Skip to main content
If you have an existing or new Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) title and you don’t plan to ship a separate XBOX Series X|S native version of the game for the XBOX Series consoles, the title will still be playable on XBOX Series X|S via backward compatibility. In backward compatibility mode, the title will run on the XBOX Series consoles at parity with the XBOX One hardware and will not be able to take advantage of any of the advanced features of the newer console.
When a Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) title has set TargetDeviceFamily="XboxOne" in it’s MicrosoftGame.Config and is run on a XBOX Series consoles device, it ignores the SMTEnabled flag and always runs with SMT disabled.
You can alternatively ship a separate native XBOX Series X|S version of your title that would take full advantage of the advanced features of the XBOX Series consoles. See Dual SKU cross generation games.

​
Development steps

Make sure you are using the June 2020 GDK or newer. Set up your project to target the XBOX One device family. In the MicrosoftGame.config file, set TargetDeviceFamily="XboxOne". See MicrosoftGame.Config overview. Set other optional settings in MicrosoftGame.config: XboxCompatibility

​
Validation Steps

It is important to test your XBOX One title and ensure that it will perform well for players when enjoyed on XBOX Series X|S consoles.

​
Deploy to a XBOX Series consoles dev kit

Use any deployment method to deploy your title to a XBOX Series consoles dev kit for iteration, testing and debugging. See Deploying your title to your XBOX dev kit.

​
Memory configurations and testing your title

There are multiple Console Modes and memory profiles you can set for testing your title on the console on a XBOX Series X|S dev kit. For example, Console Modes will allow you to emulate various console family devices with corresponding memory footprints. The default Console Mode setting (Scarlett Iteration Mode) is for daily development work, and you can change to Anaconda or Lockhart modes to emulate your title running on a corresponding retail console. See Configuring memory for your title and dev kit for more details.

​
Packaging

Follow the same instructions as usual for packaging your XBOX One title. See Overview of packaging.

​
For ERA titles see also

Microsoft Game Development Kit porting guide for XBOX One Upgrading your XBOX One XDK title on XBOX Series Devices

​
See also

Dual SKU overview Microsoft Game Development Kit console modes Configuring memory for your title and dev kit Configuring (xbconfig.exe) Rebooting (xbreboot.exe)
Last modified on August 20, 2026

Related topics

Cross-generation gamingDual SKU cross-generation gamesCross-generation title developmentBackwards compatibility and gamertag conversionsXAPU overview