007 First Light runs at 60FPS on Xbox Series X, but Series S is limited to 30FPS

007 First Light launches this week, and new technical details have revealed how IO Interactive’s James Bond game runs on Xbox consoles. Xbox Series X includes two gameplay modes, with players able to choose between a 60FPS mode and a 30FPS mode. Xbox Series S, however, is limited to 30FPS with no separate performance option.

The details come from Digital Foundry’s deep dive into IO Interactive’s upgraded Glacier Engine. Pre release coverage had focused mostly on PS5 and PC, but the new analysis gives Xbox players a clearer idea of what to expect from the final version.

IO Interactive chose visual parity over a stripped down 60FPS mode on Series S

The Series S decision appears to come down to IO Interactive’s scalability first approach. Instead of removing major visual systems to force a 60FPS mode on Microsoft’s smaller console, the studio chose to keep the game’s key lighting and volumetric features intact at 30FPS.

That means Series S players should still get the core visual identity of 007 First Light, even if the frame rate target is lower. According to the report, IO plans to use the same thinking for lower end PC hardware and the later Switch 2 version.

The choice makes sense for a game that appears to be technically ambitious. 007 First Light uses new lighting systems, volumetrics, and other rendering upgrades that would be difficult to preserve on weaker hardware at 60FPS. Series S has less memory and GPU power than Series X, so a full 60FPS target would likely require heavier visual cuts.

Even hitting 60FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5 was not simple. IO Interactive reportedly had to modernize the Glacier Engine with aggressive use of async compute, a frame graph system, and deeper CPU optimization. These changes help the engine make better use of the GPU and move demanding tasks such as physics, AI, and animation onto worker threads.

That is important because 007 First Light is not only a shooter or simple action game. IO Interactive is known for complex simulation systems through Hitman, and a Bond game likely needs dense environments, stealth systems, AI behavior, driving, cinematic scenes, and action set pieces running together.

The 30FPS target on Series S may disappoint players who prefer smoother performance, but it is not unusual for more demanding current generation games. The trade off is that Series S owners may get a version that looks closer to the higher end console editions instead of a visually reduced 60FPS build.

For Xbox Series X players, the two mode setup gives more flexibility. Those who value responsiveness can choose 60FPS, while players who prefer higher visual quality can use the 30FPS mode.

007 First Light releases on Xbox Series X and S, PS5, PC, and later Switch 2. Based on these early technical details, IO Interactive seems focused on keeping the game’s advanced visual systems intact across platforms, even if that means Series S players only get a 30FPS option.