How to Enable “FPS Boost” for a Game on Xbox Series X or S. How to increase fps on xbox one

To check if the game you’re playing is running in FPS Boost or Auto HDR mode, you can tap the Xbox button on your in-game controller and an overlay indicator will appear in the top-right corner if these features are enabled or not.

How to Enable “FPS Boost” for a Game on Xbox Series X or S

Tim Brookes
Writer

Tim Brookes is a technology writer with over ten years of experience. He has invested in the Apple ecosystem, with experience spanning Macs, iPhones, and iPads in publications such as Zapier and MakeUseOf. Read more.

Microsoft Xbox logo on a green background

The “FPS Boost” feature available on the Xbox Series X and Series S can improve performance in older games. The creator of the game doesn’t even have to do anything. Here’s how it works and how to turn it on for specific games.

What Is FPS Boost on Xbox?

“FPS” stands for “Frame Per Second” and refers to the speed at which the game runs. Frames per second have been largely stuck to 30 for the last-gen large titles. This is to ensure consistency throughout the game, making gamers less likely to notice large drops in performance when they do occur. With the new generation of consoles, many hardware restrictions that required frame rate locking have been removed.

This means many games now have the overhead to run at the higher 60fps and in some cases even 120fps (although a compatible TV is needed for 120Hz games). Higher frames per second means smoother and more responsive gameplay, with the jump from 30 to 60 frames per second being quite noticeable.

Typically, games require an update from the developer to allow higher FPS and balance graphics settings to ensure that goals are met. This is often unprofitable with older titles because developers have stopped working on them and are not prepared to spend money and time on previous projects.

This is where FPS Boost comes in. Microsoft has developed a method to improve game performance at the system level. This allows you to double your frame rate without having to update the software. According to Microsoft’s Xbox blog, FPS Boost “uses various new methods” to improve performance, although Microsoft won’t say exactly what they are.

The feature was launched in February 2021 with support for several titles, with more to come.

Xbox Series X and Series S

Xbox

Auto HDR is one thing – it adds HDR effect to older games like Xbox 360 titles. Fast Resume is another thing – it allows you to pause multiple games while paused and start playing immediately whenever you select them.

What is Xbox FPS Boost?

FPS Boost is a clever technology that doubles or even quadruples FPS in older Xbox games that can be played on the Xbox Series X / S.

It’s applied system-level by the Xbox itself, so it doesn’t require the developer to change or remaster their game. This is different from game re-releases, remasters, or “Xbox Series X / S optimized” games. It also only applies to certain games declared compatible.

Many of the titles announced so far can run at 60fps – when they were originally locked at 30fps. Some even speed up to 120fps.

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You’ll need a TV that supports either 60Hz or 120Hz respectively, but you don’t need to do anything in your Xbox settings to take advantage.

It’s worth noting that games may run at a reduced resolution when FPS Boost is active. However, you can manually enable or disable FPS Boost (and Auto HDR) from the game management screen’s compatibility options for each respective title.

To do this, go to the game in your game library, press the options button, scroll down to “manage game and add-ons”, click on it, and on the next page you should see “compatibility options” (on the left side of the page). Click on that and you can use the checkbox for FPS Boost if the game supports it.

Some titles where resolution is affected do not automatically turn on FPS Boost.

What is frame rate boost? Xbox Series X / S list of games and features explained photo 3

You can also check if the game you’re playing has FPS Boost (and Auto HDR) turned on by tapping the Xbox button on your controller while you’re playing, and an overlay indicator will appear in the top-right corner telling you if features are on or off.

What Xbox games have FPS Boost?

Currently, over 100 FPS Boost games are enabled. Xbox hopes to increase that number on a regular basis. Below you can see which games work with FPS Boost.

All games offer up to 60 frames per second, unless otherwise stated.

Xbox Series X/S FPS Boost games list (as at 16 November 2021)

  • Alan Wake
  • Alien isolation *
  • Anthem – No FPS Boost on S Series *
  • Assassin’s Creed
  • Assassin’s Creed III Remastered
  • Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered
  • Assassin’s Creed Collection Ezio
  • Assassin’s Creed Community
  • battle Hunters: Night War (120 frames per second) *
  • Battlefield 1 (120fps) S-Series No FPS *
  • Battlefield 4 (120 frames per second) *
  • Battlefield V (120fps) – No FPS Increase on S Series *
  • Battlefield Hardline (120 frames per second) *
  • BCFX
  • Beholder Complete Edition *
  • Binary domain
  • Dark Souls 3
  • Darksiders
  • Dead Island Definitive Edition – No FPS boost on S-series
  • Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition – No FPS boost on S-series
  • Dead space 2
  • Dead space 3
  • Deus Ex Mankind Divided
  • Dirt 4 (120fps) – No FPS boost on Xbox Series S
  • Dishonored: Final Release *
  • Dishonored: Death of the Outsider *
  • Little Disney Chicken
  • Don’t Starve: Giant Edition (120 fps) *
  • Dragon Age II *
  • Dragon Age: Inquisition *
  • Dragon Age: Origins *
  • Dungeon Defenders II

