
With the huge announcement that over 70 titles have been given the FPS Boost treatment this week, there is undoubtedly something for everyone. Whether you're into first-person shooters or open world adventures - there's most likely a game you're going to want to try.
FPS Boost has been a fantastic feature on the Xbox Series X & S, bringing many games up to 60FPS, and in some cases even 120FPS. It's not just recent titles either, some older Xbox titles have also been afforded the same treatment, looking and playing better than ever before. With that said, there are ten games in the most recent announcement that we really think will shine in the new update, and will be great examples of what FPS Boost has to offer.
Assassin's Creed Unity (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
When this game originally launched, it was plagued with an assortment of issues. Frame rate drops, crashes, and a variety of bugs to name a few. It was the first entry designed for the Xbox One and suffered as a result. Too ambitious for its own good, with a high density in crowds and a beautiful rendition of France.
So, what game better deserving of an FPS Boost where it can really shine? The backwards compatibility team are wizards in this department, and bringing this flawed entry up to a fantastic playable standard is going to be a great excuse to revisit it. Despite all the issues, the core of Assassin's Creed was still in the middle of Unity, and we can't wait to see it as it was intended.
Dragon Age: Inquisition (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
Out of all the Dragon Age games, Inquisition is the most ambitious in scale. The others are fairly dialled back in terms of scale, but Inquisition builds on open-world elements seen in games such as Mass Effect: Andromeda and runs with it. It also ups the ante on its real-time combat, providing some pretty lovely visual effects.
So, what better way to bring this flawed gem back into the point of relevance than with an FPS Boost. With the increase in frames, the combat will look better than ever before, with magic effects and even your trusty sword providing some wonderful visual flair. The world of Dragon Age: Inquisition is also a sight to behold, featuring stunning vistas and a variety of biomes to explore. Revisiting the fantasy world has never been more exciting, and this is a perfect excuse to hop back in.
Dying Light (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on Xbox Series X only
We've already received word on what players can expect in terms of Dying Light 2's graphical options, but what about the original entry? It's been out for a long time now, but people are still checking it out. With the sequel on the horizon, there's possibly never been a better time to jump in, and the FPS Boost is going to really enhance that.
One of the things Dying Light prides itself on are the incredible parkour mechanics. Sure, slicing zombies to kingdom come is always a blast, but what really sets the game apart are the Mirror's Edge inspirations in its movement. Running across walls, leaping across cars, and sliding along ziplines is going to look even smoother with a much needed FPS Boost. It's also going to be a great indication for what the sequel will bring, which is looking more promising each time we see it.
Far Cry 5 (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
When Far Cry 4 was announced as one of the first games to get an FPS Boost, Xbox players were left confused as to why the next entry was emitted. Well, worry no further, as a whole host of Far Cry games have been subjected to the treatment, with Far Cry 5 being the cream of the crop.
The game was already a fantastic first-person shooter on the Xbox One, but now it can really shine with a much needed increase to its frame rate. The frantic action, explosive set pieces, and even just the simple exploration will now come to life like never before. Far Cry 4 did a fantastic job bumping the game up to a more modern standard, and now we have another fantastic entry to add to that.
Gears of War 4 (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
Gears of War 4 is an interesting one. When the game first dropped, its campaign was locked at 30FPS, while the multiplayer allowed for 60FPS. It was a bit jarring, especially during the launch period when players were bouncing between the two - but now it finally feels like one cohesive package.
While the Xbox One X did get a much needed bump up to 60FPS in the campaign through its performance mode, it still suffered with a few noticeable drops. Now, with the technical prowess of an FPS Boost, the game can flow at the fluidity we've come to expect after Gears 5.
Mad Max (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 120FPS on Xbox Series X and 60FPS on Xbox Series S
If there's one hugely underrated gem in the Xbox One library, it's Mad Max. Coming out the same day as Metal Gear Solid V meant it was swept under the rug, and many players missed out on a fantastic licensed tie-in. The open-world is gorgeous, the combat is fantastic, and the car battles... well, they're a sight to behold. If you loved Mad Max Fury Road, the game allows you to make your own set pieces similar to that great movie.
So, the increase in FPS is very much welcomed. Being able to blast around in the open, barren desert with an even smoother frame rate is going to really enhance this experience. Even the combat and on-foot exploration is going to get a much needed increase in fidelity, as the Arkham style fighting flows better than ever before. There's probably not a more explosive and underrated entry that deserves it as much as this, so FPS Boost on Mad Max is a very welcome inclusion. We just hope more people check it out.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
With multiple Tomb Raider titles getting an FPS Boost, it was hard to choose one over the other, but we think Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes it home. Why? Because it takes the incredible gameplay, boosts the game to 60FPS, and manages to still maintain its 4K resolution. Pretty impressive.
