8K resolutions, 120 FPS framerates, and considerably faster load times are just a few of the technological features the Xbox Series X will boast, and if Xbox chief Phil Spencer is to be believed, one of those other features will improve the general experience of gaming to an extent not seen in decades.

On Twitter this week, Spencer was asked about what technologies he thinks will truly mark the start of the next generation with the XSX’s launch. While the quick exchange touched upon things like ray tracing and photogrammetry that help make a game look more realistic, he focused his attention on Dynamic Latency Input, which he said will dramatically change “the feel of games this upcoming generation,” so much so that he believes the the leap forward will be on par with the jump from 2D games to 3D.

RELATED: Xbox Boss Spencer Values High Frame Rate Over Resolution

However, for the average gamer, it might not be immediately clear how it could cause such a change, or what it even is. Microsoft has touched upon the subject in recent times, but the basic gist is that Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) is a system inside the XSX that is designed to reduce latency, or the time it takes for the press of a button or movement of an analog stick to translate into an onscreen action. To do this, it “synchronizes input immediately with what is displayed,” according to Microsoft.

What this means is that, with this system, the XSX’s controller sends inputs to the console right before the game asks for them, that way the player’s inputs are in sync with whatever they’re playing. By doing this, the XSX is able to get around the lag that tends to come from inputs traveling from a wireless controller to the console and result in “significantly lower” latency, and without affecting the controller’s battery life too.

xbox series x logo

While it might not be as flashy as higher-quality graphics or being able to suspend multiple games at once, DLI indeed has the potential to provide the largest generational quality-of-life improvement in quite some time. After all, one of the most common and annoying issues players can face in pretty much every game is input lag. This is especially true for fast-paced online shooters and fighting games where even the slightest delay between a player’s inputs and what they see on-screen can be the difference between victory and defeat.

It’s for reasons like this that Spencer has been “very focused” on incorporating DLI into the Xbox Series X, and with the help of other new features like an upgraded CPU, extra memory bandwidth, and a high-capacity SSD, it is possible that the console will make games feel smoother in a way that is truly next-gen.

The Xbox Series X is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

MORE: Xbox Boss Teases Xbox Series X Game Reveals Throughout 2020

Source: XboxP3/Twitter, IGN