What is frame rate boost? Xbox Series X / S list of games and features explained photo 8

  • Dying Light – No FPS boost on the S series
  • Fairytale anniversary *
  • Fairy Tale III *
  • Fallout 3 *
  • Fallout 4 *
  • Fallout 76 *
  • Fallout: New Vegas *
  • Far Cry 3
  • Far Cry 4
  • Far Cry 5
  • Far Cry New Dawn
  • Far Cry Primal
  • FEAR
  • FEAR 3
  • Final Fantasy XIII-2
  • Gears of War *
  • Gears of War 2 *
  • Gears of War 3 *
  • Gears of War 4 *
  • Gears of War: Judgment *
  • Gears of War: Ultimate Edition *
  • Golf with friends (120 fps) *
  • Halo of War 2 *
  • Halo: Spartan Assault (120 fps) *
  • Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition (120fps) *
  • Homefront: The Revolution
  • Hyperscape (120 fps)
  • Island saver (120 fps)
  • Cameo: Elements of Power *
  • Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
  • Lego Jurassic World
  • Lego Marvel Superheroes (120fps in the X series)
  • Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
  • LEGO Marvel’s Avengers (120fps in Series X)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Lego Hobbit (120 frames per second in the X series)
  • LEGO The Incredibles
  • Lego Lord of the Rings
  • Lego Worlds – no FPS boost in the S series
  • life is strange
  • Life is Strange 2 – No FPS boost in the S-series
  • Lightning is back: Final Fantasy XIII
  • Lords of the Fallen

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How to Turn On Xbox FPS Boost?

To activate Xbox FPS Boost, follow the steps below:

  1. From the Xbox dashboard, go to My Games & Apps.
  2. Go to your game library, select a game, press the options / start button on your controller, and then select Manage game and add-ons.
  3. Go to the compatibility options.
  4. Check the FPS Boost box.
  5. Quit the game if it is running, and restart it.

Please note that not all titles are supported by this feature. You’ll need to check out the Xbox FPS Boost compatible games list below.

What Xbox Games Are Supported by Xbox FPS Boost?

Here is an updated list of Xbox games compatible with FPS Boost as of today, November 10, 2021:

Title XSX XSS Default disabled (XSX)
Alien isolation 60Hz 60Hz
Anthem 60Hz Not applicable
Assassin’s Creed III Remastered 60Hz 60Hz
Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered 60Hz 60Hz
Assassin’s Creed Collection Ezio 60Hz 60Hz
Assassin’s Creed Community 60Hz 60Hz
battle Hunters: Night War 120 Hz 120 Hz
Battlefield 1 120 Hz Not applicable
Battlefield 4 120 Hz 120 Hz
Battlefield Hardline 120 Hz 120 Hz
Battlefield V 120 Hz Not applicable
Beholder full edition 60Hz 60Hz
Dark Souls III 60Hz 60Hz
Dead Island Final Edition 60Hz Not applicable
Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition 60Hz Not applicable
Deus Ex Mankind Divided 60Hz 60Hz
DiRT 4 120 Hz Not applicable
Dishonored – Final Release 60Hz 60Hz
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider 60Hz 60Hz
Don’t Starve: Giant Edition 120 Hz 120 Hz
Dragon Age: Inquisition 60Hz 60Hz
Dungeon Defenders II 60Hz 60Hz
The dying light 60Hz Not applicable
Fallout 4 60Hz 60Hz
Fallout 76 60Hz 60Hz
Far Cry 4 60Hz 60Hz
Far Cry 5 60Hz 60Hz
Far Cry New Dawn 60Hz 60Hz
Far Cry Primal 60Hz 60Hz
Gears of War 4 60Hz 60Hz
Golf with friends 120 Hz 120 Hz
Halo Wars 2 60Hz 60Hz
Halo: Spartan Attack 120 Hz 120 Hz
Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition 120 Hz 120 Hz
Homefront: The Revolution 60Hz 60Hz
Hyperscape 120 Hz 120 Hz
Island saver 120 Hz 120 Hz
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham 60Hz 60Hz
LEGO Jurassic World 60Hz 60Hz
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 60Hz 60Hz
LEGO Marvel Superheroes 120 Hz 60Hz
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers 120 Hz 60Hz
LEGO STAR WARS: The Force Awakens 60Hz 60Hz
LEGO Hobbit 120 Hz 60Hz
LEGO The Incredibles 60Hz 60Hz
lEGO worlds 60Hz Not applicable
life is strange 60Hz 60Hz
life is Strange 2 60Hz Not applicable
Lords of the Fallen 60Hz 60Hz
Mad Max 120 Hz 60Hz
Metro 2033 Redux 120 Hz 120 Hz
Metro: The last light of Redux 120 Hz 120 Hz
Mirror Edge Catalyst 120 Hz Not applicable
Monster Energy Supercross 3 60Hz 60Hz
MotoGP 20 Not applicable 60Hz
Move out 120 Hz 120 Hz
My friend Pedro 120 Hz 120 Hz
My time at Portia 60Hz 60Hz
A new Super Lucky story 120 Hz 120 Hz
Overcooked! 2 120 Hz 120 Hz
Paladins 120 Hz 120 Hz
Plants vs zombies war in the garden 120 Hz 120 Hz
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 120 Hz 120 Hz
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville 120 Hz 120 Hz
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid 120 Hz 120 Hz
Victim 60Hz 60Hz
Realm Royale 120 Hz 120 Hz
ReCore 60Hz 60Hz
The Sea of ​​Solitude 60Hz 60Hz
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition 60Hz 60Hz
Shadow Warrior 2 60Hz Not applicable
Sleeping Dogs Final Edition 60Hz 60Hz
SMITE 120 Hz 120 Hz
Sniper Elite 4 60Hz 60Hz
STAR WARS Battlefront 120 Hz 120 Hz
STAR WARS Battlefront II 120 Hz Not applicable
Steep Not applicable 60Hz
Super Lucky’s Tale 120 Hz 120 Hz
SUPER HOT 120 Hz 120 Hz
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition 60Hz 60Hz
The Evil Within 2 (PsychoBreak 2 in Japan) 60Hz 60Hz
Gardens in between 120 Hz 60Hz
LEGO Movie 2 video game 60Hz 60Hz
LEGO movie game 120 Hz 120 Hz
The Fall of Titan 120 Hz Not applicable
Titanfall 2 120 Hz 120 Hz
Tom Clancy’s The Division 60Hz 60Hz
Tomb Raider: Final Edition 60Hz 60Hz
Completely reliable delivery service 120 Hz 120 Hz
Two-point hospital 60Hz 60Hz
UFC 4 60Hz 60Hz
Unravel 2 120 Hz 120 Hz
Unruly heroes 120 Hz 120 Hz
Untitled game of geese 120 Hz 120 Hz
Wasteland 3 60Hz 60Hz
Watch Dogs 2 60Hz 60Hz
Watch_Psy 60Hz 60Hz
Yakuza 6: A Song of Life 60Hz 60Hz

FPS Boost hit the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S with the March 2021 Xbox Update, included in the official updates for both consoles. It is ready to use as a system-level feature and automatically starts when you play many of the supported titles. Using the FPS Boost feature does not require players to update the game or any additional work.

Pretty Menu

Another handy tip and tip to help you smooth your Xbox One’s performance is to turn off smooth transitions in the dashboard! To do this, just go to settings and themes and turn them off! Let’s face it; does it really matter if menu changes and button clicks feel a bit lumpy?

By far the biggest and easiest results that will help improve your Xbox One performance is also ventilation aid. The Xbox One gets hot so we need to make sure it’s well ventilated – the top AND sides of your favorite console shouldn’t be covered – if you’ve got your Xbox One tucked away in a stylish cupboard, make sure the door is open while you’re playing.

Excessive heat can significantly degrade performance as you make your Xbox One work even harder with graphics rendering and data processing.

A good tip is to regularly blow dust off the fan and vents around your Xbox One – dust (even if you live in the cleanest house) naturally builds up in the vents, so unplug all cables, take a can of compressed air and blow it into the vents around your Xbox to allow him to breathe more clearly.

Alternatively, call us and let us refresh your Xbox One – we’ll dismantle your Xbox, clean all internal areas (including the fan), reapply new thermal paste on the heat sink and CPU, all for a small £ 45 fee – we provide this service for free as part of any other repair service we provide for you. You can book the service here.

