Could Microsoft be sitting on an unwitting, nostalgic Xbox goldmine?

If you're my age without kids or younger siblings, there's a good chance you won't even know the game I'm about to talk about. The franchise could be poised for a huge comeback, though, if Microsoft has the vision.

Recently, XboxGamePreservation.com published its first user analysis. The website offers users the chance to vote on games they want to see revived under Xbox's backwards compatibility program, which the firm has been teasing for a comeback to celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary.

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles can run a variety of Xbox 360 and OG Xbox games from yesteryear. Some titles like Final Fantasy 13 and Fallout 3 also received resolution and frame rate bumps from Microsoft's emulation tech. But the firm said it had exhausted all legal possibilities for franchise revivals. That was before it acquired Activision-Blizzard, though.

XboxGamePreservation.com's per-franchise analysis shows that Activision franchise Skylanders is by far now the most-requested for revival, ahead of big licensed properties like Transformers and Spider-Man.

Skylanders was originally conceived as a spin-off of Spyro, which is also receiving a new game published by Xbox for 2027. Former Activision studio returned indie Toys for Bob has taken up the reins of Spyro, and had previously worked extensively on both Crash Bandicoot and Skylanders itself.

Skylanders pioneered the toys-to-life genre, which let users buy collectible toys that could "teleport" into the game via an NFC USB accessory. Activision sold mountains upon mountains of the toys and games, but much like Guitar Hero, milked it a bit too hard to the point it fell quite rapidly out of fashion.

Skylanders was really popular in the early 2010s and represents happy childhood memories for millions of Gen-Z gamers who are now emerging into adulthood.

Could Microsoft be sitting on a potential nostalgic goldmine here, akin to how millennials show up for Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon?

Xbox Back Compat and Spyro could test the viability of reviving Skylanders under Toys for Bob

Toys for Bob's Spyro trailer is currently sitting on 16 million views as of writing, and while some of that is likely from paid ad-boosting traffic, the comments and celebrations are genuine. Hundreds of YouTube videos celebrating the franchise's revival after two decades offer a hint at the quiet nostalgia that exists for franchises like Spyro, Crash, and Banjo ... and given how dark things are IRL, perhaps some colorful respite might be just what the doctor ordered.

Physical toys are a tricky business without a doubt. Collectible figurine brand Funko POP has been facing a bankruptcy crisis as users opt for similar, albeit much more premium collectibles from the likes of Figma and Nendoroid. But it's pretty clear there's a market here.

Millennials in the so-called "kidult" cohort have driven brands like Lego to record profits. Lego responded by delivering licensed sets based on more adult-facing franchises, alongside nostalgic sets like Ghostbusters and the like.

There's a clear opportunity here for Microsoft and Skylanders, potentially. Microsoft has a truly VAST wealth of nostalgic IP they could tap into for this specific collectible genre, targeting parents with kids, nostalgic Gen-Z'ers, or even older.

It's perhaps the wrong time to be pitching Xbox on new ideas as it looks set to close studios rather than invest in new products ... alas. Microsoft's IP library is clearly its biggest, most untapped goldmine right now. But it would take some real vision and real investment to extract that. Microsoft is typically anti-culture, though, so I'm not sure it is part of their DNA. Maybe new CEO Asha Sharma will change things.

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Project Helix, Xbox’s next-generation console, remains a bit of a mystery, but in a recent interview with Fortune Conversations, CEO Asha Sharma doubled down on what we can expect after uncertainty swirled online following comments made by Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball.

Speaking about the project, Ball said, “We are working very hard to rethink everything that we can about Helix, which is a console we are committed to shipping… We are very cognizant of the ways in which we need the change as a company to make sure it is affordable, to make sure that it’s flexible.”

It was enough to get some fans questioning whether a Project Helix capable of playing PC games was still on the cards, or whether Xbox was considering something entirely different. While Ball never suggested either of those things directly, the remarks did leave room for speculation about whether Helix would ultimately be what many Xbox fans had been expecting.

Asha Sharma has now offered a little more clarity on the matter, in a response to this statement: “One of the things that I think is really interesting about the business moment you're in is through the prism of something like Project Helix. It's expected to be a top-tier premium offering. There is definitely interest in it…”

Sharma replies, “I'm excited about it. It's a console that's also going to allow you to play your PC games. It's going to have backward compatibility. It's going to have leading-end performance, but there's material work to do to make sure that it is available to the people that want to play.”

To me, it sounds like Xbox is simply trying to find a way to make the console as affordable as possible and is willing to explore whatever avenue helps achieve that goal. I hope it can figure it out, because the cost of components is currently approaching three times what it once was, and that just isn't sustainable for any company trying to make hardware right now.

What do you think, though? Do Sharma's comments make you feel better about the future of Project Helix, or are you still nervous? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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The Xbox Player Voice website is here, reviving a tradition we've not seen from Xbox in quite some time.

This isn't the first time Xbox has had a feature like this. The Xbox User Voice platform from many moons ago actively solicited feedback from fans and was also used to target specific games for Xbox Backwards Compatibility. The team prioritized the work (both technical and legal) based on what games were being requested the most. We didn't get all of them ... but the vast majority were eventually delivered. Xbox thus has some of the best console-oriented backward compatibility on the market.

Xbox stopped taking feedback from users wholesale a few years ago. It's in this environment we ended up losing Xbox exclusive games, and we got an absurd Xbox Game Pass 50% price hike, amidst other annoyances. 2026 is turning out to be a different beast so far.

New CEO Asha Sharma is prioritizing Xbox user feedback more than ever, as part of a wider Microsoft push to revive its consumer-oriented businesses. Windows also has its K2 initiative, soliciting feedback in a similar way, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella woke up at some point last year and realized that half of his business had fallen into disrepair. Better late than never, I guess.

In any case, it's a positive shift regardless. But how realistic is some of this fan feedback? Let's examine it together!

You can add your own Xbox Player Voice feedback items over here.

We dive into the biggest (consolidated) trending feedback items ranked by order of votes, as well as some comments on how realistic or unrealistic they may be to actually implement.

20. Remove "ads" from the home screen

I appreciate the sentiment here, but I also kind of personally don't see it as a big deal. I'm in and out of the dashboard in seconds, so I don't even really notice that it even really has "ads." Furthermore, I often actually appreciate the "ads" that are there, because at least in Europe, they're usually for Xbox games and Xbox news, rarely external stuff.

I know that in the United States, the ads can be a bit different, though. I did see a McDonald's ad recently from a U.S. dashboard, which I'm pretty sure we don't get here.

The big problem with Xbox hardware is the lack of raw margin. In fact, given the memory rout right now, I wouldn't be surprised if Xbox hardware is actually a negative margin in the current year. Having ads helps Microsoft keep the hardware business at least vaguely viable, particularly in a universe where more and more gamers than ever are playing titles like Fortnite and Roblox for free, and not actually spending a penny.

Hating ads is the default, but they serve a pretty important role for the Xbox ecosystem, so I'm really in two minds about it here.

19. Add music to the home screen

This is a cool idea, particularly if it integrated YouTube Music or Spotify. Microsoft already has YouTube and Spotify on the box, complete with background audio support, so having the Xbox default to an ambient Spotify Playlist on the homescreen or with a Dynamic Background could be a cool feature and potentially comparatively easy to implement.

18. 100% achievement awards like PlayStation "Platinum" trophies

Xbox has been locking in to new features for Xbox achievements at a decent clip lately. You can now get special icons on your profile for certain gamerscore milestones, but what people really want is completion trophies. An incentive to fully complete a game and all of its achievements in exchange for a special completion award, similar to PlayStation's Platinum Trophy.

I'm not a completionist or an achievement hunter, but this has long been one of the top feedback items I've heard in my community. I don't see why Microsoft shouldn't implement it.

17. Legacy Xbox game achievements

Indeed, a lot of the feedback items in the top trending list are achievement-related. One user asks Microsoft to implement achievements for OG Xbox games. There are technical reasons why this might be impossible for many, if not all of the OG Xbox games, with source code inaccessibility, licensing issues, framework incompatibility, and so on — but it's a nice idea. It's sadly one that I seriously doubt will be implemented, though.

16. Official support for Ukraine

Despite Microsoft's heavy investment in Ukrainian cloud infrastructure and military resilience against the evil Russian regime, Xbox actually has no official presence in the country. Microsoft has been investing in Ukrainian games like Metro and STALKER, and has been contributing to defending Ukrainian tech from Russian aggression.

There are obviously some difficult circumstances with regard to delivering the full Xbox ecosystem in the country right now, technologically and financially. Russia is actively attacking Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure, including cloud pipelines. I hope Microsoft does what it can to bring Xbox to the nation, though. Gaming can be a source of calm amidst chaos, and there are fewer places on Earth enduring more senseless, evil chaos right now.

15. Stream games to YouTube

Microsoft has Twitch integration, but more and more people are streaming games to other platforms, including YouTube and TikTok. It might require Google to play nice with Xbox to actually implement, though, and as we know, Google hates Xbox with a passion.

As such, I doubt we'll see this get implemented any time soon. Google is an anti-competitive company, and would rather see the Xbox ecosystem die out than actually support features like this.

14. Add voice chat clip recording

Here's one Xbox COULD implement, though. I've often wanted to clip funny happenings me and my friends have experienced, but right now, you can only really do that on PC. It would be great if you could also record your mic and party chat members' mic into clips to get full reactions etc., subject of course to a disclaimer for users who had the feature "turned on," so that nobody was being recorded unaware.

In the era of social media and clipping, this seems like an obvious one to implement, technical challenges notwithstanding.

13. Boost FPS boost

The 13 top trending pieces of feedback pertain to FPS Boost, which we haven't really seen much of recently. FPS Boost was implemented in games like Wasteland 3, Metro 2033, and Fallout 3, giving some 30 FPS back-compatible games a platform-injected coat of new paint. Or, go faster stripes, I guess.

Microsoft implemented FPS Boost on a few games, but the feature then fell by the wayside. I presume Xbox Helix will have some sort of AI-powered frame generation tech to make it easier to implement at a platform level, but it would be cool to see more OG games get modern frame rates.

12. Lower the price of Xbox hardware

Here's one I definitely don't see happening in the short term. The price of memory is a huge, global problem right now. Every manufacturer that uses memory is seeing a price rout, battering margins, and making components hard to even acquire.

Xbox's hardware isn't down due to decreased demand alone; it's down because they've not been purchasing stock. Because the stock is too expensive ... if they can even get the memory in the first place.

Memory prices are supposed to stabilize around 2028, but who knows what other reasons there might be for increased supply chain costs by then ... I wouldn't expect to see Xbox hardware get a price cut any time soon, sadly!

11. Expand Xbox Play Anywhere to older games

Here's one I'd love to see implemented more. Some classic games recently grabbed Xbox Play Anywhere, including Resident Evil Village and Kingdom Come Deliverance. But it's exceedingly, painfully rare that a game gets retroactive Xbox Play Anywhere support.

My biggest lamentation is that my Xbox Ally doesn't get access to 99% of my console library right now. No Dark Souls, no Elden Ring, no classic games of any stripe. Only the few Xbox PC games that Microsoft does a deal with via Xbox Game Pass. The organic uptake of Xbox PC and Xbox Play Anywhere is absolutely miserable, and it needs to change somehow.

10. Change playtime from "days" to "hours"

I'm surprised how popular this piece of feedback was since I never really considered it a huge deal, but if you go to your stats page on your Xbox guide for any game, it shows your playtime in days, hours, and minutes.

It's not hard to calculate the days into hours, but I suppose the obvious play here would be to add some kind of toggle to switch between days, hours, and minutes, to just hours and minutes. Given how popular this piece of feedback is and how simple it would be to implement, this could be an easy win.

9. HDR dashboard support

Here's something that bugged me so much I actually just fully turned off HDR.

The Xbox dashboard is not in HDR, which means your TV set will flicker between display modes on and off when you switch between the game and the dashboard. Some TV sets do this very slowly, making it a pain. It would be ideal if the Xbox could just stay permanently in HDR or non-HDR modes. I've disabled HDR completely to avoid this, although my TV's HDR generally sucks anyway. If you have an expensive TV with good HDR, you might be disproportionately annoyed by this, and rightfully so.

8. Boost support in Brazil

If there's one Xbox fanbase that is arguably among the world's most passionate, if not the most passionate, it's Brazil.

Xbox has enjoyed a strong history in the Americas, North, Central, and South, but global economic complexities have led to disparate support between them. Tariffs and taxes are some of the main reasons Microsoft has pulled back support from many regions across the globe in recent years, but Brazil is arguably among one of the worst hit.

I'm not sure how Microsoft would resolve things here, but it might require some form of governmental intervention. However, the fact that the Xbox Elite Series 3 leaked via the Brazilian regulatory authority might be an indication that Xbox is gearing up to return more support to the region.

7. Bring back Xbox Avatars

I've written before how Xbox is often too focused on telemetry at the expense of fun, and I think Xbox Avatars was definitely a victim of this. You'd think in the social media era, Microsoft would be more willing to do something with this system, alas.

In any case, Xbox 360 Avatars were a fun way to express yourself on Xbox Live in the 360 days, and were even implemented into some games, similar to the Mii's of the Nintendo ecosystem. Microsoft refreshed Avatars during the Xbox One era, to considerable expense, I'm told, but that's where the refresh ended. Microsoft canceled the project and subsequently cut them entirely, not long after.

I think the crux of the issue with the new Avatars is exactly that, really, they were just too expensive. HD assets cost more to make and implement. Microsoft should've just stuck with the retro-styled Avatars and opened them up to content creators to add to and remix instead, creating a low-cost user-generated content layer for the platform.

I'm not sure if Microsoft would bring them back, but this might be one of the few ways "AI" could play a role in creating harmless 3D assets for players to express themselves with. Bring it back and open it up to creators, Microsoft!

6. Disc-based game support for Xbox Helix

This is another problematic one. The reality remains that PlayStation and Xbox consoles are currently the only market for disc drives. Laptops and PCs don't have them anymore, and Blu-ray players have given way to streaming services and digital delivery in recent years.

The industry sees discs as a declining feature. PlayStation just noted it has hit 85% digital delivery, and Xbox is likely even higher.

That being said, I would like to see some kind of option here for disc fans. Either via external drives, or the disc to digital program Microsoft seems to be working on. It would be a shame to see discs fully go away ... but they already did for PC gaming. It's a digital world now, for better or worse.

5. Xbox Game Pass Family Plan support

Here's another painfully canceled project, although I heard this one wasn't actually Microsoft's fault.

Microsoft was testing a Family Plan for Xbox Game Pass, giving up to four users access to the library in exchange for a discount. It even implemented it in Ireland and Colombia as a test run.

I was told EA, who is a long-term contractee within the Xbox Game Pass ecosystem, fully hated the idea. It sucks because EA does the absolute bare minimum with its Game Pass involvement, refusing to put Xbox PC native versions with Play Anywhere or Xbox achievements out.

If the above is indeed true, I would like to see EA get kicked out of the Xbox Game Pass ecosystem in exchange for a revival of the Xbox Game Pass Family Plan, personally. EA barely releases games anymore anyway. EA shouldn't be allowed to hold back Xbox customers, given how anemic its contributions have been.

4. Separate Xbox achievements between base game and DLCs

Here's one I often hear about. Presently, when Xbox games get DLC, the extra achievements are added to the overall pool of the gamerscore for that title.

For users who like "completing" games, this can be a bit frustrating, I'm sure. You spend weeks, or months even, working on 100%'ing a game, only for a DLC to drop in and move the goal posts.

I'm not sure if Microsoft would be able to retroactively separate the base game and DLC achievement scores, but it's certainly something I've seen requested a fair bit, and the fact that it's the fourth-highest trending item is telling.

3. Make online multiplayer fully free

Paying for multiplayer feels like an anachronism in 2026. The rise of Steam has to at least be in part due to the fact that it doesn't request any such paywall. Mobile games, too.

Indeed, an entire cohort of users has grown up expecting access to be free, at least for games. Roblox, Fortnite, and so on. Microsoft would have a huge and powerful message to send if indeed it dropped the multiplayer paywall, leaving Nintendo and Sony as the sole proprietors of the outdated downside. But ... Microsoft would also be putting millions of dollars on the shelf if it did this.

The business for consoles has not changed. You still sell the box at cost, often lower than cost, and then make the money back on the software and services. The "Xbox" people want, that is, simultaneously cheap, has no ads, and no paywall for multiplayer, simply doesn't exist in any fiscal reality that I know of. Either the box needs to be more expensive, to make your margins there, or your services and access need to be expensive, or ads need to be ramped up, rather than down.

Microsoft isn't a charity, and Xbox still has an "accountability margin" it needs to feed back to the mothership in order for people to not lose their jobs. So while dropping the paywall would be a great move ... something else would have to rise up to replace that lost revenue. What would you do?

2. Boost Xbox backwards compatibility

Perhaps Xbox's best "exclusive" feature right now: backwards compatibility.

Xbox and console gamers in general are getting older and more nostalgic. The fact that you can get access to games from decades ago via emulation is fairly unique in the industry for the Xbox console, and it helped force others to build up some of their own offerings on top.

Windows is the ultimate backwards compatibility layer, offering games all the way back to the 1970s if you want to go extreme. But there are some games that simply never launched on PC, which are now only playable via Xbox 360 backwards compatibility.

