How to Play Xbox Series X Games on Xbox One: The Reality, the Limits, and Smart Workarounds
Can you really play Xbox Series X games on your Xbox One? The short answer: not directly — but there’s more to the story than you think.
If you’re holding onto your Xbox One while eyeing the dazzling next-gen titles built for Xbox Series X, you’re not alone. Many gamers wonder whether their current console can handle the shiny new releases. Unfortunately, Xbox Series X games are not natively playable on Xbox One — they’re built to leverage hardware capabilities your older console simply doesn’t have. But before you rush out to upgrade, let’s dig deeper. There are legitimate, clever ways to experience next-gen content without owning the latest hardware — and understanding them could save you time, money, and disappointment.
Why Xbox Series X Games Won’t Run Natively on Xbox One
First, let’s address the elephant in the room. The Xbox Series X is engineered with a custom SSD, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 12 teraflops of GPU power, and support for 4K resolution at 120Hz. The Xbox One, even the enhanced Xbox One X, lacks the architecture to process these advanced features. Think of it like trying to run a Formula 1 car on bicycle tires — the underlying mechanics just don’t match.
Microsoft labels games as “Optimized for Xbox Series X|S” when they require next-gen hardware. These titles — such as Forza Horizon 5 (Series X Enhanced), Halo Infinite (campaign mode), or Starfield — will simply not appear in your Xbox One library or store if your device can’t run them. You’ll often see a grayed-out “Buy” button or a message saying, “This game requires Xbox Series X|S.”
The Smart Alternative: Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)
Here’s where things get interesting. While you can’t install and run Xbox Series X games locally on your Xbox One, you can stream many of them via Xbox Cloud Gaming — if you’re subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as Project xCloud) streams games directly from Microsoft’s servers to your device — whether that’s a phone, tablet, PC, or yes, even your Xbox One. This means the heavy lifting is done remotely. Your Xbox One essentially becomes a streaming box, receiving high-quality video and sending back your controller inputs.
How to Set It Up on Xbox One:
- Ensure you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
- Go to the My Games & Apps section.
- Search for “Cloud Gaming” or “Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)” — it may appear as an app or within the Game Pass section.
- Launch it, sign in, and browse the available cloud-enabled titles.
- Select a game — if it’s labeled “Cloud,” you’re good to go.
Note: Not every Xbox Series X title is available via cloud. Microsoft curates the list based on licensing, performance, and demand. But heavy hitters like Hi-Fi RUSH, Sea of Thieves (next-gen update), and even Gears 5 (with Series X enhancements) are playable this way.
Case Study: Playing “Starfield” on Xbox One via Cloud
Let’s take Starfield, Bethesda’s massive space RPG, as a real-world example. Officially, it requires an Xbox Series X|S or Windows PC. If you try to download it on Xbox One, you’ll hit a wall.
But — and this is a big but — if you open Xbox Cloud Gaming on your Xbox One and search for Starfield, you’ll find it’s available for streaming (as of 2024). You won’t get 4K HDR or ultra-fast load times locally, but you will experience the full game, streamed at up to 1080p/60fps, with responsive controls, provided you have a stable internet connection (minimum 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps recommended).
One Reddit user, u/CloudGamer42, reported: “I played 20 hours of Starfield on my Xbox One S via cloud. Occasional hiccups during storms, but overall, it felt like magic. Saved me $500.”
Smart Cross-Gen Purchases: Play Now, Upgrade Later
Another strategy? Buy smart.
Many publishers release cross-gen editions of their games. For example, purchasing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Watch Dogs: Legion on Xbox One often grants you a free upgrade path to the Xbox Series X version later. You play the current-gen version now, and when you eventually upgrade your console, you get the enhanced version at no extra cost.
Always check the store description for phrases like:
- “Free upgrade to Xbox Series X|S version”
- “Smart Delivery enabled”
- “Play on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S”
This isn’t cheating the system — it’s Microsoft’s Smart Delivery initiative at work, designed to protect your investment.
What About Backward Compatibility?
You might be thinking, “But Xbox Series X plays Xbox One games — why not the other way around?”
That’s backward compatibility — and it only flows one way. Microsoft has done an incredible job ensuring that thousands of Xbox One (and even older) titles run beautifully on Series X|S, often with improved resolution, frame rates, and load times. But the reverse? Technically impossible without streaming or emulation — and Microsoft doesn’t emulate Series X games on One.