 4K definition on Xbox Series X, and 60 frames per second in 1080p on Xbox Series S.
“Then there are the performance improvements: the greater processing power of both new consoles will lead to significantly reduced load times, helping players get into the action (and back into the action after sinking or visiting the Ferry of the Damned) much more quickly.”