There are some holdouts still missing. Singularity, the Transformers games, and other Xbox 360 classics — licensing issues prevent some of these, but it would be cool to see Microsoft push some more over those legal hurdles.

1. A return to Xbox exclusive games

Here's the biggest and most problematic one. People want Xbox to have its exclusive games back.

Putting Halo, Gears, Fable, and Forza on PlayStation was a historic capitulation for the Xbox ecosystem and brand, battering trust and desirability for the ecosystem. PlayStation, Steam, and other companies don't want to play nice with Xbox; they want it to die, so for Xbox to surrender like this has not been a popular decision.

But there's a business reality to accept here: Even with exclusive games, there's no guarantee Xbox would find new users, particularly not regular returning users. Someone buying an Xbox console at a 0% margin (at best) and then only playing a couple of games before returning most of their spending to another platform is hardly a progressive business plan.

But at the same time, you might not have a business to plan for at all if everyone leaves. WHY buy an Xbox in 2026 when PlayStation potentially gets ALL of your games, in addition to its own exclusives? Which, by the way, now apparently won't even come to Steam and Windows.

I think it's a foregone conclusion that Xbox will get exclusive games again. I believe Xbox only set up this Player Voice platform to really prove the point to CEO and CFO Satya and Amy in the language only they understand: a data point that shows Xbox customers want exclusive content above all. Something needs to be done, and it's on Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to figure out one of gaming's most difficult fiscal puzzles.

BONUS: Jez's most important feedback ... revive Heroes of the Storm

Since I have free will and this is my article, and I can do whatever I want: Vote on my most important and most epic Xbox Player Voice feedback item, the REVIVAL OF HEROES OF THE STORM.

Heroes of the Storm is the world's best MOBA, and even though many millions have been tricked into thinking games like LoL or DOTA2 are better, there's a clear opportunity here. Bring Heroes of the Storm to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. Add other Microsoft properties like DOOM, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, and heck, even Banjo. And BOOM, make a BILLION dollars. Or don't. I dunno.

It's pretty clear what people are eager to see the most ... but how realistic is all of this?

Either way, it's pretty clear that the biggest feedback item by a country mile revolves around exclusive games. I doubt Microsoft can actively pivot on games that have already been costed and projected as including PlayStation's userbase, but what of future titles?

Microsoft shouldn't be working as hard as it has been to deprive consumers and developers of reasons to actually build for Xbox platforms. Microsoft should be doing MORE to bring users to these platforms, and it can only do that with content.

Every platform has exclusive content. To play the biggest Roblox titles, you need to download Roblox. To play Half-Life 3 (if it ever comes out), you will need to use Steam. Spider-Man, God of War, and Mario will NEVER release on Xbox. Hell, even the Steam Controller doesn't work with the Xbox PC app, by design.

These companies do not want to collaborate with Xbox; they want Xbox to die. They want to absorb its customers — many of whom have invested thousands into the Xbox ecosystem.

It's not about gatekeeping content; it's about Microsoft showing it has the guts to actually be competitive for users and developers for the sake of the customers who are effectively locked in. It would be a sad state of affairs if Microsoft set up this entire platform for feedback and then ended up ignoring it.

Will Microsoft blink? Time will tell.

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Backward compatibility is still a hot topic, whether it’s worth the effort or not. Some argue it isn’t used as much as people think, and to those people, I say shush.

Xbox remains one of the most consumer-friendly platforms, respecting a library that stretches back to 2001. That level of commitment to older titles is something you simply don’t get elsewhere.

Earlier this year, Xbox confirmed that its backward compatibility efforts would return. VP of Next Generation Jason Ronald stated, “we’re committed to keeping games from four generations of Xbox playable for years to come. As part of our 25th anniversary later this year, we’ll be rolling out new ways to play some of the most iconic games from our past.”

What that actually meant, though, was unclear, or at least it was to me. Did it point to more games being added, support for Project Helix, or even broader compatibility on PC?

Now, it seems Jason Ronald may have given a clearer indication that more titles are indeed on the way, though I’d still take this with some sort of grain of salt, as well; you never truly know.

Over on X (formerly Twitter), VP of next generation, Jason Ronald, replied to a fan who asked whether users can request new games for the backward compatibility program in response to now resolved issues of Xbox 360 games not launching on Xbox Series X and S.

In response to this, Ronald stated:

“There is a community driven site where you can make your requests known. @Flaassing”

In that post, Ronald also links to XboxGamePreservation.com, a community-run website where fans can vote on what games they’d like to see return via Xbox’s backward compatibility efforts.

We’ve covered the website before, but seeing someone at Xbox actively point people there is enough to get people, myself included, a bit excited.

What do you think? Does this suggest Xbox is actively looking at what fans want added through backward compatibility, or does it not mean much?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

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Original article: The Xbox Backwards Compatibility initiative Microsoft began in 2015 turned out to be one of the firm's biggest advantages in the gaming business, with countless longtime fans being extremely appreciative of the ability to carry their library of original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles forward to the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S families of consoles.

Though the program went on hiatus in 2021 due to licensing issues preventing further backwards compatibility additions, the feature is still frequently used by many Xbox players to enjoy their older games. For the last two weeks, however, a growing number of users have reported that they're not able to connect to the Xbox network when trying to play backwards compatible Xbox 360 games, preventing them from launching.

The issue was first reported on the Xbox Support subreddit earlier this month, where various players have tried a variety of potential workarounds (storage clearing, using a hotspot, power cycling, etc.) to no avail. The connectivity error then started to become significantly more widespread across the community, prompting Xbox Support to acknowledge the issue on April 22.

"We're aware that some Xbox Series X players are unable to launch select backwards compatible Xbox 360 games and our team is actively investigating," reads a statement posted from the Xbox Support account on social media.

The wording suggests that this problem is only affecting a handful of Xbox 360 games, though community members have asserted that it's an issue affecting all backwards compatible titles. "It’s not select 360 games like they said, it’s all of them. Keep reporting," wrote one in reply to Xbox Support's post.

Notably, there hasn't been a public update from Xbox Support regarding this issue in the week since it said it's looking into it, so we ultimately have no idea when a fix is coming right now. More users have since continued to report the connectivity error, so it's yet to be resolved.

However, multiple responses from Xbox Support staff to individual users have confirmed that this is an issue with Microsoft's servers, with one reply in particular stating that it's due to newer Xbox Series X consoles not being properly validated with the Xbox 360 servers.

With that in mind, it's unlikely you'll experience this problem if you've owned your Xbox Series X for several years. If you purchased it more recently, however, you may be unable to play some or all of your backwards compatible Xbox 360 games until Microsoft develops a fix.

Ultimately, it's good that Microsoft is working to take care of the issue, though it's still incredibly unfortunate that accessing backwards compatible titles isn't possible for many — especially since Xbox players have made it clear how much they care about backwards compatibility. Hopefully a fix comes sooner than later, though the fact one hasn't come after two weeks is rather concerning.

It's worth noting this problem has surfaced at the same time Call of Duty: Black Ops 2's servers have been offline for an extended period; we've reached out to Microsoft and Activision for comment on that issue. Ironically, it also comes after Microsoft said the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program is returning this year, with many speculating the firm plans to make Xbox games playable on PC through emulation as it prepares to support the upcoming console-PC hybrid system Project Helix.

Have you been affected by this issue when trying to play backwards compatible Xbox 360 games on Xbox Series X? Did you buy your Xbox Series X recently, or have you owned it for a long time? Let me know in the comments, and vote in our poll about backwards compatibility as well.

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The infamous Xbox One era was a pretty dark time for Microsoft's gaming brand, but it wasn't without its glittering bright spots in the doom and gloom. Aside from the introduction of Xbox Game Pass in 2017, the most impactful of these was the start of the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program in 2015.

Xbox users quickly grew extremely passionate about backwards compatibility and have remained so ever since, as the ability to play older Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles on modern consoles enables the preservation of classic games we'd struggle to enjoy on today's hardware otherwise. Over 600 titles were made backwards compatible, but Microsoft stopped planning new additions in 2021 due to licensing issues.

Five years later, however, it was announced that Xbox Backwards Compatibility is returning in some form later in 2026, with Microsoft "rolling out new ways to play some of the most iconic games from our past." And now, just a few weeks later, some delisted Xbox and Xbox 360 games were spotted live on the Xbox Store before being taken down again.

The news comes from the datamining account Better xCloud that reports on backend changes in Microsoft's Xbox services. On Thursday, Better xCloud showed that both 2003's beloved action-adventure game Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and the 2007 scrolling arcade shooter Aegis Wing had been briefly listed on the Xbox storefront.

At the same time, the 2013 sci-fi cyberpunk RPG Mars: War Logs was delisted again after a brief period of appearing on the store. Better xCloud also noted that in late March, the 2003 comedic parody shooter Armed and Dangerous reappeared for a short time before being taken down.

Store errors like these have been known to happen on occasion, and if only one or two had occurred, people probably wouldn't have thought much of it. The fact that four delisted Xbox and Xbox 360 games have gone live for a short time in such a narrow timeframe, however, has many wondering if there's something deeper happening here.

Indeed, since we know Microsoft is reviving the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program in some fashion, there's speculation that the publisher has leaked some of the older titles that will soon be playable on Xbox Series X|S (and Xbox One) devices. That's just a guess, of course, but given the proximity and frequency of these erroneous relistings, it arguably has merit.

With that said, it hasn't been confirmed that the return of Xbox Backwards Compatibility will add new games to the existing library of titles that support it. All we know is that Microsoft is "rolling out new ways to play," which could mean the ability to play older Xbox games on different platforms.

Specifically, with the PC-console hybrid Project Helix expected to come in 2027 or 2028 and an "Xbox mode" coming to Windows 11 PCs this month, many believe the firm will soon unveil a way to play Xbox and Xbox 360 games on PC and Windows handhelds like the Xbox Ally. That would be a massive upgrade to Xbox Backwards Compatibility, and lay the groundwork for supporting it on Project Helix.

That, too, is just speculation, though I'd argue it's extremely likely due to the nature of Project Helix. Even if that's ultimately why the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program is coming back, though, I do hope its team can add some more games to its catalog as well.

🗨️ Which Xbox games do you wish were backwards compatible?

Even if the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program isn't necessarily coming back to bring new games to its library, the chance that it may be doing so is very exciting. It also makes me curious to hear from you: which Xbox or Xbox 360 games do you wish were backwards compatible?

Share some of your favorite titles with me that still aren't in the comments, as I'd love to read about the games you used to play.

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Microsoft's Xbox team has brought a handful of beneficial features to players in its gaming ecosystem over the years, but for many, none are as valuable or important as backwards compatibility. Ever since the departing Xbox CEO Phil Spencer famously announced the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program in 2015, it's been a core part of the Xbox experience.

Xbox fans are extremely passionate about backwards compatibility and the ability to play their old games released for the Xbox 360 and the original Xbox, so much so that a petition for the initiative's return is surging online right now. Notably, Microsoft made every game it could backwards compatible, but tragically announced no new games were planned in 2021 due to legal issues with licensing.

During its keynote at GDC 2026 (Game Developers Conference), though, the Xbox team surprised fans with the announcement that the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program is returning in some form later this year, noting that it's "rolling out new ways to play some of the most iconic games from our past."

"And, we’re committed to keeping games from four generations of Xbox playable for years to come. As part of our 25th anniversary later this year, we’ll be rolling out new ways to play some of the most iconic games from our past," wrote VP of next generation Jason Ronald in his summary of the presentation.

This news comes at the same time Microsoft announced an "Xbox mode" is coming to Windows 11 PCs next month, which is a rebranded version of the fullscreen Xbox experience that originated on the Xbox Ally handhelds. The firm has also revealed it's developing a unified Game Development Kit (GDK) that allows for developers to build for Xbox and PC simultaneously, supporting the console-PC hybrid nature of the upcoming Project Helix console.

With that in mind, one can't help but wonder if the Xbox Backwards Compatibility team is working to make classic Xbox and Xbox 360 titles playable on Windows 11 PCs, which would keep them accessible on the new Project Helix console while also bringing them to PC players.

That would be a massive expansion to the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program, and would likely be driven by an advanced version of the emulation tech Microsoft currently uses to make older games work on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S systems. Of course, this hasn't been confirmed, but it sure would be awesome, and would align with the direction Xbox is going in.

There's also the possibility of new games being added to the Backwards Compatibility Program, though this would require the Xbox team finding a solution for the technical and legal problems that were preventing more games being made backwards compatible in the first place. Perhaps one has been found...perhaps not.

Ultimately, it's still exciting to know that Microsoft and Xbox are working to make sure its existing backwards compatibility offerings carry over to its new system, and mention of "new ways to play" classic games definitely has me hoping for some sort of PC extension for the Backwards Compatibility Program. Only time will tell, though.

🗨️ What's next for Xbox Backwards Compatibility?

With the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program being such an important part of the Xbox experience for many players, it's exciting to know that it's coming back in some form later this year. Do you believe we'll see classic Xbox games become playable on Windows PCs? What else do you think Jason Ronald could be talking about here? Share your thoughts in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox is going through some changes. From the appointment of a new CEO, Asha Sharma, to revealing the codename for the next Xbox, Project Helix, it has been a busy start.

Sharma confirmed the new device will play existing Xbox games as well as PC games in one place. She is saying many of the right things so far, and before the announcement of Helix, it got me wondering what else she could do to start winning fans back.

Backward compatibility immediately came to mind. With Xbox approaching its 25th anniversary, bringing the program back with a few long-requested games that missed the cut in 2021 would be a strong gesture.

That’s where you all come in. After a post highlighting XboxGamePreservation.com, a community-run project where fans can vote on which games they want to see backward compatible, readers across X, Reddit, and Windows Central shared their thoughts.

From game suggestions to broader discussions around preservation and licensing issues, the responses covered a wide range of perspectives.

What our readers want out of backward compatibility

Our community was fairly split on which generation deserves more backward compatibility support. Just 1% separates the two options, with 23% of voters choosing original Xbox classics and 24% selecting Xbox 360 games.

However, the biggest takeaway from the poll is that most readers want something broader. A clear majority, 53%, simply want the backward compatibility program to return for everything, which is also the camp I find myself in.

One reader, Mark Dobson, said: “I chose all backwards compatibility because I really don't want to switch to pc just to play a classic game.”

Another reader, Battlestar, called for the return of James Bond titles, statin,g “The names BOND JAMES BOND bring back classics.”

On a personal note, I can’t believe I forgot to mention this earlier, but if the stars could align, I’d love to see Phantasy Star Universe return through backward compatibility. Xbox, please make it happen!

Now switching gears to our r/WindowsCentral subreddit, the conversation quickly turned to specific games people still want to see playable today, others encouraging emulation, and some just accepting the program could be dead forever.

One user argued that the program is already finished, stating, “Back compatibility is done, the team has moved on.”

Another echoed a similar sentiment, writing, “BC is done. They never even added the Activision stuff they now own, like Wolfenstein 2009 or Singularity.”

It is a shame we haven't seen renewed efforts from Xbox now that they own Activision. There's a lot of untapped potential sitting right there, as many have commented on over on Reddit and even here.

However, some aren't as hopeful, arguing that the community should stop hoping for new additions entirely. One reply bluntly put it, “You lot need to stop the 'hopium' and 'copium'.” To which I say, "No."

Despite that skepticism, many replies quickly turned to the same thing we saw on the site comments: specific games players still want revived, like Riddick or Kung Fu Chaos.

Another highlighted a broader preservation concern, writing, “I have a giant box of original Xbox games that I can’t legally play anymore because emulation is jank... Xbox should do something about that. I can’t be alone here.”

And while most of the discussion focused on older games, a few users pointed to other Xbox ecosystem features as positives. One commenter simply added, “Play anywhere is pretty cool.”

Now I also posted about this on X about how Xbox could rebuild some trust with the community, and, over there, I received more than 160 replies. Many were shorter and more reactive, with some even questioning what a return of backward compatibility would actually mean, not realizing the program had stopped expanding back in 2021.

Most replies, however, quickly turned to nostalgia, with users listing the games they still want to see revived. One person wrote, “Achievements on the Page would be nice also I just need the 2nd and 3rd army of TWO games back and the og destroy all humans 2 and I’ll be complete.”

Others called for classic sports titles to return as well, with one user saying, “Would love to play all the old Tiger Woods golf games from the original Xbox. My brothers and I grew up playing it, and it would be nice to play it on the newest system.”

Not everyone agreed that backward compatibility should be a priority, though. One reply argued, “Not enough people care about BC for it to be a selling point.” suggesting some don't see any value in the feature.

Still, the overall sentiment echoed what we saw elsewhere. Many players simply want a way to revisit the games they grew up with, while also acknowledging that licensing issues may prevent some titles from returning.

If they did come back, many said they would like to see a few modern touches, such as achievements, to give those classics a new reason to return.

🗨️ Share why backward compatibility still matters to you

Backward compatibility has become one of Xbox’s most defining features, shaping how players keep, revisit, and value their game libraries. But not everyone follows the technical side or understands why it matters so much to long‑time fans. That’s why we asked the Xbox community to share their own experiences and explain what backward compatibility means to them today.

Their answers highlight everything from preserving game history to making sure purchases carry forward into the future.

Now we want to hear from you.

