The Xbox Series X Quick Resume Feature Explained

Microsoft released new information about how backwards compatibility will factor into the next generation of gaming with the Xbox Series X today, including massively improved framerates for older titles. The backwards compatibility feature has been a game-changer for the Xbox system and Microsoft is aiming to take this option to new heights with the Xbox Series X and part of that improvement goal includes the system’s Quick Resume feature. 

What is the Xbox Series X Quick Resume feature? 

Microsoft dove into how they are adding “innovative HDR technology” to Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games to carry over into the Series X experience but Xbox Director of Program Management Jason Ronald also added that the Quick Resume feature is nothing to scoff at. 

Related: Xbox Series X and PS5 Spec Comparison Guide

According to Ronald, the Quick Resume feature will not just work on newer games, but for many of the backwards-compatible titles as well dating all the way back to the original Xbox system. This feature will allow players to immediately pick up where they left off, effectively removing the wait of loading back into a game. He also added that “these advances happen at the platform level and require no additional work from title developers.” 

So why the continued focus on previous generations? The director added, “With more than 100,000 hours of play testing already completed, thousands of games are already playable on Xbox Series X today, from the biggest blockbusters to cult classics and fan favorites. Many of us in Team Xbox play on the Xbox Series X daily as our primary console and switching between generations is seamless. By the time we launch this holiday, the team will have spent well over 200,000 hours ensuring your game library is ready for you to jump in immediately.”

“Not only should gamers be able to play all of these games from the past, but they should play better than ever before. Backwards compatible games run natively on the Xbox Series X hardware, running with the full power of the CPU, GPU and the SSD. No boost mode, no downclocking, the full power of the Xbox Series X for each and every backward compatible game. This means that all titles run at the peak performance that they were originally designed for, many times even higher performance than the games saw on their original launch platform, resulting in higher and more steady framerates and rendering at their maximum resolution and visual quality. Backwards compatible titles also see significant reductions in in-game load times from the massive leap in performance from our custom NVME SSD which powers the Xbox Velocity Architecture. “

The backwards compatibility program on the Xbox One has grown significantly since launch and added original Xbox games to that lineup just under two years ago. Not everyone got into gaming early and some of the younger gamers missed out on the beauty of the original systems, so this feature has enabled gamers of all types to revisit old favorites or experience nostalgic treasures for the first time, bridging the gap between generations one title at a time. 

You can learn even more about the Xbox Series X with our hub here, including how optimization works, comparing specs to that of the PlayStation 5, and so much more! 

• The Xbox Series X Will Unlock Automatic HDR and Better Framerates for 360 and OG Xbox Titles
• How Xbox Series X Optimization Works
• Limited-Edition Cyberpunk 2077 Xbox One X Even Glows in the Dark

What do you think about the evolution of backwards compatibility and the Quick Resume feature for the Xbox Series X? Sound off with your thoughts over on Twitter @PrimaGames, we’d love to hear where you stand on the next generation!