Clean Thermals?

Speaking of heat, our next tips are for our more adventurous readers. Inside the Xbox One console is a processor that generates a LOT of heat. To cool the CPU, a metal block and a fan called a heat sink are used. To ensure a good connection between the processor and the heat sink, use a product called thermal paste (also known as thermal paste) – this allows the heat generated by the processor to transfer efficiently to the heat sink.

The thermal paste can break down after a few years, making it less efficient and the CPU heat not being transferred so well to the CPU.

It’s a good idea to replace the thermal paste, especially if you feel your Xbox One is getting warmer than it was in the past.

Replacing the thermal paste is simple, but it does mean opening your Xbox One and removing the heat sink, so only try if you’re sure you know a screwdriver.

Here are some of our recommendations for replacing the thermal paste

Backward compatibility is Microsoft’s strong point in this generation, with a huge catalog of older Xbox titles available to anyone with an Xbox Series console. You can even install the RetroArch emulator in developer mode if you’re hungry for emulators.

Does FPS Boost impact graphics?

Microsoft made its FPS Boost debut as a seamless upgrade to the Xbox Series X and Series S, and in most cases it’s a free performance boost without negatively affecting graphics. However, FPS Boost has the potential to impact the overall visual quality compared to the basic, unmodified game. This affects the Xbox Series X, although all games for the Xbox Series S remain intact.

This caveat relates to the Xbox One X Enhanced titles, updated for Microsoft’s first Xbox 4K console released in 2017. The device brought in a huge GPU upgrade over the standard Xbox One, and subsequent games used that hardware, essentially using raw power to reach a higher level of 4K resolution.

Those games that are now seeing FPS Boost improvements can deliver 4K resolution in many cases with 60 FPS or 120 FPS upgrades. However, some games can’t deliver smooth 4K 60FPS thanks to backward compatibility, and Microsoft has instead made it difficult for the visual quality to achieve higher FPS.

These FPS Boost titles lose their Xbox One X enhancements to the Xbox Series X, delivering high FPS on standard Xbox One consoles. This can result in lower resolution, poorer effects, and an overall blurry presentation compared to a title with Xbox FPS Boost turned off. Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 are among those affected by this compromise.

Luckily, Microsoft makes FPS Boost completely optional, so you can choose between 4K graphics or a neat 60 FPS.

How to disable FPS Boost on Xbox Series X/S

STAR WARS Battlefront II

source: Electronic Arts

Microsoft says they are testing every title extensively with FPS Boost support, which should mean all the benefits with some minor system flaws. But FPS Boost can affect visuals in some cases, and if you run into problems, Microsoft has included a switch in the Xbox OS. Disabling this feature in individual games is quick and easy, which returns the game to its original state.

  1. Go to My Games & Apps on the Xbox console.
  2. Move the cursor to a game that supports FPS.
  3. Press the Menu button.
  4. Select Manage game and add-ons.
  5. Select the Compatibility Options tile.
  6. Uncheck the FPS Boost box to disable FPS Boost.

To enable FPS Boost, follow the instructions and check the FPS Boost checkbox again.

If you’re an avid gamer looking to pay $ 500 (£ 450, AU $ 749) for a console – that is, if you can find it – the X Series is definitely the system for you. I don’t own a PlayStation 5 and probably not until the end of the year so can’t speak of its quality, but my colleague Dan Ackerman recommends it – again if you can find it .

Frame rate is everything

That’s right. Frame rate is everything to me. I have both the Xbox Series S and Series X since they launched in November, and have become a complete snob since then. For me, the frame rate is the most important attribute when it comes to judging the appearance of the ‘next generation’ game.

And if the game doesn’t offer at least 60fps, I probably won’t play it. Sounds harsh, I know, but it’s true. Games running at 60 frames per second look smoother, more aesthetically pleasing, and more responsive than games with lower frames per second. Once you’ve experienced this in more than a few games, it’s hard to go back to 30fps.

All of this made it difficult for me to recommend the Xbox Series S to friends looking for a next-gen system when I first bought it in November. Aside from faster load times, most backward compatible games didn’t perform better than they originally did. There were a few games optimized for the S Series like Gears 5 that looked great and ran at 60fps. But there were not enough of them.

Now things have changed, thanks to the huge influx of both FPS Boost games, as well as the release of more and more games optimized for the Series S.

fps-boost-visid-final-1920x1080

Currently, there are 97 games with FPS Boost available on the Xbox Series X and S.