How important is backward compatibility to your Xbox experience, and what role should it play in the platform’s future? Share your thoughts below and tell us what it means to you as a player.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you haven’t seen it yet, an inspiring fan project recently launched as XboxGamePreservation.com to track what players actually want from Xbox’s backward compatibility program. Now that the first batch of data comes via LinkedIn, some interesting patterns are starting to emerge.

Surprisingly, the results suggest fans may want more original Xbox titles than the golden child Xbox 360.

Now, while this is a fan project and nothing official, and the data likely is not representative of the entire Xbox player base, it still offers an interesting glimpse into what fans say they want from Xbox’s backward compatibility efforts, if it ever returns.

At the time of writing, the site has seen just over 3,300 visitors. So, which games are people actually voting for? Let’s break it down.

What the data actually shows

Of those surveyed, 335 people have cast votes across more than 2,500 selections, working out to an average of roughly 7.4 votes per person. So far, the split between generations is almost even. Around 52% of votes are for original Xbox titles, while 48% are for Xbox 360 games, which is interesting given that most backward compatibility discussions usually focus on the Xbox 360 era.

As you can see in the second slide, The Simpsons: Hit & Run currently sits as the most requested original Xbox game, followed closely by two Silent Hill titles.

Personally, as a die-hard Sonic fan, it is nice to see Sonic Heroes appearing on the same list. And seeing Spider-Man 2 sitting at number five is also great, especially since many fans still consider it the best Spider-Man game ever made.

Over on the third slide for the Xbox 360 side of things, the list is heavily dominated by Spider-Man titles, and I'm sure that's with thanks to the $69 billion acquisition of Activision.

Personally, though, I would love to see something like Tenchu Z make its way to backward compatibility, or even Bulletstorm, despite that game not doing so well at the time it released. In fact, if it were up to me, everything would be backward compatible. Sadly, that is probably impossible, but a man can dream.

I also highly recommend you check the website yourself and cast your votes!

🗨️ I'm curious what games would you like to see return under Xbox's Backward Compatibility?

Which classic Xbox games or Xbox 360 games would you most want to see added to backward compatibility?

Let me know in the comments, and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

"Stop Killing Games" is a consumer-led movement that does exactly what the name suggests.

Spearheaded by Ross Scott (Accursed Farms), its main goal is to preserve access to video games even after "official support" comes to an end.

Since launching in April 2024, the movement has gained serious momentum, striking a chord with players who are tired of seeing games they’ve paid for become completely unplayable once servers shut down.

Despite what is seemingly a positive campaign, one indie developer and former Blizzard staffer has been vocal in their opposition, actively discouraging people from signing the petition and pushing back against the movement’s message. However, in a textbook case of the Streisand effect, the drama pushed the petition to new heights, and may now trigger serious legislative discussions as a result.

Here's what Stop Killing Games is all about, how it almost died, and then ended up being stronger than ever — and why the "backlash" ultimately helped the movement hit its goal.

What is the “Stop Killing Games” Movement?

The core principle behind the movement is that players are losing access to games they’ve paid for once the servers for those games go offline. This isn’t just a hypothetical; it’s already happening. Titles like The Crew, Battleborn, and many others have been fully disabled or delisted from digital storefronts, leaving players who invested time and money with essentially nothing to show for it. Literally today, EA announced that Anthem will be sunsetting its online services too.

Games like Anthem revolve entirely around online play, which naturally require online infrastructure and on-going investment to function. However, the issue goes beyond just live service titles where multiplayer is the focus.

Increasingly, single-player games require a constant internet connection to function, whether it’s DRM, server-side progression, or episodic content being locked behind download server, once support ends, players often lose access to games they thought they owned. Shutdowns are especially prevalent in mobile gaming as well, even for titles that don't require any form of multiplayer or online functionality.

These shutdowns often happen with little warning and no compensation. In the case of The Crew, Ubisoft told users they couldn’t complain about the shutdown because, despite paying for the game, they never actually owned it.

Stop Killing Games is pushing back against this exact practice. Its core belief is that if a game is sold, it should always remain playable in some form, even after official support ends.

Ross Scott has proposed several solutions to achieve this, such as including offline modes, making server software public so communities can host their own, and introducing legal protections that enforce these rights. The focus isn’t on keeping every game running forever, but on giving players the ability to preserve them if they want to. In support of the cause, Ross noted that 68% of 700 online-dependent games are already unplayable or will become unplayable soon.

Microsoft has been better than most big companies with regards to game preservation, enabling support for backward compatibility with original Xbox and Xbox 360 games on modern Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. However, even this requires some online functionality, and furthermore, Microsoft itself is unable to provide access to some of the games owing to licensing rights on older titles. In some cases, the entities that "own" the games no longer even exist.

Legislation could help justify an expansion of formal backward compatibility programs like Xbox's, even in cases where licensing rights are unobtainable. The Forza racing games, with its licensed vehicles, is a notable example of a franchise where expiring licenses lead to the delisting of games. Owners can still play them, but increasingly, Microsoft is shifting its operation away from disc-based games to digital-only, which, again, prevents full ownership and the guarantee of perpetual access.

Blizzard notoriously ended up reviving World of Warcraft "Classic" in response to pirated servers, after saying things like "you think you want it, but you don't." Turns out that people really did want it, and WoW Classic helped buoy user engagement at a time where the game was otherwise in decline.

Speaking of Blizzard ...

PirateSoftware Pushes back, by misunderstanding the movement

In December 2024, Jason Hall, known online as PirateSoftware, is a former Blizzard employee turned Twitch streamer who regularly shares commentary on industry issues. However, his stance on Stop Killing Games had been far from supportive. He criticised the movement as being too vague, overly idealistic, and ultimately impractical.

PirateSoftware argued that it places an unfair burden on indie studios by expecting them to provide post-shutdown access. He also pushed back on the idea of government involvement, suggesting it would create more problems than it solves.

Hall’s video sparked immediate backlash within the gaming community. Many felt that he had misrepresented the movement’s goals, painting it as more extreme than it was. Despite the criticism, the video led to a visible drop in petition signatures in early 2025, as confusion about the campaign’s intent spread.

In response, Ross Scott published a detailed FAQ and follow-up videos throughout January and February 2025, clarifying that the movement’s goal was not to keep every game online forever, but to ensure that players had some legal means and protections to acquire continued access once official support ends

Despite PirateSoftware’s efforts to stop the movement, support from major content creators helped reignite interest by mid-2025. MoistCr1TiKaL released multiple videos, disputing PirateSoftware’s take and defending the core message of Stop Killing Games.

Around the same time, in June/July 2025, PewDiePie and Jacksepticeye also publicly voiced their support, amplifying the campaign’s reach. SomeOrdinaryGamers has been discussing and supporting the topic as far back as 2024, and helped popularise the quote “Piracy isn’t stealing if Buying Isn’t Owning…”, in 2025 after Ubisoft made their comments regarding not owning games.

Join the Movement: How to Support Stop Killing Games in the EU & UK

The movement started to gain traction again, thanks largely to content creators stepping up and calling for action, and the continued effort of Ross Scott who has championed this movement for so long. But without real tangible change, nothing will stop companies from continuing to make games, take our money, and then pull those games offline.

Awareness alone isn’t enough to stop this from happening. People need to sign the petition and continue providing support for the initiative.

Ross Scott’s original goal was to reach one million verified EU signatures, which would force the European Commission to formally consider new legislation. This being the same commission that pushed Apple to adopt USB-C in its iPhones, showing that pressure from the EU can influence major tech policy.

With the milestone now officially reached, Ross still urges people to sign the petition due to concerns over unverifiable or potentially invalid signatures, the bar has effectively been raised. The current target now sits at 1.5 million to ensure that, even after validation, the petition qualifies for review. This development highlight just how important continued support is, even after reaching the initial goal.

• Sign the EU initiative: European Citizens' Initiative - Stop Destroying Video Games.
• Sign the UK Petition: Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold.
• Learn more about the campaign: https://stopkillinggames.com.

It's important to remember that this movement is ultimately about game preservation. It’s about being able to return to that online-only game you bought years ago and still have a way to play it, even if it’s just through peer-to-peer matches with friends or by joining a server hosted by the community.

This isn’t about demanding publishers keep servers running forever or that every feature necessarily remains intact. It’s about giving players the tools and freedom to keep these games alive in some form, long after official support has ended. The heart of this movement is truly about preserving access to the games we’ve paid for, enjoyed and still care about.

To this day, I still go back and play some of my favorite Xbox 360 games. Some of them really pop, especially when pushed to new limits through the likes of FPS Boost and upscale technology.

The original Xbox backwards compatibility program was announced during the summer of 2015. From then until its closure in 2021, the program reintroduced hundreds of games to the public at no additional cost.

Needless to say, it was a massive success for Xbox and a gigantic win for consumers. Today, it seems that the program might be coming back, or at least, getting some continuation.

Initially spotted by PureXbox, a job listing for a principal software engineer position was found on Microsoft's website.

"Come help build the next evolution in Xbox Game Compatibility. Join the Xbox Platform team to leverage your system and security engineer experience to secure the future of Game Preservation. Your work will help identify and outline the specific requirements and security boundaries for protecting game content, build scalable emulation solutions, and ensure a safe and fun gameplay experience for all players. Our technology solutions are a critical part of enabling the Xbox goal of allowing players to experience their games on any device."

The job looks to continue the Game Preservation program that Xbox announced a year ago in April. Since then, we haven't seen much about how that would shape the future of Xbox games. However, this gives me a little hope for the return of future backwards-compatible games.

If you recall, all games were eligible for the backwards program, but a publisher needed to approve the game to become compatible. Without their approval, the game was never considered.

The program led to an outpouring of gamers calling for games they wanted to play again. I specifically remember Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 being one heck of a Call of Duty title. I even remember Major Nelson privately commenting with Redditors about the insanity over Black Ops 2.

Numerous games that could benefit from some form of backwards compatibility are still missing today.

A game that resonates deeply with me, but is most likely a secret to most, is Alien vs. Predator: Extinction. It's not just a favorite; it's a cherished piece of my past. I spent countless hours turtling in a room to devastate the opposing team.

The recent push for backward compatibility has gained serious momentum, and it's no surprise why. Following the monumental Activision Blizzard acquisition, which has finally passed all legal hurdles, Xbox now faces an epic backlog of games just waiting to be unleashed on modern consoles. With all legal hurdles officially cleared, the stage isn't—Xbox simply needs to green-light its own titles.

This isn't just about nostalgia; it's about opening the floodgates to a treasure of gaming history. The potential here is massive, and the timing couldn't be better.

How incredible would it be to play all the old Tony Hawk or X-Men games (maybe not X-Men, thanks, Sony)? I would kill to play True Crime in 2025. And let's be real, there's absolutely some oddball out there who's been daydreaming about firing up Stuart Little: The Journey Home again, likely with a little plate of cheese and crackers to set the mood.

Also, add every single game to Game Pass while you're at it!

What about you? Do you hope they return anything from the Activision Blizzard bank vault? Let us know below in comments or on social media!

One thing I try to do with my voice on Windows Central is to amplify Xbox community concerns, and there's one I haven't really given enough of a spotlight to of late.

It's increasingly risen to the fore of my DMs and emails over time, though, as Xbox fans ask, "What's going on with Activision-Blizzard?"

Microsoft closed its acquisition of ABK almost a year and a half ago, back in late 2023, giving it control of dozens upon dozens of IP including World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, Candy Crush Saga, and many more.

Some Xbox fans and commentators beyond have been asking "why" in increasing numbers, though, since so far, it seems that Xbox fans have had to give up quite a lot for what has been relatively inconsistent gains so far. But is that a fair assessment? Let's examine.

Frustration grows

Creator Destin Legarie put out the above video recently, which is a fairly scathing critique of how Microsoft has handled Activision-Blizzard thus far.

It's perhaps ironic for me, as a World of Warcraft devotee, that I couldn't be happier with how things have played out so far — CEO Bobby Kotick is gone, the micromanagement of Blizzard seems to be at an end, shielded from shareholders, as President Johanna Faries seems focused on player enjoyment and growth rather than cutting corners.

Blizzcon is coming back, too, which is something I didn't expect to see under Microsoft. World of Warcraft is in a better place than it has been in years, so selfishly, I'm pretty happy as a fan, but if you're an Xbox console player, my personal joy is going to be a very, vanishingly small consolation.

When Microsoft talked up its deal with Activision-Blizzard, democratizing access to the ABK back catalog was often touted as a big selling point.

"Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass," Xbox lead Phil Spencer wrote in 2022, "[with] both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog."

Perhaps it wasn't worded the best, but upon close, very little went into Xbox Game Pass. The following year since, a fairly insignificant amount of games have hit Xbox Game Pass too since then.

On console, so far, you've had Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 6, the Spyro Collection, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Crash Team Racing, and Diablo 4's base game.

You've had some relatively mild integration with Overwatch and other titles, and on PC Game Pass, you've seen a few classics like Diablo 1, Starcraft 1, and Starcraft 2.

There are a couple I might be missing here... but Activision owns hundreds of Xbox and PC games. I've been repeatedly asked about potential new Xbox backward compatible games like Prototype, Singularity, the classic Transformers games.

There's also a huge variety of classic Call of Duty titles that could hit Game Pass and even things like deeper World of Warcraft or Heroes of the Storm integrations.

So far, Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard has delivered very little upon the potential it touted during those court cases and blog posts in the run up to the deal closing.

Diablo IV not being in Xbox Cloud Gaming and its expansion not supporting Xbox Play Anywhere have been particular sore points for me personally.

There were old rumors from people like extas1s who claimed games like Crash Bandicoot 4 were slated for Xbox Game Pass, which so far haven't materialized. Although new ABK games are hitting the service and meeting the program's promise, like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, the benefits for Xbox players seem to have been relatively light so far. (Although after publication, Microsoft did add Blizzard's classics collection to Xbox Game Pass, so, we're getting there?!)

In exchange for the relatively small amount of games hitting the service, Xbox lost potential cloud gaming rights to games like Diablo 4 to Ubisoft in the regulatory rulings.

Xbox fans have also lost the guarantee of exclusive platform content, diminishing the reason to own an Xbox in the first place. Some content creators, like Colin Moriarty at Sacred Symbols, have suggested that Xbox flew "too close to the sun" with its $71 billion bill for Activision-Blizzard, forcing it to abandon its own platform to deliver a quick turnaround for Microsoft's corporate overlords.

Whatever the truth is, I can understand the sentiment that things haven't exactly been stellar for Xbox customers so far, many of whom had hoped this marked a turning point for the brand and would guarantee its long-term future.

Integrations take time, but is Xbox may be spreading itself thin?

Xbox's gaming division has grown into a force to be reckoned with, commanding billions in revenue and growing bigger than Windows itself.

With a world-class hardware team and the greatest video game IP catalog in history, backed by an industry-leading cloud and AI platform — you'd think "Microsoft Gaming" had all the pieces in play to build a historic success story. But, the growth has also multiplied the problems and pitfalls.

The industry changed a lot between the start and end of Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition. Gaming was flying during the pandemic, with everyone stuck at home.

But now, addictive algorithms like those seen on TikTok and other forms of social media are eating into game hours more rapidly than ever. Investment capital is flowing towards A.I. fads at a breakneck pace, likely heaping pressure on Microsoft from a shareholder perspective. That $72~ billion could have been used to scoop up OpenAI instead of Call of Duty.

Phil Spencer and team have been forced to hollow out the soul of Xbox in order to satisfy Microsoft's corporate layer, kneeling down to PlayStation and Steam as it seeks to meet players where they are rather than spend up on marketing and long-term plans to move them to places where they'd more likely want them to be.

The disruption has led Microsoft's existing and most loyal fanbase to wonder where they fit into all of this. Is Microsoft holding back on dumping games into Xbox Game Pass because the growth has stalled, and it could spread per-title engagement too thinly?

Does Microsoft not have all the necessary rights despite spending $72 billion? There are a lot of questions without answers regarding this topic right now.

In any case, one user said to me in DM earlier today about Xbox back compatibility and Activision Blizzard titles that it would be "an easy stop gap for Xbox to show they aren't abandoning their console players." Almost as if it's less about the games and more about looking for an official sign that Xbox isn't simply in some form of managed decline.

Microsoft does have a mountain of great-looking upcoming Xbox games to look forward to. There's also strong Xbox hardware rumors, too. But the whole Activision-Blizzard back catalog, backwards compatibility debate underpins this idea that the fire Xbox had to compete for existing users seems to have dimmed.

It's a sentiment I hear a lot these days, and I'm not sure Microsoft is doing enough to address it.

The Xbox 360 is a legendary video games console that for many represented a "golden era" of gaming, and even now, there are still plenty of gamers that use and love their Xbox 360. Unfortunately, all things must eventually come to an end, and the Xbox 360 is seeing its demise nearly 19 years after its initial announcement. The Xbox 360 Marketplace, the one-stop shop for all Xbox 360 digital games, is permanently closing its doors.

It's not all doom and gloom for Xbox 360 owners or even Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S console players, especially when it comes to your current libraries or online play, but there's still a lot being lost with the shuttering of the Xbox 360 store. It's a heavy blow to games preservation, especially without the Xbox backward compatibility program. We've compiled the most-asked questions and are delivering all the answers and information you need in one place, so keep scrolling for everything you should know about the Xbox 360 Marketplace shutdown.

