Improving a game on the Xbox One X helps boost its One S performance, says Xbox exec

- Albert Penello, Microsoft’s senior director of product management and planning for Xbox, in a Q&A with Gamasutra.

One of the common concerns surrounding mid-generation hardware updates like the Xbox One X or PlayStation 4 Pro is the idea that developing a game with both console variants in mind will ultimately lead to one version holding the other back. 

In a recent Q&A about the Xbox One X, Microsoft's Albert Penello assured Gamasutra that this isn’t the case for the Xbox One's mid-generational hardware update. Rather, Penello says that game developers should expect to see their Xbox One X-led engine improvements reflected in better performance on the Xbox One S as well. 

“An interesting thing is happening, people ask this question, ‘Is Xbox One X held back by the One S or vice-versa?’ And in fact, the tweaks you make to your engine, every tool improvement that we make to development makes Xbox One S and Xbox One X development better,” Penello told Gamasutra. 

He cites Turn 10’s work with Forza Motorsport 7 and an example of this in action, saying that changes focused around Xbox One X performance actually helped make dynamic weather possible on the Xbox One S.

“Every tweak you make to your engine to get a little bit more performance out of your engine makes your Xbox One S engine better.”

Take a look at the full Q&A for more from Penello on what developers can expect from the Xbox One X, as well as a look at Microsoft's plans for making the console appealing to both developer and consumers.