Microsoft is planning to add more original Xbox games to PC later this year, followed by Xbox 360 games next year ‘across next gen devices.’
Thanks to Sony planning to ditch physical games completely after 2027, the backwards compatibility potential of the PlayStation 6 is up in the air.
On that front, some will argue that Xbox is winning as it’s made a point of letting you play older Xbox games on the Xbox Series X/S, and that’s even begun extending to PC.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Xbox began re-releasing retro games from the very first Xbox console for PC and according to a recently leaked document, Xbox 360 games are next.
This was initially claimed by a Retro Gamer on X, who said they had seen documentation stating that Xbox 360 games will be made compatible on PC through emulation, as well as how Microsoft plans to offer a disc-to-digital service where you can obtain digital licences for your physical games.
The Verge has since corroborated this, adding that Microsoft intends to make Xbox 360 games run on PC, the Project Helix console, and handheld devices. So, exactly what it wants to do with original Xbox games.
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Xbox 360 support isn’t expected to start a ‘gradual’ roll out until 2027 ‘across next gen devices,’ which suggests Microsoft is aiming to have Project Helix out next year; something the company has previously hinted at.
A ‘full launch’ of original Xbox games is also planned for this October after Microsoft released only four of them last month.
The goal is to make it easier for Xbox customers to maintain a consistent library of games across all compatible platforms. Allowing you to do this on PC does seem to undermine Project Helix, but then it’s expected to be much closer to a standard PC than a traditional console.
Like Sony, Microsoft may simply be banking on Project Helix being a cheaper alternative to a new PC, even if the console still ends up being very expensive – as is rumoured to be the case.
As for the disc-to-digital service, The Verge reports that a beta version was meant to be made available in July, followed by a full release in August, but the beta was delayed – leaving it unclear when exactly Xbox owners can start using it.
While the service is meant to alleviate fears of digital ownership by tying digital licences directly to the physical games – meaning you can still sell and trade them – it also looks to be a measure to ensure people can access their physical games on a digital-only console. Ergo, Microsoft likely plans on backing away from physical support too.
Xbox’s backwards compatibility efforts are an easy way of earning brownie points at the moment but, despite its importance within the company, this didn’t stop Xbox from laying off Kevin LaChapelle, the guy credited with leading the backwards compatibility initiative, in July.
This was part of a string of layoffs that impacted multiple game studios, and included Chris Munson, who had been with the company for over 15 years as a marketing manager and eventually the head of global sports partnerships.
We bring this up because he’s also credited with founding the Xbox FanFest community events and despite his being let go, Xbox has more events planned throughout the rest of the year.
An Xbox Wire post confirms dates for events held in Cologne, Germany to coincide with Gamescom at the end of August, plus Japan, the US, and here in the UK.
‘The Xbox FanFest Tour is a global, multi-city run of fan-first events built around connection, local community, and the games we love,’ reads the post, which rings extremely hollow given the layoffs and guttering of studios.
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