Bandai Namco Confirms Xbox Series X Players Can Now Block Xbox Series S Users in New Naruto Game

Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections: PS5 and Xbox Series X Players Get 60 FPS Advantage

If you’re an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 player, you’ll be pleased to know that Bandai Namco has you covered when it comes to online fights in the upcoming game Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. The developer has introduced a feature that allows PS5 players to block PS4 from online matching and Xbox Series X players to block Xbox One and Xbox Series S. This feature ensures that current-gen players can enjoy a smooth 60 frames per second (FPS) experience without being held back by older consoles.

Game Specs and FPS

The game’s official website states that Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections will run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5. However, players on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S will be limited to 30 FPS. This means that if a PS5 or Xbox Series X player matches with a player on PS4, Xbox One, or Xbox Series S, the online fight will be downgraded to 30 FPS, impacting the overall gameplay experience.

Optional Setting for New-Gen Players

To address this discrepancy and give players on new-gen consoles the option for optimal performance, Bandai Namco Entertainment America has implemented a setting. This setting allows players on Xbox Series X and PS5 with a 60 FPS cap to only matchmake with players on the respective new-gen consoles, if they prefer not to play at 30 FPS. The setting is completely optional, so players can choose to turn it on or off based on their preferences. Turning it on ensures a smoother gaming experience, while leaving it off allows for a wider pool of competitors in online play.

Hardware Differences and Ongoing Headache for Microsoft

While the option to match only with new-gen console players is a welcome feature, the fact that the game won’t run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series S highlights an ongoing headache for Microsoft. The Xbox Series X and the cheaper but less powerful Xbox Series S have different hardware capabilities, creating a disparity in performance for certain games. Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, recently reiterated that games will launch on both the Xbox Series X and S. This move aims to address concerns but also highlights the challenges developers face in optimizing games for different hardware configurations.

For more on Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Connections, check out 16 minutes of gameplay from June’s Anime Expo.

About the Author

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.