It was a technical marvel when it first launched, but now it feels elevated into a true next-gen experience with its superb visual quality. Some moments of the game are absolutely jaw-dropping, so to experience them with a smooth frame rate is just taking the biscuit with how incredible it actually looks. Even the tech wizards at Digital Foundry are blown away by the results. This is not one to miss out on.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
When Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition launched, Digital Foundry did an analysis of the game which revealed that it was not a great Xbox port at all. Constant frame drops were an issue, and for a title that was a remastered version of an Xbox 360 game on Xbox One, it was pretty disappointing. It's always needed an FPS upgrade, especially when the world feels so alive. Now, it has finally received one.
The increased frame rate allows the game's version of Hong Kong to really shine. Sleeping Dogs came at a time when Grand Theft Auto was growing in maturity, while Saints Row was doing the complete opposite - there was no middle ground. It made a nice change to have a game that balanced that line perfectly, with high octane car chases, explosive shootouts, and satisfying melee combat. All of this now gets to run smoother than ever before, and has finally become the port many fans wanted.
The Evil Within 2 (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
When The Evil Within 2 received an increased frame rate for the PC version earlier this year, Xbox fans were understandably jealous. Having been treated to other survival horrors such as Resident Evil 2 Remake over the past few years, Xbox horror fanatics have been treated to some pretty smooth and terrifying experiences. But now, The Evil Within 2 will join those classics with a much needed bump in FPS.
The world of The Evil Within 2 is horrifying, filled with many creatures that crawl, slither, and gallop towards you in terrifying set pieces. The sheer creativity applied to some of them is staggering, especially the late game battles. It's more action-focused than older Resident Evil titles, too, so the increase in FPS to compliment that is a wonderful addition. Seeing the enemy animations play out smoother and creepier than ever before is any horror fan's dream, and now the game can stand tall against its other horror series' mascots.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Xbox One)
- FPS Boost: 60FPS on both Xbox Series X and Series S
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life was the first mainline entry to use the new Yakuza graphics engine. It's a beautiful visual upgrade, which Judgment and Yakuza: Like A Dragon have both displayed to an incredible effect. Both of those games also have versions that support 60FPS now, while Yakuza 6: The Song of Life has remained in the dark. But now, protagonist Kazuma Kiyru's final entry gets the proper send off it rightfully deserves.
Having run at 60FPS on PC, Xbox players finally get to experience one of the best, most emotional stories in the series in the best possible way. The franchise may have taken a turn-based approach in Yakuza: Like A Dragon, but here, the real-time combat remains and is the pinnacle of everything that came before it. Being able to deliver expressive finishing moves in a higher frame rate is going to really add something to the visceral combat, making this one of the series' must-played entries on Xbox.
What other games would you add to this list? Let us know down in the comments below.
Comments 31
Can't wait to try Tomb Raider and Assassin's Creed at 60 FPS.. Xbox is killing it this gen..
Whoop Whoop Xbox, Whoop Whoop!!
Gears 4 still doesn't make sense on Xbox Series X. Series S it makes sense, since it uses the base Xbox One version regardless.
Yes, the Xbox One X Performance Mode had some framerate issues (in fact, it's a mostly 60fps experience with some small outliers that drops FPS down to the 40's) and screen tearing; but the Series X smoothed those hiccups out.
Maybe it's still not 100% perfect Series X, so the FPS Boost version ensures it's a locked 60fps framerate without putting in much work; but I do feel like the work was already done with the release of the Series X and sacrificing the Xbox One X Enhanced version isn't worth turning on FPS Boost.
The Xbox One X Enhanced Performance Mode has texture and other visual improvements that were available in Visual Mode, only paired down to a 1080p resolution. It's a step above using the base Xbox One version.
Bottom Line:
DON'T USE FPS BOOST ON GEAR OF WAR 4 ON SERIES X! USE THE PERFORMANCE MODE IN THE GRAPHICS SETTINGS FOR 60FPS GAMING ON SERIES X!
Been playing Tomb Raider today, and the game is transformed for me now. Also still holds up VERY well.
Will be trying out AC Unity next!
Xbox should show a prompt asking if you want to activate HDR boost when you launch a game for the first time since it received the enhancement. Most people have to check compatibility options every time they want to play a game that hasn't been boosted before when the option is off by default (e.g., The Evil Within 2).
Assassin's Creed Unity is the game Digital Foundry goes back to again and again and now the updated version runs at 60fps for the first time on console!
@GamingFan4Lyf @The_New_Butler I am wondering the same, I expect the quality mode of Gears 4 to run at 60fps on Series X. The quality mode of Shadow of the Tomb Raider (also Xbox One X-enhanced) runs at 60fps now (on Series X).