‘Optimized for Series X|S’

What if the game is not using FPS Boost? This is where the optimizations for the X and S series come in. Basically, they take the game available on Xbox One and add new features like higher resolution, more graphics effects, and of course 60fps (or more). These optimizations are usually handled by the developers themselves.

I hate to admit it, but I will buy games that I only have a brief interest in if I see that they have the “X | S” logo optimized. I did it with Mortal Shell and The Avengers. Additionally, Xbox recently announced that Sea of ​​Solitude has received the FPS Boost treatment. Never even heard of this game before hearing about the update, but I downloaded it via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on the day of the FPS Boost announcement. At least I’ll try now.

Tim Brookes is a technology writer with over ten years of experience. He has invested in the Apple ecosystem, with experience spanning Macs, iPhones, and iPads in publications such as Zapier and MakeUseOf. Read more.

Xbox 20th anniversary Backwards Compatible games

  • 50 Cent: Blood on the sand
  • The aces of the galaxy
  • Advent rising
  • Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
  • Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Succeed
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth
  • Billiards 2
  • Beautiful Katamari
  • Binary domain
  • Black College Football Xperience: Doug Williams Ed
  • Clyde cloning
  • Conan
  • Darwinia+
  • Dead or Alive Ultimate
  • Dead or alive 3
  • Dead or alive 4
  • death by Cube
  • disney world
  • Little Disney Chicken
  • Elements of Destruction
  • FEAR
  • FEAR 2: The Origin of the Design
  • FEAR 3
  • FEAR files
  • The first Templar
  • Gladius
  • Gunwalkiria
  • Wakfu Islands
  • Lego Lord of the Rings
  • Manhunt
  • Max Payne
  • Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
  • Max Payne 3
  • Mini Ninja
  • Mortal Kombat
  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
  • MX vs ATV Live
  • MX vs ATV Unbridled
  • Nie
  • Novadrom
  • Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee
  • Onechanbara: Samurai Bikini Branch
  • Otogi: The myth of demons
  • Otogi 2: Immortal warriors
  • Outfit
  • Kaloki Outpost X
  • Quake Arena arcade
  • RAW – Realms of Ancient War
  • Red Dead Revolver
  • Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
  • Ridge Racer 6
  • Rio
  • It has increased
  • Risen 2: Dark Waters
  • Rock of the Ages
  • Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
  • Climb up
  • screw-jumper!
  • A secret weapon over Normandy
  • ice skates 2
  • SpongeBob SquarePants Panties Slam!
  • True or SpongeBob Square
  • A special edition of Star Wars Starfighter
  • Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast
  • Switch the ball
  • Thrillville
  • Thrillville: Off the Rails
  • Time pilot
  • Time dividers 2
  • TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
  • Toy Story Mania
  • Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
  • Viva Pinata: Party animals
  • Warlords

Additionally, 37 games will receive FPS Boost mode today. In case you don’t know what that means, FPS Boost is just a feature that uses various methods that almost double the original frame rate in selected titles. This results in a higher, more stable FPS, making the games visually smoother.

To check if the game you’re playing is running in FPS Boost or Auto HDR mode, you can tap the Xbox button on your in-game controller and an overlay indicator will appear in the top-right corner if these features are enabled or not.

The following games are getting FPS boosts today:

  • Alan Wake
  • Assassin’s Creed
  • Binary domain
  • Black College Football Xperience: Doug Williams Ed
  • Darksiders
  • Dead space 2
  • Dead space 3
  • Little Disney Chicken
  • Dragon Age: Origins
  • Dragon Age II
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  • FEAR
  • FEAR 3
  • Fairytale anniversary
  • Fairy tale III
  • Fallout 3
  • Fallout: New Vegas
  • Far Cry 3
  • Final Fantasy XIII-2
  • Lightning is back: Final Fantasy XIII
  • Gears of War
  • Gears of War 2
  • Gears of War 3
  • Gears of War: Judgment
  • Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
  • Kameo: Elements of Power
  • Lego Lord of the Rings
  • Medal of Honor: Airborne
  • Mirror edge
  • Nie
  • Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
  • Rock of the Ages
  • Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
  • Sound generations
  • Released sound
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment

Tagged With

Dom is a seasoned video game critic and consultant copywriter who has appeared in publications ranging from The Daily Star to The Guardian. Passionate about games and the greater good they can achieve, you’ll usually find Dom listening to records, farting in the kitchen, or playing Final Fantasy VIII (again).

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