Xbox not so smart delivery - playing x/s games from external drives

Hi and thanks for reaching Microsoft Xbox gamer's community. My name is Josef.
I'm an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft Xbox user like you.

Hope you're doing great today despite this JEDIIJAY92

Unfortunately nope. If a game is compatible with smart delivery you're going to receive the best version of the game compatible with your console

This means, for example if you purchase Halo infinite Xbox one version and you insert the disc into a Series X console. As this title has the smart delivery feature, the system is going to install the Xbox Series X/S (enhanced) version

Smart delivery can't be disabled.
In case you want to know more about this, check this article
https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/games-apps/...

PS: right now the only way to play Xbox series X/S from an external drive is using the Seagate expansion card

So, if I were to get the updated Xbox Series X port of a game, either by buying the upgrade or via Smart Delivery, I wouldn’t be able to play it on the external hard drive anymore? Because I’m pretty sure that the Xbox Series X is compatible with accessories
from the current gen, like an Xbox One controller. Wouldn’t that include hard drives, so you would be able to use them for next gen games?

When the Series X/S was sent out to testers pre-release, it was possible to install Xbox One versions of Smart Delivery Games....however, it seems it was made impossible for general release.

Found this from just after release:

"Update 18/11/2020: Microsoft has followed up with a statement, confirming that the decision to force Smart Delivery games to upgrade is indeed purposeful. So you’re locked out of playing your Xbox One version of any game with Smart Delivery. RIP your internal SSD space.

“Titles that support Smart Delivery will automatically detect what device you are playing on – Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X or Xbox One – and deliver the best version of the game available to you. We believe delivering the version of a game that has been specifically optimized and tailored to your device is the best user experience, which is why Smart Delivery was developed this way. For additional information on managing upgrades with Smart Delivery, please go to Xbox Support.”https://www.gamespew.com/2020/11/xbox-series-x-s-doesnt-force-you-to-upgrade-smart-delivery-games/

Hi Daniel.

Yes, your current external storage will work. But for Series S/X and Xbox One Games with Smart Delivery, thoughs have to run from the internal storage. But for Original Xbox, X360 and Xone game without enhancement, they should still run fine from your external
unit.

Games that are listed as "Optimised for Series X/S" or have been developed specifically for the new consoles have to be installed and run from either the internal SSD or the Official Seagate 1TB Expansion card. They won't run from any other external drives...Xbox One, and older, games can be run from any external drive without issue.

There are a select few Optimised games that can run from a different external drive but not recommended as can be slower than ideal. This page contains all you need to know:

https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/help/games-apps/game-setup-and-play/smart-delivery-faq