This led to a question regarding parity of framerates between the same game playing on Xbox One and Scorpio, particularly in multiplayer (where differing framerates can make a definable alteration in quality of play). Ybarra made clear that, if they wanted, developers could allow for different framerates between consoles, even in multiplayer.
No, there isn't. This is up to the developer to choose, for their games, what they want to do. https://t.co/bFW7gcni7d
— Mike Ybarra (@XboxQwik) May 19, 2017
However, as much as developer freedom, part of Scorpio's pitch has always been that players could play the same games across both Xbox consoles. Microsoft Studios GM, Shannon Loftis offered a developer's perspective on the potential issue:
@The_CrapGamer Developer choice, but as a developer I would bet no one chooses different framerates for mp games ever.
— Shannon Loftis (@shannonloftis) May 20, 2017
The answer, then, seems to be "it's not up to us" - Microsoft is offering a hands-off approach, with game developers left to choose how they want to treat two separate-but-linked Xbox audiences.
With the freedom being offered by Microsoft, this will likely become an ongoing design philosophy issue, as developers test the waters of cross-console parity. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft's pledge that "no one gets left behind" would allow for Scorpio-only and One-only multiplayer servers.
The first Scorpio-supporting games will be revealed when the console is fully unveiled at E3 in June, at which point we'll likely learn more. Joe Skrebels is IGN's UK News Editor, and he cannot stand for any update that makes him even worse at fighting games. Follow him on Twitter.