Editorials

Xbox One X Enhanced Games: What You Need to Know

Published

6 years ago

11/03/2017

The Xbox One X is your chance to get better looking, more detailed games. However, don’t expect those improved graphics unless you have one or more Xbox One X Enhanced games in your library.

Microsoft’s new Xbox One X console works with everything already available for Xbox One and Xbox One S. It plays the games that you already own and it works well with all the best Xbox One accessories you’ve invested in.

But, Xbox One X Enhanced games make it worth buying. A new processor, RAM, storage upgrade and graphics processor allow this new console to completely take advantage of a 4K television. Compare that to the Xbox One S, which allows for 4K video streaming, but can’t handle games at 4K resolution. That’s why the Xbox One S costs $299 and the Xbox One X costs $499.

Read: Xbox One X Pre-Orders: 3 Things to Know

You need Xbox One X Enhanced games that were upgraded by their developer to really make the console a worthy investment. Here’s everything that you need to know about Xbox One X Enhanced games.

What Upgrades Xbox One X Enhanced Games Have

Xbox One X Enhanced is Microsoft’s name for new and existing titles that offer something extra to anyone who has an Xbox One X. Look for the term on game cases and in the Xbox Store.

Unfortunately, how games are classified as Xbox One X Enhanced games isn’t as straightforward. Microsoft lets developers decide how to use the extra power inside the Xbox One X. This creates a confusing and unequal footing for titles.

Read: 4K TV: What You Need to Know, What You Need to Watch

Xbox One X Enhanced games can support the full resolution of a 4K TV, with HDR enhanced color contrast and 60 frames per second footage. However, Microsoft doesn’t require developers to do either, it seems. That’s why it’s important to look for the 4K and HDR logos on every game that you buy. That way, you know exactly what you’re paying for.

How to Get Xbox One X Enhanced Games & How Much They Cost

You can get Xbox One X Enhanced games in three ways. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Microsoft hasn’t changed the way you buy a game for Xbox One X. If you prefer to add digital games to your collection through the Xbox Store, you can do that. Retail stores, like GameStop, Target and Wal-Mart, will sell Xbox One X Enhanced games.

At launch, most Xbox One X Enhanced games are updates to existing titles. If you own a disc or digital version of these games, you get the 4K update free.

Look for these symbols to learn more about the Xbox One X Enhanced game you are buying.

Read: Xbox One X vs Xbox One S: 5 Reasons to Upgrade

Because developers aren’t allowed to charge more for an Xbox One X Enhanced game than a regular game, expect to pay $60 for each. Developers can charge more for special editions and bundles that include in-game extras and season passes.

The Xbox One X doesn’t have any exclusive games of its own. Every title that gets released on the new system, works with the original Xbox One and the Xbox One S. So, don’t feel forced to invest in the new console unless you really want better graphics for your 4K television.

Every Xbox One X Enhanced Game Announced So Far

The Xbox One X Enhanced games library will grow slowly at first. According to Microsoft, the console will launch with just 70 titles that were upgraded by their developers. That’s excluding the hundreds of existing Xbox One and Xbox 360 games that work on the console without updates from their developer.

Crackdown 3 is an Xbox One X Enhanced game.

Most of Microsoft’s exclusive games will get enhancements for the console. These include Gears of War 4, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2 and Quantum Break. Each studio within Microsoft has a different launch plan for their games. For example, Quantum Break and Halo 5 are part of the Xbox One X’s launch library of games. Meanwhile, Halo: The Master Chief Collection won’t get its massive update until 2018.

Read: Halo 5 on Xbox One X Release: 4 Things to Know

Third-party developers are responsible for many of Xbox’s best games. Expect updates that add better graphics for these games too. Assassin’s Creed Origins and Call of Duty WW2 will both get an update to make them official Xbox One X Enhanced titles. Developers and publishers can’t charge gamers for their graphics updates.

Assassin’s Creed Origins has an Xbox One X Enhanced update on the way.

Here’s a current list of Xbox One X Enhanced games. Unfortunately, it’s not a complete list because some publishers still have teams working on their updates. Remember to look at the store page or the game case of each title to find out how it’s been updated for the Xbox One X.