Damn you Microsoft...as if my backlog isn’t big enough already you now want me to start replaying older games?!?! Seriously though, there are definitely games here I wanna play again now, though it means double-dipping as my copies are all on PS4. If I do, Far Cry 5 and Dying light are top of my list. Luckily, I managed to get AC Unity for a ridiculously low price recently, so am gonna take a look at that soon.
I just checked Gears 4 with the FPS boost option on and off and the menus look the same to me, only video options I see are brightness and HDR.
@The_New_Butler @BlueOcean Series X uses the Xbox One X version which has a Visual Mode - 4K/30fps with enhanced textures and visual settings.
Xbox One X also had Performance mode which runs at 1080p up to 60fps with enhanced textures and visual settings.
However, on Xbox One X it was a MOSTLY 60fps experience with some outlying framerate dips and screen tearing.
But, much like other Xbox One X Enhanced games that have a 60fps mode, the Series X will pretty much iron out any issues the Xbox One X might have had maintaining that 60fps mode.
Using FPS Boost drops the game to the base Xbox One version - which originally ran at 1080p/30. No enhanced visual improvements what so ever that were found in the Xbox One X Enhanced version. It's just the Xbox One version running at 1080p/60fps on Series X.
So, it makes way more sense to just let Gears of War 4 run normally on Series X without the FPS Boost since you get all the benefits of the Xbox One X Enhanced version running on Series X hardware - plus, if you really want to run a 4K Mode, it's a toggle in the Game Settings instead of relying on the Compatibility Settings of the Xbox Series X.
Now, if you have an Xbox Series S, it just makes sense, since FPS Boost is the only way to get 60fps Gears of War 4 on Xbox Series S.
I dropped an e-mail to Jason Ronald to figure out why Microsoft decided to add FPS Boost Mode to the Series X version of Gears of War 4 despite the fact that the game already has the Xbox One X Enhanced Performance mode available and have yet to get a reply.
I thought maybe it was an oversight, or perhaps that even the Performance Mode isn't a locked 60fps (though, I would think the Series X would be darn near perfect enough to not need FPS Boost at this point). My other thought is that it supposed to be 120fps and not 60fps - and 60fps is merely a typo.
Where is the performance/quality mode of Gears 4 on Series X @Flurbdurb @GamingFan4Lyf? I can't find any video option in the game except brightness and HDR and this game is not Series X/S-enhanced but it is Xbox One X-enhanced so I am quite confused now.
@BlueOcean @The_New_Butler I just tested the game out.
Boot up the game with FPS Boost turned off and the title screen will say "Gears of War 4 Xbox One X Enhanced"
If you go into Options, there is a new option: Video - Enhanced
If you don't see it, it's very possible you don't have the Xbox One X version installed - file size should be 117.8GB
That is where you select Visuals or Performance "Rendering Preference"
Now, leave the game and then turn on FPS Boost in the Compatibility Settings. You lose the Xbox One X Enhanced moniker on the title screen and the Video - Enhanced menu option disappears.
@The_New_Butler Right, it is an educated guess on my part based on the fact that every other title on Series X where FPS Boost isn't enabled by default (and therefore reduces resolution) have all switched to running the base Xbox One versions of the game.
@GamingFan4Lyf I have the 117.8GB version. You are right, the "Xbox One X-enhanced" appeared with FPS Boost off but the video options are the same for me on Series X: brightness, HDR brightness and HDR splitscreen visualisation.
@GamingFan4Lyf
Yep. I think the FPS mode is for the Series S owners.
Series X owners already have a 1080p 60FPS mode.
@BlueOcean You don't have the separate "Video - Enhanced" Menu option? That's...odd.
@GamingFan4Lyf Nope. No idea why.
@blinx01 Yeah, it's definitely more for Series S owners, but it just seems odd to enable it on Series X when there are a couple other games on the list that ONLY get FPS Boost on Series S because Series X already has the ability to run at 60fps.
@BlueOcean Sounds like you need to reinstall the game? Something is very off.
If you see "Xbox One X Enhanced" on your title screen, you 100% should see "Video - Enhanced" in your Options Menu.
@GamingFan4Lyf I am checking the in-game menu with a loaded game because I don't see a video menu elsewhere.
@The_New_Butler I mean, if it's not switching to the Xbox One version, it's stupid as hell to even have the option to turn on FPS Boost on Series X - the option is already there!
It's redundant.
Which brings me back to the point - why even bother on Series X?
@BlueOcean Uhm...isn't that where you checked?!
Here are the reproduction steps:
Start up game.
Verify Xbox One X Enhanced appears on title screen.
