Microsoft’s Xbox Scorpio games will offer native 4K graphics

The 4K war of words has intensified with a vow from Microsoft that first party Xbox Scorpio titles will support native 4K visuals.

Both Xbox Scorpio and PS4 Neo will offer 4K visuals, but that does not necessarily mean that the games will be generating a 4K image – in some instances games will be rendered a lower resolution, and the image then upscaled to 4K. Sony made a lot of noise about this mechanic as its PS4 Pro presentation.

But now Microsoft studios publishing general manager Shannon Loftis has told USA Today that there will be no upscaling from Microsoft Studios titles.

Any games we’re making that we’re launching in the Scorpio time frame, we’re making sure they can natively render at 4K,” she said.

This comes in the wake of what have become seemingly controversial comments from Sony boss Andrew House. He told Digital Spy that the fact PS4 Pro will upscale most of its content does not mean its use of the 4K marketing tagline is misleading.

I would say the majority will be upscaled – at least based on the game portfolio I have seen to date,” he said of the PS4 Pro software lineup. I don’t think [that is misleading]. I think that whatever the term is, it’s a question of whether people see a demonstrable difference in the game experience or not, rather than the term we use to apply to it.

I think that’s what people are looking for and they’ll make their judgement as to whether that’s working for them or not.”