- Xbox brings original console games to PC via a backward compatibility program, allowing them to be played natively for the first time.
- The program launches today via the Xbox app and is included with Game Pass.
- The PC release also means compatibility with Windows-based handhelds.
- This move is part of Xbox's larger plan to reinvent its console platform with Project Helix, where the next-gen console will act like a PC running Windows.
- Jason Ronald, VP of next-gen Xbox, stated: “we expect our library of games to move forward with us and to be able to play them in entirely new ways.”
- The vast majority of past games are unavailable to purchase by any legal means, according to the Video Game History Foundation, and Xbox's focus on game preservation is welcomed.
Microsoft's Xbox Backward Compatibility program has officially launched on PC, bringing beloved original Xbox titles to Windows for the first time.12
Games like *Fuzion Frenzy*, *BLiNX: The Time Sweeper*, and *Conker: Live and Reloaded* are now available natively, enhancing the gaming experience with customizable graphics settings and upscaling capabilities.
Previously, these titles could only be accessed through Xbox Cloud Gaming or emulation, making this release a significant milestone for game preservation.89
Xbox's commitment to enhancing these games includes plans to add achievements in the coming months, further engaging players.
Jason Ronald, VP of the next-gen Xbox, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “we expect our library of games to move forward with us and to be able to play them in entirely new ways.”7
This move aligns with Xbox's broader strategy to reinvent its console platform, transitioning towards a more open PC-like architecture with its upcoming next-gen console, Project Helix.56
As the Video Game History Foundation notes, many past games are unavailable for legal purchase, making Xbox's focus on game preservation particularly timely.
With this backward compatibility, Xbox not only caters to nostalgia but also sets the stage for future gaming innovations.
“The program launches today via the Xbox app and is included with Game Pass, offering PC gamers access to these titles for the first time. Xbox VP Jason Ronald said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to preserve game history and transition to a more Windows-based console platform.”
Gizmodo