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What is the Xbox 360 Marketplace?

Best answer — The Xbox 360 Marketplace is where Xbox 360 players can buy Xbox 360 games, DLC, and other digital-only content either from their Xbox 360 console or online.

The Xbox 360 Marketplace signalled the beginning of a new era of digital gaming alongside the PlayStation 3, giving players unprecedented access to a massive and growing roster of console games that didn't require a disk to run. It's a digital store available exclusively on Xbox 360 consoles or online at Marketplace.Xbox.com, and is the only place to go if you want to purchase Xbox 360 games, DLC and other add-ons for those games, and other digital items like Xbox 360 Avatar items.

Nowadays, there are many Xbox 360 and even original Xbox games that are available to purchase in the Microsoft Store on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S thanks to the Xbox backward compatibility program, but there are many more games that are still exclusive to the Xbox 360 Marketplace and are set to disappear forever (especially the games that don't have a physical alternative you might be able to find in second-hand marketplaces).

• Back to the top ⤴

Is the Xbox 360 store closing down?

Best answer — Yes, the Xbox 360 Marketplace (both on Xbox 360 consoles and online) is officially and permanently shutting down after nearly 19 years of operation.

The Xbox 360 Marketplace was introduced alongside the launch of the Xbox 360 all the way back in Nov. 2005, and since then has been the best place for gamers to buy all things Xbox 360. Nearly 19 years later, though, and Microsoft is officially (and permanently) closing down the Xbox 360 Marketplace. Xbox 360 consoles will remain functional, and players will still be able to access their libraries and online content.

This does not in any way affect the Microsoft Store on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, including the backward compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games available for purchase on that storefront.

• Back to the top ⤴

When does the Xbox 360 Marketplace shut down?

Best answer — The Xbox 360 Marketplace is properly shutting down on July 29, 2024, so players have until then to purchase the games they wish to add to their library and take advantage of last-minute sales.

The point of no return for the Xbox 360 Marketplace is July 29, 2024, after which the legendary digital store will be completely and totally closed down. Microsoft is letting Xbox 360 users purchase the digital games, DLC, and other content they want all the way until the end, and is running store-wide discounts on many of the Xbox 360 video games.

Again, this only affects the Xbox 360 Marketplace and not the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Store, Xbox 360 online servers, or personal digital libraries.

• Back to the top ⤴

Are the Xbox 360 online servers shutting down?

Best answer — No, online servers for Xbox 360 games are not being affected by the Xbox 360 Marketplace shutdown. Active Xbox 360 multiplayer games and online features will continue to function.

The Xbox 360 Marketplace may be closing its doors, but the store shutdown is mostly limited to just the digital store. While many Xbox 360 multiplayer games are closing down their online servers, like classic Halo and Battlefield titles, this is not related to the Xbox 360 store closure. Any Xbox 360 games with online elements and active servers will continue to function after the Xbox 360 Marketplace shutdown.

This also includes most Xbox 360 online features, too. Your Xbox 360 console will not go offline or become disconnected from the Xbox Network (previously known as Xbox Live). You'll also still be able to download all your digital games from your library as long as you own them.

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Will Movies & TV be available on Xbox 360?

Best answer — Unfortunately, Microsoft Movies & TV is also completely closing down on Xbox 360, although all your purchases will still be available on Windows PCs, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

One Xbox 360 feature that will be going the way of the dinosaurs alongside the Xbox 360 Marketplace is access to Microsoft Movies & TV. The digital streaming app will no longer function on Xbox 360 following the store closure, and users will be unable to access their libraries. However, it's not as if your collection of movies and TV shows are disappearing.

Movies & TV users will still be able to access their entire libraries on Windows PCs, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S via the modern Movies & TV application. Additionally, users will be able to access supported movies and TV shows via the Movies Anywhere program, which syncs Microsoft Movies & TV libraries with other platforms like Vudu.

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Will my Xbox 360 games still work?

Best answer — Yes, the Xbox 360 games, DLC, and add-ons you have purchased will continue to work after the Xbox 360 Marketplace shutdown. Physical games will also work without issue.

There's understandable concern that the closure of the Xbox 360 digital storefront also means players will be unable to download their digital Xbox 360 libraries and access their games, but this isn't the case. Purchased content will continue to be available following the marketplace shutdown, including all Xbox 360 games, DLC, and other add-ons.

This also applies to physical Xbox 360 games, which will continue to function, as well as backward compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft isn't taking away your personal libraries, and is in fact encouraging Xbox 360 owners to take advantage of the last-minute clearance sale to buy the Xbox 360 games they want to keep forever before the Xbox 360 Marketplace closes.

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Will backward compatible Xbox 360 games work?

Best answer — Yes, backward compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox games will still work on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and will continue to be available for purchase.

Fret not, the Xbox 360 and original Xbox games that were added to the Xbox backward compatibility program before it ceased aren't going anywhere. All these games will not only continue to be fully functional on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (including extra features like Auto HDR, FPS Boost, and improved performance on the current-gen consoles), but will also be readily available via the Microsoft Store on newer Xbox platforms.

There are many Xbox 360 games already available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through this program, and these will not be affected by the Xbox 360 Marketplace (although they will not be available to purchase on Xbox 360, obviously). Sadly, there's no sign that the Xbox backward compatibility program is making a return, meaning the plethora of Xbox 360 games that are still exclusive to the aging console will disappear once the Xbox 360 Marketplace shuts down.

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Where can I buy Xbox 360 digital games?

Best answer — Users are still free to purchase Xbox 360 games, DLC, and add-ons through the Xbox 360 Marketplace up until the moment of its closure, with many of those games being on sale.

Until the Xbox 360 Marketplace closes down, users are free to scoop up any of the digital Xbox 360 games, DLC, and add-ons they wish to add to their personal libraries and keep forever. It also helps that Microsoft has heavily discounted the majority of the Xbox 360 library, making it easier for users to flesh out their libraries before these games become unavailable to purchase.

You don't have to own a functional Xbox 360 console, either. Users can peruse and purchase games from the Xbox 360 Marketplace at Marketplace.Xbox.com. Again, though, backward compatible Xbox 360 content will continue to be available on the Microsoft Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S following the Xbox 360 Marketplace shutdown. If you'd rather feed your Xbox 360 nostalgia in a more physical sense, you can search second-hand marketplaces for physical Xbox 360 games.

Microsoft is also selling an Xbox 360 Heritage Collection of nostalgic merch and accessories via the Xbox Gear Shop. If you're on Xbox Series X|S, you can also use the Xbox 360 "Blades" Dynamic Background for a little nostalgia on your modern Xbox.

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Are Xbox 360 games on sale right now?

Best answer — Yes, many Xbox 360 games and other digital content is heavily discounted on the Xbox 360 Marketplace until it shuts down.

It may feel a little like a consolation prize, but it's still better than nothing. To ease the pain of the Xbox 360 Marketplace shutting down, Microsoft is heavily discounting almost the entire available library so that users can add their favorite games and add-ons to their Xbox 360 libraries before the store closes, and they're no longer available to purchase.

Microsoft curated a list of discounted Xbox 360 games at Xbox Wire, but you can also head to Marketplace.Xbox.com to search the storefront yourself. Don't hesitate too long, though, as time is rapidly running out to take advantage of this storewide sale and preserve your favorite Xbox 360 titles. Of course, physical Xbox 360 games will also continue to be available at secondhand stores, which is another option to pick up awesome classics for a great price.

Once you've purchased all the Xbox 360 games you want, they'll continue to be available via your Xbox 360 library indefinitely. Any games that are backward compatible across Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S will also work on those consoles, although those games will still be available to purchase via the modern Microsoft Store, too (and aren't as likely to be discounted right now because of that).

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What you need to know

• Per emails received by Windows Central, confirmed by Microsoft as genuine, Xbox President Sarah Bond recently briefed her team on various topics. 
• In the emails, Sarah Bond reiterated Microsoft's plans to build new Xbox hardware focused on delivering "the biggest technical leap ever in a generation." 
• Sarah Bond also revealed that Microsoft has set up a dedicated team to future-proof our digital Xbox game libraries across future hardware paradigms to further "build on [Xbox's] strong history of delivering backward compatibility." 
• Additionally, it was revealed that Xbox has become Diablo 4's most prominent platform since the game's inclusion into Xbox Game Pass. 

Sarah Bond was promoted to Xbox President a few short months ago and kickstarted something of a reorganization to streamline Microsoft's gaming org to position itself for the future. With Activision-Blizzard now acquired, Xbox has become something of a gaming powerhouse, with huge platforms across Xbox console and cloud, PC gaming, mobile titles, and subscription services. Even when you disregard the millions of Xbox Game Pass subscribers, Microsoft counts various other subscription service gaming businesses within that fold, from Fallout 1st to Minecraft Realms and World of Warcraft. 

The complexity of the Xbox business is doubtless a huge challenge, but there are similarly huge opportunities ahead of the firm. To that end, Sarah Bond recently sent out an email to rally her troops, while also sharing some interesting bits of news in the process. Microsoft has confirmed to us that the correspondence is genuine. 

"It’s been nearly six months since we came together as an organization. Our collective achievements in that timeframe are tremendous. Everyone should feel incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and excited about the opportunities ahead," Sarah said, "We are moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation."

Sarah also touched upon Microsoft's innovations in gaming AI, understood to be a big part of Microsoft's vision for the future of Xbox. We were recently told that departing XEmTech lead and AI innovator Kareem Choudhry was known within the org for putting players and developers first. It seems that influence will continue driving Microsoft's thought processes on the tech, "We are innovating in Gaming AI, focused on delivering player-first, developer-first value for discovery, engagement, and creator velocity."

Further in, Sarah describes how Microsoft is continuing its work to integrate Activision-Blizzard games and Battle.net into Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Microsoft brought Diablo 4 to Xbox Game Pass a short while ago in collaboration with the Microsoft Store platform team on the Windows side. Bond revealed that due to Diablo hitting Game Pass, Xbox has now become the #1 platform for the game. "We are integrating Activision Blizzard King titles into our services — we launched Diablo IV into Game Pass, and Xbox has quickly become the #1 platform for D4 players," Bond reiterated some of the other games on the horizon for Xbox, "we are integrating with Battle.net, all while launching CoD: Warzone Mobile and preparing for the upcoming Hellblade II, Avowed, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle."

Xbox builds a new team for game preservation, and the future

Recently, the preservation of games has become an increasing concern, as the shift to digital licensing models and online services has made it too easy for games to go permanently off-line. It's a massive problem in mobile gaming, where publishers and companies like Apple and Google have no problem wiping games from existence. Even core platforms like Nintendo are known to shut down stores, off-lining many games. Microsoft is closing parts of the Xbox 360 store this year for new purchases. However, hundreds of the most popular Xbox backward-compatible games escaped the Xbox 360 and continue to live on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S platforms. It seems that now, they'll live on even further. 

As part of the emails to her team, Sarah Bond revealed that Microsoft has now set up a dedicated team to ensure the future-proofing of the current Xbox game library against future hardware paradigm shifts, ensuring that our games remain accessible long into the future. "We have formed a new team dedicated to game preservation, important to all of us at Xbox and the industry itself," Bond said. "We are building on our strong history of delivering backwards compatibility to our players, and we remain committed to bringing forward the amazing library of Xbox games for future generations of players to enjoy."

Sources tell us that Microsoft may have more to share publicly in this area around the annual Xbox Showcase, which is expected to take place on June 9th, 2024 (per The Verge).

Sarah Bond also paid tribute to Kareem Choudhry, who is retiring from Microsoft after 26 years at the firm. "Earlier this week, at the goodbye party for Kareem Choudhry, a longtime leader in Xbox, we shared stories about the obstacles we've overcome and the incredible things this team has done," Sarah continued, "As I was listening to those stories, I realized that Team Xbox embodies those same three qualities."

I recently outlined some of the pain points Microsoft will have to overcome in an extensive essay I penned last week. One of the concerns I had explicitly pertained to what might happen to our digital libraries in a universe where publishers seek growth at the expense of the console. Not only does it sound as though Microsoft has no plans to throw in the towel when it comes to gaming hardware, but it sounds as though Microsoft is preparing to ensure that no matter what happens, we should be able to maintain access to our Xbox games long term. I know that Microsoft is quite proud of Windows' backward compatibility capabilities, considering you can run games from the 80s via MS-DOS without issues. I also know that Microsoft wants to ensure Xbox is known for a similar dedication to preservation. 

Sarah Bond addressed the challenges facing the wider game industry, as gaming hours are increasingly concentrated around a handful of so-called "black hole titles" like Fortnite, Roblox, and Call of Duty, where players get increasingly reluctant to try anything new. The console market has also shrunk overall since its peak in 2008, leaving platform holders wondering where the next generation of growth will come from as costs continue to increase. 

"At a time when the gaming industry's growth is flattening, ours continues," Sarah noted, emphasizing Microsoft's ability to diversify and pivot. Microsoft's knack for diversification has helped it leapfrog Apple to retake the world's most valuable company crown. Xbox has now become bigger than Windows itself—a fact that might've seemed impossible ten years ago. Huge challenges remain, but like I said, similarly huge opportunities are presenting themselves, too. 

What you need to know

• Xbox recently issued a bulletin on its Xbox Live status page noting that some Xbox 360 games will be removed from digital storefronts on February 7, 2023. 
• Some of these games do not have proper store listings on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, despite being backward compatible. 
• It shouldn't affect users who already own these titles. 
• It remains to be seen how this update could impact store listings on modern Xbox consoles with backward compatibility, and we've reached out to Microsoft to clarify. 

Update, Jan. 31, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. CT: In a statement to Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that, "Beginning on February 7, 2023, a limited set of games, add-ons, and in-game content will no longer be purchasable in select markets via the Xbox 360 Store. These titles will no longer be purchasable on the Xbox 360 Store only, and titles that are available to be purchased on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Stores will remain purchasable. You will still be able to play discs or previously downloaded games on your Xbox 360 and modern consoles if they are backwards compatible titles."

This confirms user speculation that Microsoft's recent reveal that certain Xbox 360 games being delisted from the aging Xbox 360 platform would not impact those games' availability on modern Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. However, that still leaves games that are not backward compatible ceasing to be available on their original platform, while even games that are backward compatible on modern Xboxes may no longer be available due to the games not having a listing on the current Xbox Store, such as DOOM 3 and Jet Set Radio.

The Microsoft spokesperson also stated, "Since the launch of Xbox One in 2013, Xbox has been working to move all digital Xbox 360 products to a new and modern commerce platform. As we finalize the migration, there is a limited set of games, add-ons, and in-game content that are unavailable in the modern commerce platform."

If you want to digitally own any of the games listed below, and those titles are not currently available directly through the Xbox Store on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, be sure to head to the Xbox 360 Store and purchase them within the next week, before the titles are permanently delisted from the platform. Bear in mind that some of these games are not backward compatible and cannot be played on modern Xbox consoles, and many of the games that are backward compatible can currently be purchased in the Xbox Store.

Our original article continues below...

The DRM debate rages on, with Microsoft gearing up to remove a range of classic games from sale as early as next week. 

Wario64 and other users on reddit and Twitter noticed a service update on Xbox Live, explaining that on February 7th, Microsoft will remove dozens of games from various markets. Doubtless this revolves around things like expiring licenses, but what is unclear is how this could impact Xbox 360 backward compatibility on modern Xbox consoles. 

Indeed, some of these games do not have modern store listings on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. As such, it's unclear if certain games could be removed from sale entirely when this update goes ahead. 

The list of games set to be removed is as follows in the U.S. For other regions, head to this link. 

• Aegis Wing 
• Assassin's Creed Brotherhood 
• Assassin's Creed® III 
• Assassin's Creed® IV 
• Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD 
• Blood of the Werewolf 
• Blue Dragon 
• Breakdown
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare 
• Call of Duty: Ghosts 
• Castle Crashers 
• Cloning Clyde 
• Counter-Strike: GO 
• Dark Souls™ 
• Darksiders II 
• DAYTONA USA 
• Defense Grid 
• Eets: Chowdown 
• Far Cry® 2 
• Final Fight: DblImpact 
• Iron Brigade 
• Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
• Jet Set Radio 
• Left 4 Dead
• Left 4 Dead 2 
• LIMBO 
• Lost Odyssey 
• Mass Effect 2 
• MONOPOLY DEAL 
• Mutant Blobs Attack 
• N+ 
• Outpost Kaloki X 
• Peggle ® 2 
• Phantom Breaker:Battle Grounds 
• Prince of Persia 
• R.U.S.E.
• Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co. 
• Skate 2 
• South Park™: The Stick of Truth™ 
• Spelunky 
• Splinter Cell Conviction
• Star Wars Battlefront
• Star Wars KOTOR 2 
• The Orange Box 
• The Raven Episode 1 
• The Witcher 2

We've reached out to Microsoft to clarify how and when each game will be removed, and whether or not it could impact the sizeable list of available Xbox backwards compatible titles currently on offer. We suspect that the vast majority of these games will still be available to purchase on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S directly, but it remains unclear whether titles that haven't been properly updated for the new system will be available. Some games are only available as a "Bundle," The Orange Box for example, and those bundles do not currently have proper store listings mapped out on the modern consoles. Other games like DOOM 3 and Jet Set Radio do not have a listing on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S despite being backward compatible, owing to license issues. 

