Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Microsoft explains in detail how Xbox Series X Smart Delivery will work

Don Reisinger
By

Microsoft has shared more details on its Smart Delivery service as it prepares to transition from the Xbox One console to the upcoming Xbox Series X.

Recommended Videos

Microsoft unveiled Smart Delivery in February, saying that players will automatically get Xbox Series X versions of games they previously purchased digitally on the Xbox One at no additional charge. In a blog post on Monday, Microsoft said Smart Delivery will be available to all third-party developers but cautioned it’ll be up to those developers to support the feature. If they don’t, the feature won’t be available on their games.

Related

Smart Delivery should prove to be a hands-off process, Microsoft said. Once players buy an Xbox Series X, Microsoft will automatically add the Xbox Series X version of their Xbox One game to the console. Over time, as more games are optimized for Xbox Series X, Microsoft will continue to add them to the console.

“And it’s not just limited to games that you purchase digitally,” Microsoft said. “Physical discs of Xbox games can also support Smart Delivery if the developer or publisher decides to implement it.”

Microsoft also said that Smart Delivery will work with its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. So, as long as users continue to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass on the Xbox Series X, they’ll get optimized versions of those games delivered digitally to their new console.

Smart Delivery could prove valuable as players decide to upgrade to the Xbox Series X or buy games for the Xbox One. Players won’t need to buy two versions of a title and can finish a single playthrough across both consoles.

Microsoft said all progress in games will be saved, so players won’t need to start over on the Xbox Series X.

The service’s biggest problem, however, might be developer participation. Microsoft on Monday provided an updated list of games (listed below) that currently support Smart Delivery. While the company has promised more game compatibility in the future and said developers can easily turn Smart Delivery on for optimized titles, there’s no telling how many titles will take advantage of it when the console is launched in time for the 2020 holiday shopping season.

Here’s a full list of games that will work with Smart Delivery:

  • Halo Infinite
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  • Destiny 2
  • DiRT 5
  • Scarlet Nexus
  • Chorus
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon
  • The Ascent
  • Call of the Sea
  • Gears 5
  • Second Extinction
  • Metal: Hellslinger

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger is a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. He has been writing about the world of…
The most common Xbox Series X problems and how to fix them
Xbox Series X

Like any other consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S aren't without issues. Even after several years on the market giving Microsoft time to push out updates and fixes, there are still some issues that can crop up.

In this guide, we're going to cover the most common Xbox Series X problems, as well as how to fix them, including:

Read more
The best Xbox Series X games for 2024
Key art for Starfield

After an uneven console cycle with the Xbox One, Microsoft's latest consoles are aimed at getting the ship back on course. The Xbox Series X is a next-generation powerhouse that rivals gaming PCs, while the Xbox Series S is an affordable stopgap for those who are curious about trying new games.

There's no shortage of games to play on either console thanks to Xbox Game Pass, which gives players immediate access to a library of titles old and new. That built-in catalog is an extra value on top of all the new games available on the system that take advantage of its impressive technical specs. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 gave a good boost to the console's library following a somewhat sparse first year. More games are also on the way. Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition will bring exclusives like Starfield and the potential addition of all Activision Blizzard games would further bolster that list, but the console's real strength lies in third-party support.

Read more
Madden 24 is coming to Xbox Game Pass just in time for the Super Bowl
Players make a tackle in gameplay action of Madden NFL 24.

Xbox revealed a new batch of library additions coming to its Game Pass service. The list includes some heavy hitters in Resident Evil 3 and Madden 24, as well as some indie hidden gems.

Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's subscription service that gives players access to select games for a monthly fee, will add eight new games in the first half of February. The rollout will start today with Anuchard and continue until February 20 with the sci-fi title Return to Grace.

Read more