Microsoft says the Xbox Series X makes it easier to play games even when offline. After installing the 2208 update released earlier this month, players are no longer forced to go through an online compatibility check when playing Xbox One disc games. Instead, you just put the disc in, install the game, and start playing, all without an internet connection.
The new feature isn’t listed in the 2208 update’s log, but Xbox engineering lead Eden Marie has confirmed it in a tweet. He tweeted that playing cross-gen games on the Series X does not warrant a compatibility review in the vast majority of cases.
You will now be able to install games for the Xbox One version directly from the Xbox One or cross-generation discs and start playing them. Of course, if you want to download any updates or enhancement packs for Series X, you will still need to have access to the internet. You also have to be online to play games that don’t have all the installation data on the disc. These warnings mean it’s not fully localised, but in theory if Microsoft shuts down its servers you should at least still be able to play the version of the game you have on the disc.