Windows Central's Take

I'm often a huge proponent of digital purchasing, but situations like this remind us why physical discs are still important to offer consumers as an option. Licensing issues, shuttered services, and closed companies can lead to games being removed from sale, hindering game preservation efforts across the board. 

Microsoft is one of the few game companies that has been willing to invest so heavily in legal video game preservation, either by emulation with the Xbox 360 backward compatibility emulator on modern Xbox consoles or via full native ports. Microsoft recently worked with Nintendo to bring Rare's GoldenEye to modern consoles, for example. License holders can often be greedy, or petty when it comes to availability. Digital games disappearing from Apple and Google mobile platforms is a regular occurrence, and I suspect we could see similar from core consoles too in the future if users don't push back on at least offering physical discs as an option moving forward. 

I'll be sure to update this article with clarification from Microsoft if, and when we get it. 

What you need to know

• The recent announcement of GoldenEye 007 for Xbox consoles sparked a conversation about older games on modern consoles.
• Xbox backward compatibility has allowed people to play older titles on Xbox consoles for years, including the Xbox Series X.
• Almost 95% of voters in our recent poll said that they play at least some games through Xbox backward compatibility.

Last week when it was confirmed that GoldenEye 007 was on the way to Xbox consoles and the Nintendo Switch, the gaming world was aflutter about classic titles. Of course, Xbox owners have a large library of old games to enjoy through Xbox backward compatibility. Our question was if people actually used the feature to play games from previous generations of consoles.

The votes are in, and Windows Central readers overwhelmingly like to play games through Xbox backward compatibility.

Last week we ran a poll, and over 64% of voters said that they play a large number of games through Xbox backward compatibility. An additional 30.26% said they play a small number of games through the feature. Only 5.29% of voters said that they do not play any games through Xbox backward compatibility.

Microsoft has invested heavily in Xbox backward compatibility over the years, expanding the library of classic titles to include hundreds of games. Our list of the best Xbox backward compatible games has quite a few well-known and historic titles.

In contrast, Sony has not rolled out as robust of a support network for older titles. For example, the Xbox Series X is fully compatible with Xbox One titles and Xbox backward compatible games, while the PS5 does not have similar functionality.

If you'd like to chat about your favorite classic games, make sure to hop on over to our official Discord server. We have channels for console gaming, PC gaming, and more.

Microsoft has an expansive list of backward compatible games that allow people to play classic titles on modern consoles. The technology isn't just to play old games as they were. Many games get a graphics boost, higher frame rate, better loading times, and HDR. While the feature has always been impressive, we'd like to get a gauge for how much people use Xbox backward compatibility.

First announced in 2015, backward compatibility introduced a way to play Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One. Microsoft has shown a strong commitment to expanding the library of older games that are playable on newer Xbox consoles. The company continued its work when it announced the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, both of which support backward compatibility.

GoldenEye 007 being announced for Xbox Game Pass was one of the biggest news stories this week. While that specific title isn't making its way to consoles through Xbox backward compatibility, it sparked a discussion about old games on new hardware.

With such an iconic title from the 90s coming to modern systems, we'd like to know how much you play classic games. Xbox backward compatibility now supports hundreds of titles, but are those numbers window dressing, or are the old-school games a regular part of your rotation? Let us know in this week's poll.

After voting in the poll, make sure to hop on over to our official Discord channel to discuss classic games and Xbox backward compatibility. We have a forum thread on the topic as well as several other channels and chats. You can also reach out to me on Twitter if you prefer. While you're there, let us know if you plan to play GoldenEye 007 specifically. The game revolutionized first-person shooters, but that doesn't mean everyone will want to play it in 2022 and beyond.

Microsoft has launched a dedicated "Back Compat Sale" via the Microsoft Store, scoring Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S users hefty discounts on backward compatible titles. These limited-time deals promise up to 85% savings on Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles, all playable on its latest consoles via system-level backward compatibility.

Discounts apply to 137 games and downloadable content (DLC) packs, all among the list of backward compatible on Xbox consoles. The sale includes many of the program's final additions from last November, which featured over 70 new titles, including games like Max Payne, TimeSplitters, and the F.E.A.R. series.

Microsoft has sinced announced it has terminated its backward compatibility efforts, with no plans to support additional titles, citing "legal and technical constraints."

With the complete Xbox backward compatibility lineup now boasting hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games, the sale is an ideal time to stock your digital library. While the digital Xbox 360 and original Xbox games are often overpriced compared to disc-based copies, we're now seeing many at their lowest-ever prices.

Highlights include Red Dead Redemption down 67% to $9.89, Max Payne at $8.99, EA's skate. for $5.99, and TimeSplitters 2 for $2.49. Other established franchises like Borderlands, Grand Theft Auto, and Tomb Raider also feature.

The complete Back Compat Sale can be found via the Microsoft Store, both online and on Xbox consoles.

What you need to know

• GoldenEye 007 is a First-Person Shooter developed by Rare for Nintendo 64, based on the 1995 James Bond movie, GoldenEye.
• A list of Xbox achievements has been leaked for Goldeneye 007, hinting at a possible Xbox release for the classic title.

Back in 1997, the videogame developer Rare, known for classic titles such as Donkey Kong Country, Banjo Kazooie, Killer Instinct, Battletoads, Sea of Thieves, and Conker's Bad Fur Day, released a videogame tie-in to the James Bond franchise — GoldenEye 007. It was a First-Person Shooter released for the Nintendo 64, and it is based on the 1995 James Bond movie, GoldenEye. This game was critically acclaimed for pushing the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo 64, its intuitive gunplay and stealth gameplay, and a competitive four-player deathmatch mode that was ahead of its time.

Now it appears the classic title will be coming to Xbox consoles as an Xbox Backwards Compatibility port. On New Year's Day, a list of Xbox achievements had shown up on TrueAchievements for GoldenEye 007 along with several art assets (via Wario64).

The list of achievements is as follows:

• RUN! — Complete Dam on any difficulty (20G).
• Now try gunning for 2:05... — Complete Facility on any difficulty (20G).
• Fly away! — Complete Runaway on any difficulty (20G).
• Dual Wielding! — Complete Surface 1 on any difficulty (20G).
• Shootin' Camera! — Complete Bunker 1 on any difficulty (20G).
• Old-School Rockets — Complete Silo on any difficulty (20G).
• Calm Seas — Complete Frigate on any difficulty (20G).
• Back Again, Part One — Complete Surface 2 on any difficulty (20G).
• Back Again, Part Two — Complete Bunker 2 on any difficulty (20G).
• So, So Lost… — Complete Statue Park on any difficulty (20G).
• Interrogate This! — Complete Archives on any difficulty (20G).
• TANK! — Complete Streets on any difficulty (20G).
• Brief Respite — Complete Depot on any difficulty (20G).
• How Long is this Train?! — Complete Train on any difficulty (20G).
• Atmosphere, 90s Style! — Complete Jungle on any difficulty (20G).
• Hello, Mr. Bond! — Complete Control on any difficulty (20G).
• I Know It's Here Somewhere… — Complete Caverns on any difficulty (20G).
• Blockbuster Boss Fight! — Complete Cradle on any difficulty (20G).
• That Music, Though… — Complete Aztec on any difficulty (30G).
• Samedi Fight Fever! — Complete Egyptian on any difficulty (30G).
• Welcome Back, 007 — Complete the GoldenEye story on Agent difficulty (40G).
• Loyal to the Mission — Complete the GoldenEye story on Secret Agent difficulty (50G).
• Oh, James… — Complete the GoldenEye story on 00 Agent difficulty (60G).
• Double ZZZZAP! — Unlock 2x Lasers by completing Aztec on Secret Agent in 9:00 or Less (10G).
• Better Than 2x Klobbs — Unlock 2x RC-P90s by completing Caverns on 00 Agent in 9:30 or less (10G).
• Who needs framerate? — Unlock 2x Rocket Launchers by completing Bunker 1 on 00 Agent in 4:00 or less (10G).
• Target Acquired! — Unlock 2x Throwing Knives by completing Bunker 2 on Agent in 1:30 or less (10G).
• Full Arsenal! — Unlock All Guns by completing Egyptian on 00 Agent in 6:00 or less (10G).
• Chest-Pounding Goodness — Unlock DK Mode by completing Runway on Agent in 5:00 or less (10G).
• DUCK! — Unlock Enemy Rockets by completing Streets on Agent in 1:45 or less (10G).
• Here They Come! — Unlock Fast Animation by completing Statue on Secret Agent in 3:15 or less (10G).
• Best in Class — Unlock Gold PP7 by completing Cradle on Agent in 2:15 or less (10G).
• One Shot, Just One… — Unlock Golden Gun by completing Egyptian on any difficulty (10G).
• The Art of Boom — Unlock 2x Grenade Launchers by completing Surface 1 on Secret Agent in 3:30 or less (10G).
• Now It's Klobbering Time! — Unlock Infinite Ammo by completing Control on Secret Agent in 10:00 or less (10G).
• Where Are you, Dr. Doak?! — Unlock Invincibility by completing Facility on 00 Agent in 2:05 or less (10G).
• Cheater! — Unlock Invisibility by completing Archives on 00 Agent in 1:20 or less (10G).
• Screen Cheater! — Unlock No Radar (Multi) by completing Frigate on Secret Agent in 4:30 or less (10G).
• This Is the Way — Unlock Paintball Mode by completing Dam on Secret Agent in 2:40 or less (10G).
• That's All I Get For This?! — Unlock Silver PP7 by completing Train on 00 Agent in 5:25 or less (10G).
• So Much Drama! — Unlock Slow Animation by completing Depot on Secret Agent in 1:40 or less (10G).
• Everyone is Odd! — Unlock Tiny Bond by completing Surface 2 on 00 Agent in 4:15 or less (10G).
• Booster! —Unlock Turbo Mode by completing Silo on Agent in 3:00 or less (10G).
• Double-Cut — Unlock 2x Hunting Knives by completing Jungle on Agent in 3:45 or less (10G).
• World Tour — Play a multiplayer match on every map (20G).
• Decimated — Play 10 multiplayer matches (20G).
• Q Branch Specialist — Play a multiplayer match using every weapon set (20G).
• Playing By the Rules — Play each type of multiplayer scenario at least once (20G).
• Multi-streak — Play five back-to-back multiplayer matches (20G).
• Merciless — Kill a player while they're unarmed (20G).
• Licence to Kill — Score 100 kills in multiplayer matches over time (20G).
• A Treehouse Classic — Play a match: Remote Mines, on Complex (20G).
• Slapstick Comedy — Play a match: Slappers Only, on Complex, Licence to Kill (20G).
• Should Use a Guide — Earn the 'Mostly Harmless' multiplayer award (20G).
• Unusual Work — Play as Oddjob in a multiplayer match (Secret) (20G).

While this is most likely a direct port of the original game rather than a remaster, Xbox has been known to use enhancement tech like FPS Boost to improve older games in the past.

Could this all result in more collaboration efforts between Microsoft and Nintendo? It would sense considering that Rare's Banjo and Kazooie appeared as guest characters in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, and their namesake title is now available on the Nintendo Switch. Not to mention that 2022 will be marking GoldenEye 007's 25th anniversary, so now would be the perfect time to bring it back for modern audiences and celebrate its legacy. It undoubtedly would be a worthy additition to the Xbox's massive library of backwards compatible titles and Xbox Game Pass. We'll be sure to update you if and when (most likely when) this goes official.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has updated its Xbox backward compatibility list today with over 70 titles.
• Backward compatibility now supports hundreds of old games from previous Xbox generations.
• The latest wave of titles marks the end of the program, with Microsoft citing various "licensing, legal, and technical constraints."

Microsoft has celebrated 20 years of Xbox with a live show that gave fans plenty of surprises and an ending that fans won't forget. The live show also brought over 70 new games to the backward compatible library, spanning games from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 era.

Unfortunately, it seems that these will be the last time we will get backward compatible titles, at least according to the latest press release issued by Microsoft.

"While we continue to stay focused on preserving and enhancing the art form of games, we have reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints," stated Peggy Lo, Xbox compatibility program lead. "Thank you for being part of this journey with us."

The unfortunate news might dishearten fans, which could be expecting more backward compatible titles in the future. It could mean that underrated games will remain a relic of the former generation, never to make it to the latest Xbox consoles.

The announcement explains the long absence of the program. While Microsoft could revisit its decision in the future, for now you'll need to enjoy the 70+ games added in today's announcement.

At Xbox's 20th anniversary celebration, Microsoft unveiled a mountain of highly requested backward-compatible classics, alongside a slew of further enhancements via FPS Boost and beyond.

Included in the list are fan-favorite franchises like Remedy's legendary Max Payne titles, the classic horror FPS F.E.A.R., Rockstar's violent stealth slasher Manhunt, legendary FPS TimeSplitters, and Xbox classic Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee.

Alongside the sizeable 70+ list of new backward-compatible Xbox games, we also have a mountain of new FPS Boost titles. Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II both get the 60 FPS treatment now on next-gen systems, alongside Fallout 3 and New Vegas, Dead Space 2 and 3, and many more. Microsoft also revealed that it is bringing FPS Boost to Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing cloud-based versions of existing games to hit 60 FPS if your connection speed allows for it.

For the full list of new goodies, see further below. Given the fact Microsoft seems to once again be on the game preservation train, I suspect that this won't be the last time we hear about more games coming to the platform in the months and years ahead.

New Xbox backward-compatible games

Here are all the new games hitting Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S thanks to the backward-compatibility program. People who own any of these games digitally will be able to download them from the Microsoft Store on your console or via your Games & Apps library. If you own the disc, your Xbox console will also run them as if they were native copies too.

• 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
• Aces of the Galaxy
• Advent Rising
• Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
• Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Make the Grade
• Avatar: The Last Airbender — The Burning Earth
• Bankshot Billiards 2
• Beautiful Katamari
• Binary Domain
• Black College Football Xperience: Doug Williams Ed
• Cloning Clyde
• Conan
• Darwinia+
• Dead or Alive Ultimate
• Dead or Alive 3
• Dead or Alive 4
• Death by Cube
• Disney Universe
• Disney's Chicken Little
• Elements of Destruction
• F.E.A.R.
• F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
• F.E.A.R. 3
• F.E.A.R. Files
• The First Templar
• Gladius
• Gunvalkyrie
• Islands of Wakfu
• LEGO: The Lord of the Rings
• Manhunt
• Max Payne
• Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
• Max Payne 3
• MINI NINJAS
• Mortal Kombat
• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
• MX vs. ATV Alive
• MX vs. ATV Untamed
• NIER
• Novadrome
• Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
• Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
• Otogi: Myth of Demons
• Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
• The Outfit
• Outpost Kaloki X
• Quake Arena Arcade
• R.A.W. — Realms of Ancient War
• Red Dead Revolver
• Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
• Ridge Racer 6
• Rio
• Risen
• Risen 2: Dark Waters
• Rock of Ages
• Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
• Scramble
• Screwjumper!
• Secret Weapons Over Normandy
• Skate 2
• SpongeBob SquarePants Underpants Slam!
• SpongeBob's Truth or Square
• STAR WARS Starfighter: Special Edition
• STAR WARS: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
• STAR WARS: The Clone Wars
• STAR WARS Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
• Switchball
• Thrillville
• Thrillville: Off the Rails
• Time Pilot
• TimeSplitters 2
• TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
• Toy Story Mania!
• Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
• Viva Piñata: Party Animals
• Warlords

New FPS Boost titles

These games will now enjoy 60 FPS across Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X consoles.

• Alan Wake
• Assassin's Creed
• Binary Domain
• Black College Football Xperience: Doug Williams Ed
• Darksiders
• Dead Space 2
• Dead Space 3
• Disney's Chicken Little
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Dragon Age II
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• F.E.A.R.
• F.E.A.R. 3
• Fable Anniversary
• Fable III
• Fallout 3
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Far Cry 3
• Final Fantasy XIII-2
• Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
• Gears of War
• Gears of War 2
• Gears of War 3
• Gears of War: Judgment
• Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
• Kameo: Elements of Power
• LEGO: The Lord of the Rings
• Medal of Honor: Airborne
• Mirror's Edge
• NIER
• Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
• Rock of Ages
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Sonic Generations
• Sonic Unleashed
• STAR WARS: The Clone Wars
• Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment

FPS Boost games on Xbox Cloud Gaming

If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you also have access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Either on the web via the Xbox Game Pass website, the Xbox Game Pass app on Android, or the Xbox app for Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft gives you the ability to stream dozens of games over the internet without having to install them.

• Battlefield 4
• Beholder Complete Edition
• Dishonored Definitive Edition
• Dishonored: Death of the Outsider
• Dragon Age: Inquisition
• Dragon Age: Origins
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• The Evil Within 2
• Fable Anniversary
• Fable III
• Fallout 3
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76
• Fallout: New Vegas
• The Gardens Between
• Gears of War 2
• Gears of War 3
• Gears of War 4
• Gears of War: Judgment
• Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
• Halo Wars 2
• Kameo: Elements of Power
• MotoGP 20
• My Friend Pedro
• My Time at Portia
• Prey
• ReCore
• Shadow Warrior 2
• Steep
• Titanfall 2
• Two Point Hospital
• Wasteland 3
• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Backward compatibility opens Xbox consoles to a massive variety of games, and with the latest Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, it now spans three generations of past consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on new devices. That list now stows hundreds of previous games revived on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, with some even featuring bespoke enhancements bringing older experiences into the new generation.