Press A to load up the main menu
Press the Menu Button (or Start button or whatever you want to call it on Xbox controller) to bring up options Menu
Third option down should read Video - Enhanced
Your options menu should read:
Game
Video
Video - Enhanced
Audio
Controller
Matchmaking
Mature Content
Accessibility
Help
@GamingFan4Lyf See, the problem was that I was checking the in-game menu because the title screen has TWO menus and I didn't realise until now LOL. Also, I was lying on the bed and I couldn't see the bottom of the screen where "button: options" appears. This confirms what you were saying. So all games that have the option OFF by default don't use the Xbox One X-enhanced version but the Xbox One version. That's useful to know but I turned the option on for all so I will have to check all them and turn it off now for Xbox One X-enhanced games 😥. I'll have to check which ones are Xbox One X-enhanced because Series X doesn't tell (I wish it did with filters).
For instance, if you turn FPS boost off for The Evil Within 2, a new option, frame rate lock, appears so I guess the Xbox One X version added that option. The Xbox One X game is running at 60fps with the frame rate unlocked on Series X so FPS boost is a step back on Series X if it uses the Xbox One version at 60fps!
For anyone interested CD Keys have Assassins creed Unity for a ridiculous £1.99!
@BlueOcean I think Digital Foundry did do an analysis of The Evil Within 2 running on Series X (compared to running on PS5) and found that the Series X version didn't run the game as smoothly as expected when unlocking the framerate.
The problem is that the Xbox One X version ran at like a native 1600p (or 1800p?) and didn't run it very well with an unlocked framerate. So while the Series X it's a huge improvement over the Xbox One X version, it's not perfect. The delta between the Xbox One X and the Series X isn't as much as between the PS4 Pro and the PS5 (2.5x power differential opposed to a 2x differential between Xbox One X and Series X).
The PS4 Pro version runs The Evil Within 2 at like 1200p (or maybe even 1440p) and I think with reconstruction techniques.
Basically, the PS5 runs PS4 Pro versions better because the PS4 Pro profiles always seemed to have more overhead as the resolutions were lower, and also used reconstruction techniques as opposed to using higher native resolutions on the Xbox One X.
I always felt like Japanese developers did Xbox a little dirty during the Xbox One X years - favoring running at higher resolutions over a stable framerate. Heck, Dark Souls 3 didn't even get an Xbox One X patch. Sekiro ran better on PS4 Pro because it used reconstruction over native resolutions of the Xbox One X. Kingdom Hearts 3 was the same way - the PS4 Pro ran at lower resolution over the Xbox One X and had more stable 60fps performance.
So perhaps the FPS Boost for The Evil Within 2 made a little more sense as it would pretty much lock the game at 60fps at 1080p as opposed to a more unstable framerate running at the Xbox One X resolution.
I mean, thankfully, it is optional in these instances. Do you prefer 100% locked 60fps (or 120fps in some instances) at lower resolution or higher quality visuals at a less stable framerate? The choice is 100% yours.
@GamingFan4Lyf Thanks for all the information. I just checked the first bit of the The Evil Within 2 with FPS Boost off and frame rate unlocked and it was fine. I played the full game on Xbox One X and I will replay it on Series X someday. If the frame rate is not fine after the first bit then I'll turn FPS boost on and run the Xbox One version. I only wish that they added an Xbox One X search filter on Series X like Xbox One X has. I'm also wondering how Series X has the two versions of these games at the same time using the same file size.
And yes, the Xbox One X patches by some Japanese developers are very lazy. Even Team Sonic Racing (developed by Sumo but published by Sega) isn't flawless because of the native 4K resolution on Xbox One X but it is flawless on Series X because of the extra power.
"Sleeping Dogs came at a time when Grand Theft Auto was growing in maturity"
I'm sorry, did you just say GTA grew in maturity? Can you provide a detailed timeline of these proposed allegations and provide documented or photographic evidence of the accused event?
Mad Max was one of my top games of the Xbox One generation, underrated gem, I will jump in to see how it feels at 120fps for sure.
I might try Yakuza 6 too. I haven't played a Yakuza game yet (I just bought the Kiwami games on same). Where is a good place to start? Kiwami? zero? 1? or doesn't it matter much?
Tomb Raider 2013 looks brilliant with FPS Boost and Auto HDR. Got it off CDKeys for £3.29.
@The_New_Butler
Gotcha, thank you
Y'all forgot to add Deus Ex MD to this list
Gave alien isolation a go.
Feels like playing a new game. Plays sooo much better.
Same for halo wars 2 running so smooth now.
MS really have to push this more in they’re mainstream marketing. This is game changer level of added value for the system.
AC: Unity was a game seemingly built on what Ubisoft hoped the last gen of consoles could achieve rather than what they actually could. Paris and the number of NPC's on screen was staggering at the time.
I remember the devs complaining about the weak Jaguar CPU within a year of the consoles release. It will interesting to give this a new lease of life with both the general boost new hardware offers AND FPS boost. Looking forward to it.
No mention of Hollow Knight now running at 120fps??
One of the greatest games ever made now even better is a thing of beauty ☺️
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...