A Plague Tale: Innocence
A Way Out
Aaero
Age of Empires Definitive Edition
Agents of Mayhem Anthem
Anthem
Ark: Survival Evolved
Ashen
Ashes Cricket
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Assault Android Cactus
Astroneer
Away: Journey to the Unexpected
Battlefield 1
Battlerite
Below
Biomutant
Black Desert
Brawlout
Call of Duty: WW2
Chess Ultra
Code Vein
Conan Exiles
Crackdown 3
Crossout
Cuphead
Danger Zone
Dark and Light
Darksiders Warmastered Edition
Darksiders 2
Darksiders 3
Dead Rising 4
Deep Rock Galactic
Deus EX: Mankind Divided
Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Ultimate Evil Edition
Dishonored 2
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
Disneyland Adventures
Doom
Dovetail Games Euro Fishing
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dynasty Warriors 9
Elex
Elite Dangerous
Everspace
F1 2017
Fable Fortune
Fallout 3
Fallout 4
Far Cry 5
Farming Simulator 17
Farming Simulator 18
Fe
FIFA 18
Final Fantasy 15
Firewatch
For Honor
Fortnite
Forza Horizon 3
Forza Motorsport 7
Gears of War 4
Ghost Recon Wildlands
Ginger: Beyond The Crystal
Gravel
Greedfall
GRIDD: Retroenhanced
Gwent: The Witcher Card game
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Halo 3
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Wars 2
Hello Neighbor
Hitman
Homefront: The Revolution
Immortal: Unchained
Injustice 2
Jurassic World Evolution
Killer Instinct
Killing Floor 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
A. Noire
Life is Strange before the Storm
Mafia 3
Madden NFL 18
Mantis Burning Racing
Marvel Heroes Omega
Marvel vs. Capcom
Metal Gear Survive
Mass Effect Andromeda
Metro Exodus
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Minecraft
Minion Masters
Monster Energy Supercross
Monster hunter: World
Morphite
MX vs ATV All Out
NBA 2K17
NBA 2K18
NBA Live 18
Need for Speed Payback
NHL 18
Nine Parchments
Observer
Okami HD
Oooblets
Ori and the Will of the Wasps
Outlast 2
Outcast- Second Contact
Paladins: Champions of the Realm
Path of Exile
Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
Playerunkown’s Battlegrounds
Portal Knights
Project Cars 2
Quantum Break
Raiders of the Broken Planet
Railway Empire
Real Farm
Recore: Definitive Edition
Redout: Lightspeed Edition
Resident Evil 7
RiME
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Roblox
Robocraft Infinity
Riverbond
Rocket League
Rugby 18
Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure
Sea of Thieves
Slime Rancher
SMITE
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3
Sonic Forces
Star Wars Battlefront 2
State of Decay 2
STEEP
Strange Brigade
Super Lucky’s Tale
Super Night Riders
SUPERHOT
Surviving Mars
Tacoma
Tennis World Tour
Tekken 7
The Artful Escape of Francis Vendetti
The Crew 2
The Darwin Project
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim –Special Edition
The Evil Within 2
The Last Night
The Long Dark
The Surge
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
TheHunder: Call of the Wild
Thumper
Titanfall 2
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
Tom Clancy’s The Division
Train Sim World
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TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge
UFC 3
Unruly Heroes
War Thunder
Warframe
Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide
We Happy Few
World of Tanks
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
World of Tanks
WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship
Zoo Tycoon

Gotta Be Mobile will continue to update this breakdown as we learn about more upcoming Xbox One X games.

5 Exciting Xbox One X Features Worth Upgrading For

Better Looking Xbox Games on HDTVs with Super-Sampling

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Microsoft continues to emphasize the enhanced visuals that Xbox One X buyers get with a 4K television, but the company has not done a great job of telling people about super-sampling. With super-sampling, you get better looking games without a 4K television.

Read: Xbox One S 4K Guide: Features, Problems & Which TVs to Buy

Super-sampling improves how the space around in-game characters looks, according to Microsoft. That is, characters look like they’re part of their environment instead of being on top of it. Because super-sampling works with high-definition televisions, there’s no need to spend money on an expensive 4K television when you’re not sure how much 4K gaming you will do on the system.