With an extensive range of titles that support backward compatibility, we've compiled a list of every past Xbox 360 and original Xbox game supported so far.

List of Xbox 360 backward compatible games

Xbox 360 represents Microsoft's largest pool of backward compatible games, with hundreds playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Each title on new Xbox consoles brings technical and legal challenges, meaning each comes tested and approved by Microsoft and respective publishers. While it means not every Xbox 360 game supports backward compatibility, several years of work has brought a sizeable portion of classics to the consoles. Here's every backward compatible Xbox 360 game, each of which works on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles.

Too many titles to choose from? Make sure to take a look at the best Xbox games in 2021.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

#

• 0 Day Attack on Earth
• 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures

A

• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
• A Kingdom for Keflings
• A World of Keflings
• Aegis Wing
• Age of Booty
• AirMech Arena
• Alan Wake
• Alan Wake's American Nightmare
• Alice: Madness Returns
• Alien Hominid HD
• Aliens vs. Predator
• Altered Beast
• Anomaly: Warzone Earth
• Aqua
• ARKANOID Live!
• Army of Two
• Assassin's Creed
• Assassin's Creed II
• Assassin's Creed III
• Assassin's Creed Liberation HD
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Revelations
• Assassin's Creed Rogue
• Assault Heroes 2
• Asteroids & Deluxe
• AstroPop
• Asura's Wrath
• Axel & Pixel

B

• Babel Rising
• Band of Bugs
• Banjo-Kazooie
• Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
• Banjo-Tooie
• Batman: Arkham Origins
• BattleBlock Theater
• Battlefield 1943
• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
• Battlefield 3
• Battlefield: Bad Company
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2
• Battlestations: Pacific
• Battlestations: Midway
• Bayonetta
• Beat'n Groovy
• Bejeweled 2
• Bejeweled 3
• Bellator: MMA Onslaught
• Beyond Good & Evil HD
• Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
• BioShock
• BioShock 2
• BioShock Infinite
• Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
• Blood Knights
• Blood of the Werewolf
• Bloodforge
• BloodRayne: Betrayal
• Blue Dragon
• Bolt
• Bomberman Live: Battlefest
• Boom Boom Rocket
• Bound by Flame
• Borderlands
• Borderlands 2
• Braid
• Brain Challenge
• Brave: The Video Game
• Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
• Brütal Legend
• Bullet Soul
• Bullet Soul -Infinite Burst-
• Bully: Scholarship Edition
• The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
• Burnout Paradise
• Burnout Revenge

C

• Cabela's Alaskan Adventures
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
• Cabela's Hunting Expeditions
• Cabela's Survival: Shadows of Katmai
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Call of Duty: Ghosts
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Call of Duty: World at War
• Call of Duty 2
• Call of Duty 3
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
• Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
• Call of Juarez: The Cartel
• Capcom Arcade Cabinet
• Carcassonne
• Cars Mater-National Championship
• Cars 2: The Video Game
• Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
• Castle Crashers
• Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
• CastleStorm
• Catherine
• The Cave
• Centipede & Millipede
• Child of Eden
• Clannad
• Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley
• Comix Zone
• Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
• Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – Commander's Challenge
• Commanders: Attack of the Genos
• Condemned: Criminal Origins
• Contra
• Costume Quest
• Costume Quest 2
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• Crackdown
• Crackdown 2
• Crazy Taxi
• Crysis
• Crysis 2
• Crysis 3
• Crystal Defenders
• Crystal Quest
• Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram

D

• Dante's Inferno
• Dark Souls
• Dark Void
• The Darkness
• The Darkness II
• Darksiders
• Darksiders II
• Daytona USA
• de Blob 2
• Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
• Dead Rising 2: Case West
• Dead Space
• Dead Space 2
• Dead Space 3
• Dead Space Ignition
• Deadfall Adventures
• Deadliest Warrior: The Game
• Deadliest Warrior: Legends
• Deadly Premonition
• DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue
• Defense Grid: The Awakening
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut
• Dig Dug
• DiRT 3
• Dirt: Showdown
• Discs of Tron
• Divinity II
• Domino Master
• Doom
• Doom II
• Doom 3: BFG Edition
• Doritos Crash Course
• Double Dragon: Neon
• Dragon Age: Origins
• Dragon Age II
• Dragon's Lair
• Driver: San Francisco
• DuckTales Remastered
• Duke Nukem Forever
• Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
• Dungeon Siege III
• Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara

E

• Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon
• Earth Defense Force 2017
• Earth Defense Force 2025
• Earthworm Jim HD
• Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• Enchanted Arms
• Encleverment Experiment
• Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
• Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
• Escape Dead Island
• Every Extend Extra Extreme

F

• F1 2014
• Fable Anniversary
• Fable Heroes
• Fable II
• Fable II Pub Games
• Fable III
• Faery: Legends of Avalon
• Fallout 3
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Far Cry Classic
• Far Cry 2
• Far Cry 3
• Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
• Far Cry Instincts: Predator
• Feeding Frenzy
• Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown
• Fight Night Champion
• Fighting Vipers
• Final Fantasy XIII
• Final Fantasy XIII-2
• Final Fight: Double Impact
• Flashback
• Flock!
• Forza Horizon
• Foul Play
• Fret Nice
• Frogger
• Frogger 2
• From Dust
• Frontlines: Fuel of War
• Fuel
• FunTown Mahjong

G

• Galaga
• Galaga Legions
• Galaga Legions DX
• Garou: Mark of the Wolves
• Gatling Gears
• Gears of War
• Gears of War 2
• Gears of War 3
• Gears of War: Judgment
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
• Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
• Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
• Ghostbusters: The Video Game
• Gin Rummy
• Girl Fight
• Go! Go! Break Steady
• Goat Simulator
• Golden Axe
• Golf: Tee It Up!
• Grand Theft Auto IV
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Greg Hastings Paintball 2
• Grid 2
• Grid Autosport
• GripShift
• Guardian Heroes
• Gunstar Heroes
• Guwange
• Gyromancer
• Gyruss

H

• Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax
• Halo 3
• Halo 3: ODST Campaign Edition
• Halo 4
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
• Halo: Reach
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Halo Wars
• Hard Corps: Uprising
• Hardwood Backgammon
• Hardwood Hearts
• Hardwood Spades
• Harms Way
• Haunted House
• Heavy Weapon
• Hexic HD
• Hexic 2
• Hitman: Absolution
• Hitman: Blood Money
• Hitman HD Trilogy
• Hydro Thunder Hurricane
• Hydrophobia

I

• I Am Alive
• Ikaruga
• ilomilo
• Infinite Undiscovery
• Injustice: Gods Among Us
• Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
• Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos
• Iron Brigade

J

• Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
• Jet Set Radio HD
• Jetpac Refuelled
• Jewel Quest
• Joe Danger: Special Edition
• Joe Danger 2: The Movie
• Joust
• Joy Ride Turbo
• JUJU
• Jurassic Park: The Game
• Just Cause
• Just Cause 2

K

• Kameo: Elements of Power
• Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
• Killer Is Dead
• Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
• The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match
• The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
• King of Fighters: Sky Stage
• The King of Fighters XIII

L

• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
• Lazy Raiders
• Left 4 Dead
• Left 4 Dead 2
• LEGO Batman: The Videogame
• Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
• LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
• LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
• Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
• LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
• Limbo
• Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
• Lode Runner
• Lost Odyssey
• Lost Planet
• Lost Planet: Colonies
• Lost Planet 2
• Lost Planet 3
• Lumines LIVE
• Luxor 2

M

• Madballs in Babo: Invasion
• Mad Tracks
• Mafia II
• Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers
• Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012
• Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013
• Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014
• Marathon 2: Durandal
• Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
• Mars: War Logs
• Mass Effect
• Mass Effect 2
• Mass Effect 3
• Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond
• The Maw
• Medal of Honor: Airborne
• Meet the Robinsons
• Mega Man 9
• Mega Man 10
• Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
• Metal Gear Solid HD Edition
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - HD Edition
• Metal Slug 3
• Metal Slug XX
• Midnight Club: Los Angeles
• Midway Arcade Origins
• Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
• Military Madness: Nectaris
• Mirror's Edge
• The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom
• Missile Command
• Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
• Monday Night Combat
• Monopoly Deal
• Monopoly Plus
• Moon Diver
• Motocross Madness
• Mr. Driller Online
• Ms. Pac-Man
• Ms. Splosion Man
• Mutant Storm Empire
• Mutant Storm Reloaded
• MX vs. ATV Reflex

N

• N+
• NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
• NeoGeo Battle Coliseum
• New Rally-X
• NiGHTS into Dreams...
• Nin2-Jump
• Ninja Gaiden II
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

O

• Of Orcs and Men
• Omega Five
• Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
• Operation Flashpoint: Red River
• The Orange Box
• Orcs Must Die!
• Outland
• Overlord
• Overlord II

P

• Pac-Man
• Pac-Man Championship Edition
• Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
• Pac-Man Museum
• Peggle
• Peggle 2
• Perfect Dark
• Perfect Dark Zero
• Persona 4 Arena
• Peter Jackson's King Kong
• Phantasy Star II
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
• Pinball FX
• Planets Under Attack
• Plants vs. Zombies
• Port Royale 3: Pirates & Merchants
• Portal: Still Alive
• Portal 2
• Prey
• Prince of Persia
• Prince of Persia Classic
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
• Pure
• Putty Squad
• Puzzle Quest 1 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
• Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
• Puzzle Quest 2
• Puzzlegeddon

Q

• Qix++
• Quantum Conundrum

R

• R-Type Dimensions
• Radiant Silvergun
• Rage
• Raiden IV
• Raskulls
• Rayman 3 HD
• Rayman Legends
• Rayman Origins
• Rayman Raving Rabbids
• Red Dead Redemption
• Red Faction: Armageddon
• Red Faction: Battlegrounds
• Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
• RoboBlitz
• Rocket Knight
• Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis
• R.U.S.E.
• Rumble Roses XX
• Runner2

S

• Sacred 3
• Sacred Citadel
• Saints Row
• Saints Row: Gat out of Hell
• Saints Row 2
• Saints Row: The Third
• Saints Row IV
• Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space
• Sam & Max Save the World
• Samurai Shodown II
• Scarygirl
• Scrap Metal
• ScreamRide
• The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
• The Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge
• Sega Bass Fishing
• Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
• Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe
• Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
• Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
• Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl
• Sensible World of Soccer
• Shadowrun
• Shadow Assault: Tenchu
• Shadow Complex
• Shadows of the Damned
• Shank 2
• Shinobi
• Shotest Shogi
• Shred Nebula
• Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
• Silent Hill: Downpour
• Silent Hill HD Collection
• Silent Hill: Homecoming
• Sine Mora
• Skate
• Skate 3
• Skullgirls: Encore
• Skydive: Proximity Flight
• Slender: The Arrival
• Small Arms
• Sniper Elite V2
• Soltrio Solitaire
• Sonic Adventure
• Sonic Adventure 2
• Sonic & Knuckles
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Sonic Generations
• Sonic the Fighters
• Sonic CD
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
• Sonic Unleashed
• Soulcalibur
• SoulCalibur II HD Online
• South Park: The Stick of Truth
• Space Ark
• Space Giraffe
• Space Invaders Infinity Gene
• Spec Ops: The Line
• Spelunky
• The Splatters
• Split/Second
• 'Splosion Man
• SSX
• Stacking
• Star Ocean: The Last Hope
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
• Steins;Gate
• Steins;Gate: Hiyoku Renri no Darling
• Steins;Gate: Senkei Kōsoku no Phenogram
• Strania
• Street Fighter IV
• Stuntman: Ignition
• Super Contra
• Super Meat Boy
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Super Street Fighter IV
• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
• Supreme Commander 2
• Syberia
• Syndicate

T

• Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
• Tecmo Bowl Throwback
• Tekken 6
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2
• Texas Hold 'Em
• Ticket to Ride
• TimeShift
• Tom Clancy's EndWar
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
• Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary
• Tomb Raider: Legend
• Tomb Raider: Underworld
• Too Human
• Torchlight
• Tour de France 2009: The Official Game
• Tour de France 2011
• Tower Bloxx Deluxe
• Toy Soldiers
• Toy Soldiers: Cold War
• Toy Story 3
• Toybox Turbos
• Trials Evolution
• Trials HD
• Triggerheart Exelica
• Trine 2
• Tron: Evolution
• Tropico 4

U

• Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon
• Ultra Street Fighter IV
• Unbound Saga
• Undertow
• Unreal Tournament III

V

• Vanquish
• Virtua Fighter 2
• Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown
• Virtual-On: Cyber Troopers
• Viva Piñata
• Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise

W

• The Walking Dead
• The Walking Dead: Michonne
• The Walking Dead: Season Two
• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
• Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
• Wolfenstein 3D
• Word Puzzle

X

• XCOM: Enemy Unknown
• XCOM: Enemy Within

Y

• Yosumin! Live

Z

• Zone of the Enders HD Collection
• Zuma
• Zuma's Revenge!

List of original Xbox backward compatible games

• Armed and Dangerous
• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
• Black
• Blinx: The Time Sweeper
• BloodRayne 2
• Breakdown
• Conker: Live & Reloaded
• Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
• Dead to Rights
• Destroy All Humans!
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• Full Spectrum Warrior
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Grabbed by the Ghoulies
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Hunter: The Reckoning
• Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
• Jade Empire
• The King of Fighters Neowave
• Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
• MX Unleashed
• Ninja Gaiden Black
• Panzer Dragoon Orta
• Panzer Elite Action: Fields of Glory
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
• Psychonauts
• Red Faction II
• Sid Meier's Pirates!
• Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
• SSX 3
• Star Wars: Battlefront
• Star Wars: Battlefront II
• Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
• Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
• Star Wars: Republic Commando
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow
• Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict

What you need to know

• Brutal Legend is a third-person action game from Double Fine Productions.
• The title launched 10 years ago.
• The developer is having an anniversary sale which discounts the game by 67 percent.
• You can purchase Brutal Legend for $5 through the Xbox 360 Marketplace.

Last year, Brutal Legend became backward compatible on Xbox One. The title is regarded as a cult classic because of its unique theme and gameplay.

Brutal Legend is an action game that features Jack Black and lots of heavy metal music. Your task is to save the world, but there are a lot of hurdles along the way. Even famous singers like Ozzy Osbourne make appearances.

Recently, Microsoft acquired Double Fine Productions, the developer behind the title. It's been 10 years since Brutal Legend launched on Xbox 360, and in order to celebrate its anniversary, the team has discounted the game by 67 percent to just $5. Head over to Steam or the Xbox 360 Marketplace to pick it up.

Brutal Legend has "Very Positive" reviews on Steam, but it's no slouch on Xbox 360 or Xbox One either. You'll have to play it to see what the hype's all about!

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Some original Xbox games are showing up on the Microsoft Store.
• Titles like Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb may become backward compatible soon.
• Today's Inside Xbox show should provide more details.

Updated June 10, 2019: Microsoft revealed that a number of original Xbox games and Xbox 360 games are joining Xbox backward compatibility soon. Unfortunately, the team needs to focus on "Project Scarlett" so these will be the last backward compatible games on Xbox One. Backward compatibility will resume when "Project Scarlett" launches it seems. You can take a look at the games below.

Original Xbox

• Armed and Dangerous
• Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
• Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent
• Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict

Xbox 360

• Asura's Wrath
• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
• Enchanted Arms
• Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
• Far Cry Classic
• Far Cry Instincts Predator
• Infinite Undiscovery
• Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
• Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands
• Skate
• Star Ocean: The Last Hope
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Syndicate
• Too Human
• Unreal Tournament III

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile titles. While the majority of requests revolve around Call of Duty, the Indiana Jones franchise has been other hot series. This morning, a slew of original Xbox games were listed on the Microsoft Store, and there are also reports that they're upgraded for Xbox One X. Armed and Dangerous, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, and Unreal Championship 2 can be seen on the page. There's an Inside Xbox show in a few hours, so we should know more then. They'll probably be backward compatible today.

Backward compatibility opens the Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on the console. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games sprinkled in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 titles alone.

Out of all of these, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb has to be the standout. It's a third-person adventure game with plenty of platforming and combat. While it may not have received great reviews when it launched all those years ago, playing it with a better frame rate and resolution should help matters. As with any such leak, take it with a grain of salt until the games are officially announced. I personally will be surprised if they aren't revealed today because they're showing up on the Microsoft Store.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

What you need to know

• Every week Microsoft and certain publishers discount numerous games on Xbox One.
• This week backward compatible games from a variety of franchises are on sale.
• We've listed some of the popular discounted games here.

Every year, Microsoft and certain publishers discount numerous games for an Xbox One backward compatibility sale. Some deals may only be available to Xbox Live Gold members and others to anyone who utilizes the service. A wide variety of titles, ranging from small experiences to massive blockbusters, are available for substantially less. This week, prominent games from the Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty franchises are on sale. Here's a look at some popular discounted titles.

