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Use this topic to understand how to develop titles that work across XBOX One family consoles and XBOX Series consoles. With the introduction of XBOX Series X|S consoles, you can extend the business value of your XBOX One titles to XBOX Series consoles so that you can retain their existing active users. You can also attract new users to your content. Cross-generation development requires minimal friction to unify users across XBOX One family consoles and XBOX Series consoles. You can build new gameplay that takes advantage of XBOX Series X|S hardware without alienating current XBOX One users. XBOX users can enjoy new and beloved content on existing XBOX One family consoles. Users can seamlessly upgrade to XBOX Series consoles with their library and game progress intact.

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What’s a cross-generation game?

A cross-generation XBOX game is any game that’s playable across XBOX One family consoles and XBOX Series consoles. This means newly released titles that are simultaneously available across XBOX One family consoles and XBOX Series consoles, and existing XBOX One titles that are refreshed or expanded for XBOX Series X|S. However, there are different approaches to packaging, selling, and releasing games to multiple console generations.

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Smart Delivery titles

Use Smart Delivery to provide users with the most frictionless cross-generation experience. Build native versions of your title that are largely similar or that are differentiated by hardware capabilities. Smart Delivery ensures that users receive the best available version whether they’re playing on XBOX One family consoles or XBOX Series consoles. For more information about Smart Delivery packaging options, see Smart Delivery.

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Dual SKU titles

You can create your game as two titles that users purchase, install, and play separately (one for XBOX One and one for XBOX Series X|S). Each title is presented independently in the Microsoft Store and carries separate user experiences. For more information about Dual SKU packaging options, see Dual SKU cross-generation games.

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Backward compatibility-only titles

If you choose not to create a native version of your XBOX One title for XBOX Series X|S, the game can be played on XBOX Series X|S hardware in backward compatibility mode in parity with XBOX One hardware.

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See also

Cross-generation title development Backcompat only titles Upgrading your XBOX One Software Development Kit title on XBOX Series X|S devices
Last modified on August 20, 2026

Related topics

Cross-generation gaming through backward compatibility onlyCross-generation title developmentDual SKU cross-generation gamesCross-gen games with the XBOX GDKCreating discs