Microsoft have announced that old Xbox consoles will be able to play next-generation games by streaming them over the internet.
This feature will allow Xbox One, which released in 2013 to play games that have not yet been released onto the last-gen console. These consoles will be able to play the most recent games through its xCloud service, allowing these games to be played online which is streamed online.
This feature was revealed via a bigger announcement by Microsoft about what games would be coming in the future, including games from developer Bethesda. Games such as Forza Horizon 5 to Bethesda’s own Starfield were showcased at Xbox’s E3 event.
Many of these games showcased will require the ‘speed, performance and technology’ of the new hardware in the Xbox Series X and S. Microsoft stated ‘We’re excited to see developers realise their visions in ways that only next-gen hardware will allow them to do.’
The company also revealed that the reliance on next-gen hardware does not necessarily mean that players will need to have the new consoles in their house.
Microsoft revealed in their announcement ‘For the millions of people who play on Xbox One consoles today, we are looking forward to sharing more about how we will bring many of these next-gen games, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, to your console through Xbox Cloud Gaming, just like we do with mobile devices, tablets, and browsers.’
Microsoft have not yet revealed when this feature will arrive, although Flight Simulator will be released in July.