See at Microsoft Store

Xbox 360

• Alice: Madness Returns | 75 percent | $4.99
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag | 60 percent | $7.99
• Assassin's Creed Liberation HD | 60 percent | $7.99
• Assassin's Creed | 60 percent | $7.99
• Assassin's Creed III | 50 percent | $9.99
• Assassin's Creed Rogue | 67 percent | $9.89
• Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts | 50 percent | $7.49
• Banjo-Kazooie | 50 percent | $7.49
• Battlefield 1943 | 70 percent | $2.99
• Battlefield 3 | 75 percent | $4.99
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 | 75 percent | $4.99
• Battlefield: Bad Company | 67 percent | $4.94
• Bayonetta | 60 percent | $7.99
• Beyond Good & Evil HD | 67 percent | $3.29
• BioShock | 60 percent | $7.99
• BioShock 2 | 60 percent | $7.99
• BioShock Infinite | 70 percent | $8.99
• Blue Dragon | 50 percent | $9.99
• Borderlands | 60 percent | $7.99
• Borderlands 2 | 60 percent | $7.99
• Bully: Scholarship Edition | 60 percent | $5.99
• Burnout Revenge | 30 percent | $6.99
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 | 67 percent | $4.94
• Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars | 67 percent | $4.94
• Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath | 67 percent | $4.94
• Call of Duty 2 | 50 percent | $9.99
• Call of Duty 3 | 50 percent | $9.99
• Call of Duty: Black Ops | 50 percent | $14.99
• Call of Duty: World at War | 50 percent | $9.99
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II | 67 percent | $16.49
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 25 percent | $14.99
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | 25 percent | $14.99
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | 50 percent | $14.99
• Call of Juarez: The Cartel | 75 percent | $7.49
• Call of Juarez: Gunslinger | 65 percent | $5.24
• Catherine | 50 percent | $9.99
• Civilization Revolution | 75 percent | $7.49
• Crysis | 67 percent | $6.59
• Crysis 2 | 67 percent | $6.59
• Crysis 3 | 67 percent | $6.59
• Dante's Inferno | 67 percent | $4.94
• Darksiders II | 85 percent | $2.99
• Dead Rising 2: Case West | 30 percent | $6.99
• Dead Space | 75 percent | $3.74
• Dead Space 2 | 75 percent | $4.99
• Dead Space 3 | 75 percent | $4.99
• Deadfall Adventures | 85 percent | $5.99
• Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | 67 percent | $6.59
• Dead Rising 2: Case Zero | 30 percent | $3.49
• Dragon Age: Origins | 75 percent | $3.74
• Dragon Age II | 60 percent | $7.99
• DuckTales Remastered | 75 percent | $3.74
• Duke Nukem Forever | 80 percent | $3.99
• Fable Anniversary | 50 percent | $19.99
• Fable II | 50 percent | $9.99
• Fable III | 50 percent | $9.99
• Far Cry 3 | 60 percent | $7.99
• Far Cry 2 | 67 percent | $6.59
• Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon | 70 percent | $4.49
• Fight Night Champion | 75 percent | $4.99
• Gears of War | 50 percent | $7.49
• Gears of War 2 | 50 percent | $5.99
• Gears of War 3 | 50 percent | $5.99
• Gears of War: Judgment | 50 percent | $5.99
• Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved | 50 percent | $2.49
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 33 percent | $10.04
• Grand Theft Auto IV | 65 percent | $6.99
• Halo 3 | 50 percent | $9.99
• Halo 3: ODST | 50 percent | $7.49
• Halo 4 | 50 percent | $9.99
• Halo Wars | 50 percent | $7.49
• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary | 50 percent | $9.99
• Halo: Reach | 50 percent | $9.99
• Injustice: Gods Among Us | 67 percent | $6.59
• Jet Set Radio | 50 percent | $4.99
• Kameo: Elements of Power | 50 percent | $4.99
• Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning | 75 percent | $4.99
• Lost Odyssey | 50 percent | $12.49
• Lost Planet 2 | 75 percent | $4.99
• Lost Planet 3 | 75 percent | $4.99
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies | 75 percent | $4.99
• Mafia II | 75 percent | $7.49
• Mass Effect 2 | 70 percent | $5.99
• Mass Effect 3 | 70 percent | $5.99
• Mega Man 10 | 60 percent | $3.99
• Mega Man 9 | 60 percent | $3.99
• Mirror's Edge | 75 percent | $3.74
• Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | 50 percent | $4.99
• The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition | 50 percent | $4.99
• Ms. Splosion Man | 50 percent | $4.99
• Persona 4: Arena | 60 percent | $5.99
• Panzer Dragoon Orta | 50 percent | $4.99
• Perfect Dark | 50 percent | $4.99
• Perfect Dark Zero | 50 percent | $7.49
• Phantasy Star II | 50 percent | $2.49
• Prey | 80 percent | $3.99
• Prince of Persia | 60 percent | $7.99
• Rayman 3 HD | 60 percent | $3.99
• Rayman Legends | 67 percent | $6.59
• Rayman Origins | 70 percent | $4.49
• Red Dead Redemption | 67 percent | $9.89
• Red Faction: Armageddon | 85 percent | $4.49
• Resident Evil Code: Veronica X HD | 75 percent | $4.99
• Saints Row 2 | 70 percent | $2.99
• Saints Row IV | 70 percent | $10.49
• Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell | 70 percent | $4.49
• Saints Row: The Third | 70 percent | $4.49
• Shadow Complex | 50 percent | $7.49
• Shadowrun | 50 percent | $7.49
• Shadows of the Damned | 75 percent | $4.99
• Spec Ops: The Line | 80 percent | $5.99
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction | 50 percent | $9.99
• Splosion Man | 50 percent | $4.99
• Street Fighter IV | 50 percent | $9.99
• Super Meat Boy | 50 percent | $7.49
• Super Street Fighter IV | 60 percent | $11.99
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas | 67 percent | $6.59
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 | 67 percent | $6.59
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent | 60 percent | $7.99
• The Darkness | 80 percent | $3.99
• The Darkness II | 80 percent | $5.99
• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings | 85 percent | $2.99
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist | 60 percent | $7.99
• Tomb Raider: Underworld | 90 percent | $1.99
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary | 90 percent | $1.99
• Tomb Raider: Legend | 90 percent | $1.99
• Trials HD | 60 percent | $3.99
• Trine 2 | 60 percent | $5.99
• Tropico 4 | 80 percent | $1.99
• XCOM: Enemy Within | 80 percent | $7.99

For the complete list visit Major Nelson. Search for the games on your Xbox One or Microsoft Store website to purchase them.

Which games are you interested in? Let us know! Be sure to check out the Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty franchises because they're great experiences.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Hitman franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Hitman HD Pack is now backward compatible. Hitman HD Pack contains Hitman: Contracts and Hitman 2: Silent Assassin.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Hitman: Contracts

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

Are you interested in these games? Let us know.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Ninja Gaiden franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge and Trial Evolution are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

Ninja Gaiden 3 may not be the best entry in the series, but it provides a satisfying conclusion to the saga that has spanned a number of games. It's by far the best-looking Ninja Gaiden entry, and the gameplay also holds up even to this day. If you're a fan of the titles, be sure to pick this one up.

$30 at Amazon

Trials Evolution

Trials Evolution is all about using the thumbsticks and trigger to pull off harrowing motorcycle stunts. While it may not be as newcomer-friendly as Trials Rising, it's still a lot of fun and you'll spend dozens of hours trying to perfect your every move.

$15 at Amazon

Are you interested in these games? Let us know.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Updated March 22, 2019: You can vote for the games by following this link.

The F.E.A.R. series and Condemned 2: Bloodshot contain some of the most riveting horror games ever made. The F.E.A.R. series set a new standard for first-person shooters which provided jump scares around every corner. Condemned 2 is similar because it's a psychological thriller which focuses on melee combat.

Ever since Microsoft announced the Xbox Backward Compatibility program, many gamers have requested numerous titles, but the F.E.A.R. and Condemned franchises are always at the top. Developer Monolith Productions receives daily requests to make the games backward compatible; today it responded. If you want to see F.E.A.R. games or Condemned 2 on Xbox One, you'll have to request it on Xbox Ideas.

Be sure to post about F.E.A.R. and Condemned 2 on Xbox Ideas if you want to play them. On Twitter, Monolith said the following:

It's unclear if Microsoft is having conversations with Sega and Warner Bros. at the moment, but considering that they're some of the most popular titles from the Xbox 360 era, it's bound to happen one day. Users got Activision and Microsoft talking, and we saw numerous entries in the Call of Duty franchise make an appearance. Hopefully, we can do the same for F.E.A.R. and Condemned 2.

Did you play any of the F.E.A.R. games on Xbox 360? What about Condemned? Let us know.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Marathon franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Hydrophobia and Marathon: Durandal are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Hydrophobia

See at Xbox 360 Marketplace

Marathon: Durandal

See at Xbox 360 Marketplace

Be sure to check out all of these games on Xbox One because they hold up even to this day.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Lost Planet franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that the Lost Planet series and Resident Evil — Code: Veronica X are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Lost Planet

See at Amazon

Lost Planet 2

See at Amazon

Lost Planet 3

See at Amazon

Lost Planet Colonies

See at Xbox 360 Marketplace

Resident Evil — Code: Veronica X

See at Xbox 360 Marketplace

Be sure to check out all of these games on Xbox One because they hold up even to this day. Be sure to check out Lost Planet 2 because it's utterly bombastic!

The Xbox backward compatibility catalog is growing by two more games today. Joining the ranks of the hundreds of Xbox and Xbox 360 games that are already available to play on Xbox One, are "Orcs Must Die!" and "The King of Fighters XIII."

In "Orcs Must Die!", you play as a war mage with one mission: kill as many orcs and their cohorts as possible. The action-strategy game gives you multiple ways to take out your enemies as you defend 24 fortresses from their assault across several difficulty levels. From carefully laid traps to elemental weapons, it doesn't matter how you get the job done; all that matters is that you kill as many orcs as possible.

"The King of Fighters XIII," meanwhile, is an upgraded version of the original arcade title, which is itself a part of a long-running fighting game series. Filled with oodles of fighters to master, the console version also packs some exclusive characters of its own. Along with the option to fight it out against your friends, The King of Fighters XIII packs a story mode that plays out as a visual novel.

If you already own either title, you should be able to play it on your Xbox One now. For those who want to dive in, you can grab "Orcs Must Die!" for $15, while "The King of Fighters XIII" is available for $30.

And for more backward compatible titles, check out our running list of the full lineup.

• See Orcs Must Die! at Microsoft
• See King of Fighters XIII at Microsoft

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Lego franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes and Port Royale 3: Pirates and Merchants are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Port Royale 3: Pirates and Merchants

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out both these games on Xbox One because they hold up even to this day.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Command and Conquer franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath, Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3, and Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Commander's Challenge are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath

See at Amazon

Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Commander's Challenge

See at Microsoft Store

The Command and Conquer games are renowned strategy titles from EA. While there hasn't been an excellent new entry in a while, Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a fan favorite. Be sure to check out all of these games if you look strategy games like Halo Wars 2 on Xbox One.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Rayman franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Battlestations: Pacific, Fuel, and Rayman Raving Rabbids are now backward compatible. Battlestations: Pacific was a free Games with Gold title many months ago, so you may already own it on Xbox 360.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Battlestations: Pacific

See at Microsoft Store

Fuel

See at Microsoft Store

Rayman Raving Rabbids

See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out Fuel in particular if you're a fan of dark racing games. Many of these titles aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play due to their unique gameplay.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Duke Nukem franchise has been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, The Darkness, and Duke Nukem Forever are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is currently $3.99 for Xbox Live Gold members on the Microsoft Store.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

The Darkness

The Darkness is currently $3.99 for Xbox Live Gold members on the Microsoft Store.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Duke Nukem Forever

Duke Nukem Forever is currently $3.99 for Xbox Live Gold members on the Microsoft Store.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out The Darkness in particular if you're a fan of dark action games. Many of these titles aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play due to their unique gameplay.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Aliens and Sonic franchises have been other hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Aliens vs. Predator, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and Sonic Unleashed are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes over five hundred Xbox 360 games alone.

Aliens vs. Predator

Aliens vs. Predator is a game from acclaimed British developer Rebellion, the team behind the 1999 original. Bringing the legendary war between two popular characters to first-person shooter fans, Aliens vs. Predator delivers three single-player campaigns and provides untold hours of unique three-way multiplayer gaming. The title takes you to the deadly jungles and swamps surrounding the damned colony of Freya's Prospect.

Aliens vs. Predator costs $19.99 on the Xbox 360 Marketplace.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has a lot of creative talent behind it. New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Lead Designer Ken Rolston created the role-playing game set in a world worth saving. You can build the character you've always wanted and continuously evolve it to your playstyle with the revolutionary "Destiny" system. Personalization is at the heard of the experience.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning costs $19.99 on the Xbox 360 Marketplace.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Sonic Unleashed

Sonic Unleashed is arguably one of the most unique Sonic games out there. The titular character is on an adventure unlike any other this time around. The game merges classic gameplay with the latest movement mechanics. Players race through intriguing locations across the globe as Sonic to save a chaotic planet. On a quest for domination once more, Dr. Eggman unleashes a terrifying beast from the center of the Earth. The event causes a devastating tremor that splinters the world into seven continents and triggers a hair-raising transformation in Sonic. He basically becomes a "werehog," which is essentially a werewolf and hedgehog hybrid.

Sonic Unleashed costs $12.88 on Amazon.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out Sonic Unleashed in particular if you're a fan of the Sonic games. Many Sonic titles aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play due to their fast-paced gameplay.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Final Fantasy franchise has been another hot series. Today, Microsoft announced that Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be backward compatible next week. Furthermore, these games and Civilization Revolution will be receiving an Xbox One X Enhanced update to take advantage of the world's most powerful console.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there. To date, gamers have enjoyed well over a billion hours of backward compatible games, and the catalog now includes five hundred Xbox 360 games, 25 Xbox One X Enhanced Xbox 360 titles, and 32 original Xbox classics.

Final Fantasy XIII

Players follow Lightning, Snow, and other heroes who are destroyed by a god-like enemy. Cursed and regarded as enemies of society, they have to rely on each other. Will they find the strength within themselves to break free of their curse and determine their own fates, or will they succumb to this higher power?

See at Amazon

Final Fantasy XIII-2

Three years after Lightning and the others saved Cocoon, some survivors decided to start over. Lightning however is nowhere to be found. When the town is suddenly overrun by monsters, a mysterious man named Noel appears to save Serah. Together they set off on a journey to find Lightning.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

The world of Gran Pulse is sinking into the sea, and what remains is now called Nova Chrysalia. As Lightning, it is your mission to save as many souls as possible so that they may be brought to the new world. Along the journey, you will encounter familiar faces and engage new foes in all new regions.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Civilization Revolution

Civilization Revolution gives you the opportunity to experience the epic world-building of Civilization in a brand-new way. It features new visuals and better tutorials so that even newcomers can enjoy the experience.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII in particular if you're a fan of the Final Fantasy games. Many Final Fantasy games aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play due to their compelling plots.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Tom Clancy franchise has been another hot series. Today, Xbox Live's Director of Programming, Larry Hryb, announced that Tom Clancy's EndWar and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X are now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Tom Clancy's EndWar

Experience World War III in your living room with EndWar, a revolutionary new war simulator built to supposedly maximize gaming consoles. The introduction is rather dramatic as it says, "Nobody thought humanity could possibly let it really come to this, but in 2016, the unthinkable happens… The first nuclear exchange occurred over Middle Eastern soil."

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X

Just like Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, H.A.W.X puts you in a fighter pilot's seat. As a member of the elite H.A.W.X squadron, you'll find yourself manning cutting-edge aircraft, training on all the newest weapons, and carrying out dangerous top-secret missions set against the backdrop of a chaotic future, where private militaries are constantly putting your skills to the test.

See at Amazon

Be sure to check out H.A.W.X in particular if you're a fan of Tom Clancy games. Many Tom Clancy games aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Lego franchise has been another hot series. Today, Xbox Live's Director of Programming, Larry Hryb, announced that Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Tropico 4 were now backward compatible.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is the continuation of the hilarious games. They're spoofs on the Star Wars franchise and involve building mechanics.

See at Amazon

Tropico 4

Tropico 4 is a city-building simulator which places you in the shoes of a dictator in charge of a small island. While you have to make sure the citizens are content, rigging elections, suppressing the press, and being revered are also part of the experience.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out Tropico 4 in particular if you're a fan of the franchise. The Tropico games aren't just cult classics, they're also a lot of fun to play.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Microsoft is trudging forward with its goal of breathing new life into classic Xbox 360 titles by enhancing them on Xbox One X consoles. The latest batch of games to get the "enhanced" treatment includes four entries from Valve, ranging from Half-Life 2 to Portal and Left 4 Dead.

Here's the lineup of backward compatible titles that have picked up Xbox One X enhancements today:

• The Orange Box - $20
• Portal: Still Alive - $15
• Left 4 Dead - $20
• Left 4 Dead 2 - $20

The addition of these four titles brings the total list of Xbox One X Enhanced Xbox 360 games to 21. Each runs at a higher resolution than they originally launched with, increasing the pixel count ninefold for a much sharper picture. All of this is done through the Xbox 360 emulator on the Xbox One X without messing with the original game code.

Left 4 Dead and its sequel are some of my favorites, so it'll be cool to see them scaled to push more pixels on Xbox One X. But it's The Orange Box – which includes Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal – which is the real gem here.

Ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced, gamers have been asking for a few high-profile games. While the majority of requests revolve around the Call of Duty franchise, the Crysis trilogy has been another hot series. Today, Xbox Live's Director of Programming, Larry Hryb, announced that Crysis, Crysis 2, and Crysis 3.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Crysis

Crysis starts off as a standard military shooter which tasks the player stopping North Korea from invading a small island. Unfortunately, events spiral out of control and you have to fend off an alien invasion.

See at Microsoft Store

Crysis 2

Crysis 2 continues the story of the alien invasion and its aftermath. Instead of being stuck on an island, players have to defeat the invaders in New York City. The suit is the real star of the show here.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Crysis 3

Crysis 3 is the conclusion to the chaotic trilogy. It jumps forward by twenty years and introduces new threats. Luckily, the plot is resolved in a satisfactory manner. It's a shame Crysis 4 was never made.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out Crysis 3 in particular if you're a fan of the franchise. The Crysis games aren't just cult classics, they're also considered as some of the most technically advanced shooters ever made.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

In November of 2016, Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Classic console to the world — a miniature version of its original gaming system bundled with several of Nintendo's most popular classic games. This mini console was a massive hit, and it became clear that there was a strong market for them.

Fast-forward to 2018, and Sony has announced the creation of its own mini console, the PlayStation Classic. With both Nintendo and Sony creating a product within this niche, it begs the question: Should Microsoft follow suit and create an "Xbox Classic" based on the original Xbox? Here are some quick pros and cons of such a move.

Read: Biggest announcements from Inside Xbox

Xbox Classic pros: Collector appeal and classic games

One of the best things that the Xbox Classic concept has going for it is that it's almost guaranteed to make a profit. There are tons of collectors and fans who love things like this, as demonstrated by NES Classic and PlayStation Classic's tremendous success. Since the only job of Microsoft's engineers will be how to shrink a twenty-year-old system, I can't imagine Xbox Classics would be that expensive to make, either.

Another large point in the Xbox Classic's corner is that if Microsoft was to bundle the console with a collection of original Xbox games, it would be a viable option for people who want to play them for the first time. Currently, copies of original Xbox titles can often be expensive, with some games even costing as much as $80. If some of these were packaged in an Xbox Classic bundle priced between $50 and $100, fans could get access to these older titles for a lot cheaper.

Xbox Classic cons: Backward compatibility, priority issues

While I don't think it would be enough to prevent Microsoft from making money on the Xbox Classic idea, it is worth pointing out that Xbox One allows people to play several classic Xbox titles already if they have the discs. This is thanks to the backward compatibility program, which is arguably Xbox One's strongest features this generation. People lucky enough to own a copy of these games from 20 years ago would have no reason to buy an Xbox Classic, aside from collector value.

Additionally, it could be argued that a side console should be the last thing on Microsoft's mind. There has been a lot of disappointment in the Xbox One family of consoles due to a lack of exclusives, and I think if Microsoft tried to push the idea of an Xbox Classic, many people would simply get annoyed that the time and effort was used on it instead of acquiring more game developers and getting new intellectual properties.

Your thoughts

What do you think of the idea of an Xbox Classic console? Let us know down below.

Today, Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live, announced that Xbox 360 games Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood and Call of Juarez: The Cartel are now backward compatible on Xbox One. The two games aren't the heavy-hitters fans were hoping for, but they're still a lot of fun.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a proper Western set in the Wild West which takes place through the first-person perspective. Aside from the chaotic gameplay, there's a love triangle woven in there. While the game didn't garner terrific reviews at launch, it's still regarded as one of the better entries in the staple series.

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Call of Juarez: The Cartel

Call of Juarez: The Cartel is the third installment in the Western shooter franchise. According to Ubisoft, when a Mexican drug cartel bombs American soil, the government puts together a special task force to bring them down. Each character has their own unique story. The game takes you from the streets of Los Angeles to Ciudad Juarez in Mexico.

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Be sure to check out these games on Xbox One if you're looking for a break between new experiences like The Crew 2. Even to this day Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood and Call of Juarez: The Cartel remain quite enjoyable.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Last month Activision debuted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox One backward compatibility, bringing the near decade-old Xbox 360 title to the system. As seen with many backward compatible titles, Modern Warfare 2 sales have grown considerably – this time making August's top-selling video games in the U.S.

Details on its success come from Mat Piscatella of data-tracking firm, the NPD Group, reporting on U.S. sales for August 2018. From August 5 to September 1, Modern Warfare 2 placed No. 8 among games from all platforms, beating out some of this year's biggest titles. It's Xbox One backward compatibility debut clearly triggered this growth, rising from a No. 321 placement just one month prior.

https://twitter.com/MatPiscatella/status/1042176675591536640

Backward compatibility signals continued success for Microsoft, especially with highly-anticipated classics from previous generations. Considering Modern Warfare 2 hit Xbox One on August 28, this success was seen in just a few days before the month concluded. Furthermore, due to the nature of NPD tracking, this doesn't account for countless used copies in circulation, only official sales. Crazy.

While some platform holders appear averse to backward compatibility, its become a system-seller for Xbox One consoles. With hundreds of supported games and more to come, it's impressive to see old titles revived after their initial success.

Have you picked up Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox One? Which games do you hope to see next? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below. In the meantime, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is available for $21.69 on Amazon.

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Today, Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live, announced that Xbox 360 games Brutal Legend and Greg Hastings Paintball 2 are now backward compatible on Xbox One. The two games aren't the heavy-hitters fans were hoping for, but they're still a lot of fun.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Brutal Legend

Brutal Legend is an action game which features Jack Black and and a heavy metal theme. Your task is to save the world, but there are a lot of hurdles along the way. Even famous singers like Ozzy Osbourne make appearances. Brutal Legend is regarded as a modern cult classic so be sure to play it if you haven't yet.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Greg Hastings Paintball 2

Greg Hastings Paintball 2 is exactly that. If you don't want to use bullets, then you can always use paintballs to blast away the competition.

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Be sure to check out these games on Xbox One if you're looking for a break between new experiences like The Crew 2. Even to this day Brutal Legend and Greg Hastings Paintball 2 remain quite enjoyable.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Today, Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live, announced that Xbox 360 games Rumble Roses XX and Zone of the Enders HD Collection are now backward compatible on Xbox One. The two games aren't the heavy-hitters fans were hoping for, but they're still a lot of fun.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Rumble Roses XX

Rumble Roses XX is a female professional wrestling fighting game developed by Konami. It's quite a good game once you can get past the way characters are depicted.

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• See at Microsoft Store

Zone of the Enders HD Collection

Zone of the Enders is an action franchise from Hideo Kojima. The title requires a lot of skill to master, and looks great even to this day, even though the resolution is quite low on Xbox 360.

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Be sure to check out these games on Xbox One if you're looking for a break between new experiences like The Crew 2. Even to this day Rumble Roses XX and Zone of the Enders HD Collection remain quite enjoyable.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Every week Microsoft and certain publishers discount numerous games for Xbox Live users. Some deals are available only to Xbox Live Gold members and others are available to anyone who utilizes the service through a Spotlight sale. A wide variety of titles, ranging from small experiences to massive blockbusters, are available for substantially less. This week, prominent backward compatible games like Battlefield 3 and Red Dead Redemption are on sale. Here's a look at some popular backward compatible titles.

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Xbox 360

• Battlefield 3 | 75 percent
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 | 75 percent
• BioShock | 60 percent
• BioShock 2 | 60 percent
• BioShock Infinite | 70 percent
• Borderlands | 60 percent
• Borderlands 2 | 60 percent
• Bully: Scholarship Edition | 60 percent
• Burnout Revenge | 30 percent
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 25 percent
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II | 67 percent
• Call of Duty: Black Ops | 50 percent
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | 25 percent
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | 50 percent
• Call of Duty: World at War | 50 percent
• Dante's Inferno | 67 percent
• The Darkness II | 80 percent
• Dead Rising 2: Case West | 30 percent
• Dead Rising 2: Case Zero | 30 percent
• Dead Space | 75 percent
• Dead Space 2 | 75 percent
• Dead Space 3 | 75 percent
• Deux Ex: Human Revolution | 90 percent
• Dragon Age 2 | 60 percent
• Dragon Age: Origins | 75 percent
• DuckTales: Remastered | 75 percent
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 35 percent
• Just Cause 2 | 90 percent
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light | 75 percent
• Mafia II | 75 percent
• Mass Effect 2 | 70 percent
• Mass Effect 3 | 70 percent
• Medal of Honor: Airborne | 67 percent
• Mega Man 9 | 60 percent
• Mega Man 10 | 60 percent
• Midnight Club: Los Angeles | 35 percent
• Mirror's Edge* | 67 percent
• Prey | 80 percent
• Red Dead Redemption* | 67 percent
• Red Faction: Armageddon – Path to War | 85 percent
• Red Faction: Armageddon – Ruin Pack | 85 percent
• Red Faction: Armageddon | 85 percent
• Red Faction: Battlegrounds | 90 percent
• Sonic & Knuckles | 33 percent
• Sonic Adventure | 50 percent
• Sonic Adventure 2 | 50 percent
• Sonic CD | 50 percent
• Sonic Generations* | 50 percent
• Sonic the Fighters | 50 percent
• Sonic the Hedgehog | 50 percent
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 50 percent
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | 50 percent
• Spec Ops: The Line | 80 percent
• Street Fighter IV | 50 percent
• Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition | 60 percent
• Tomb Raider: Underworld | 90 percent
• XCOM: Enemy Within | 80 percent

*Xbox One X Enhanced

For the complete list visit Major Nelson. Search for the games on your Xbox One or Microsoft Store website to purchase them.

Which games are you interested in? Let us know! Be sure to check out titles like Mafia II and Red Dead Redemption because they're great experiences.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Larry Hryb, Xbox Live's Director of Programming, should be heaving a sigh of relief right now. Over the past few years — ever since Xbox One backward compatibility was announced — gamers have been asking him when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would be backward compatible.

Luckily, the day has arrived because Hryb just confirmed its availability through the program. Modern Warfare 2 is one of the best Call of Duty games ever made and even to this day its story holds up.

The story of Modern Warfare 2 picks up where the events of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare left off. The ultranationalist Russian leader Zakhaev has been eliminated, but it seems that his lieutenant, Vladimir Makarov, is an even bigger threat.

Be sure to grab it on Amazon or the Microsoft Store soon. Usually physical copies shoot up in price if there's a lot of demand.

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Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

Today, Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live, announced that Xbox 360 games Prince of Persia, Earth Defense Force 2025, and Sine Mora are now backward compatible on Xbox One. The three games aren't the heavy-hitters fans were hoping for, but they're still a lot of fun.

Backward compatibility opens Xbox One to a huge variety of games, spanning three generations of Microsoft's consoles. Despite hardware differences, it remains an outstanding feature, allowing a select library of older games to be played on Xbox One. While the majority of them are Xbox 360 titles, there are also some original Xbox games in there.

Prince of Persia

The Prince of Persia reboot which launched in 2008 was a new direction for the franchise. It featured cel-shaded visuals and a new, more rebellious protagonist. According to Ubisoft, the game is set in a land rooted in ancient Persian mythology, with the "Prince" finding himself caught in an epic battle between the primal forces of light and darkness. The Prince arrives just in time to witness the destruction of the legendary "Tree of Life", an act which threatens to plunge the entire world into eternal darkness.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Earth Defense Force 2025

Earth Defense Force 2025 is the long-awaited sequel to the original game. Earth Defense Force 2025 is an "action shooting bonanza" that arms players to repel the most terrifying invasion of giant aliens and insects the world has ever seen. You can equip hundreds of weapons across all new character classes, exterminate menacing creatures of all sizes, and, obviously, save the world again.

• See at Amazon
• See at Microsoft Store

Sine Mora

Sine Mora is the original version of Sine Mora EX which launched on Xbox One a while back. The game is a horizontal shoot 'em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. If you get hit, you lose time. Sine Mora features gorgeous graphics and a surprisingly complex story.

See at Microsoft Store

Be sure to check out these games on Xbox One if you're looking for a break between new experiences like The Crew 2. Even to this day Prince of Persia, Earth Defense Force 2025, and Sine Mora remain quite enjoyable.

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

One of my all-time favorite Xbox One moments was Microsoft gaming lead Phil Spencer's on-stage reveal of Xbox backward compatibility, bringing hundreds of classic Xbox 360 and (more recently) OG Xbox games to the Xbox One era.

Through technical wizardry and doubtless hundreds of hours of hard work navigating licensing issues, Microsoft's Xbox backward compatibility team has delivered over 500 million hours worth of gameplay to Xbox One users as of a year ago, and that figure is likely far, far higher now. Heavy hitters like Red Dead Redemption, various Call of Duty titles, and classic Xbox exclusives like Crackdown have since hit the program. Some have even gotten 4K visuals on the Xbox One X, such as Fallout 3, more closely matching their PC counterparts.

Xbox backward compatibility (often referred to as back compat) has exceeded expectations on all fronts, especially on my part. Back compat has made such an impression on me, in fact, that it has affected the way I see both Nintendo and Sony, whose consoles offer limited, if any, backward compatibility, despite having a far, far bigger pool of classic games to draw on.

A complete ecosystem

What Xbox back compat creates, for me, is the sense of a complete digital ecosystem. And perhaps more crucially, forwards compatibility. Microsoft has essentially committed itself to future generations of Xbox consoles that feature backward compatibility for older titles. While we won't know for certain in the short term if all Xbox One, and Xbox backward compatible games will be playable on the next-gen rumoured Xbox "Scarlett," I've been heavily given hints from those in the know that this will be the case. If it pans out, that's awesome.

In an age where Microsoft and others are exploring Netflix-like cloud streaming for our digital game libraries to any device, the idea that my game library should travel with me has gradually become a bit of a given, for me. I suspect this is also true for dedicated PC gamers as well, where you can fire up 1980s MS DOS games on a modern Windows 10 PC without any issues. It's this "ultimate" backward compatibility on Windows that inspired Xbox head Phil Spencer to push for it on Xbox One as well, as covered in this excellent Gamasutra piece.

As someone who plays casually on PC, it's easy to take for granted how Windows has this extensible decades-long backlog of software that by and large just works across generations. And while it has held Windows back in some ways, it also remains the platform's biggest strength.

Xbox, like Windows, now feels like a continuous ecosystem that could (and hopefully will) continue to span hardware generations. There may come a time when the Xbox One can't run downgraded versions of the latest 4K/8K 60/120 FPS games on future consoles, but those future consoles should be able to access the deep history of previous generations, ensuring that the content you have purchased travel with you. Microsoft's primary console competitors don't seem to have made the same commitment.

Back compat expectations

The fact we have some elements of PC-like backward compatibility on Xbox One now is truly sublime. However, I've begun to take it for granted. Now that I'm financially in a position to consider adding other video game consoles to my gaming life to go with my Xbox One X and my PC, I can't help but feel a twinge of "ugh" over the fact PlayStation and Nintendo aren't leveraging their back catalogs more. This is perhaps even more egregious on Nintendo's part, given how they have explored emulation on previous devices.

The PlayStation 4 is by far powerful enough to emulate PlayStation 2 titles, and Sony has proven it with a fairly decent list of a few dozen titles. There are few games in that list that I'd call true classics, though, and the PS3's list of downloadable backward compatible PS2 games is far, far larger, with over three hundred titles. The earliest models of the PS3 even came with full PS2 backward compatibility, but the feature was stripped out with new model revisions. Sony has also done a great job porting some of its classics, such as The Last Of Us, to the PS4, but Microsoft's method of essentially emulating the full Xbox 360 catalog pending developer approval seems far more effective.

You would think the Nintendo Switch would be the perfect console for backwards compatibility, especially given the tight ownership Nintendo maintains over its core franchises. Nintendo's previous console, and its line of DS handhelds, enjoyed a feature known as the virtual console, which brought insane amounts of classic games to those systems. The Nintendo Switch however, has, well, pretty much nothing. It's pretty depressing considering how small the portable console's library is (and how much of it I already own across Xbox and PC).

In an interview with IGN, Nintendo stated that its new subscription service will be its successor to the virtual console. Sadly, you won't be able to buy to own Nintendo's legacy content on the Nintendo Switch. Sony is doing something similar with its PlayStation Now game streaming subscription service, which features dozens of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 titles, far more so than you can purchase outright on its modern systems.

Both of these features are a huge departure from what Microsoft is doing, and frankly, just not what I want. Not only does Microsoft sell Xbox back compat games digitally, you can simply use the discs you already own, buried in a closet. You could argue it will make far more cash for Nintendo and Sony to go down the subscription route, but as someone who likes to buy to own, that simply doesn't interest me.

Back compat yourself on the back, Microsoft

Backward compatibility doesn't get the appreciation it deserves, despite being utilized by millions on a daily basis. These are games past their prime, which future generations likely won't be interested in, but Microsoft is essentially preserving history by granting new life to those ancient disc collections you may have. If you purchased it on Xbox 360, you can play it on Xbox One, simple as. And sure, maybe Microsoft will suddenly pivot and offer backward compatibility as a premium feature of its cloud streaming service, but, I think it's safe to say that's unlikely at this point.

I spent my youth playing classic games on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles of yore. While I can appreciate the licensing issues Sony would have to deal with in regards to PS1 and PS2 games, Nintendo simply doesn't have that problem with its first-party lineup. When I look at the Nintendo Switch in particular saying they'll "maybe" give me "some" of its legacy content on a monthly subscription basis, I can't help but roll my eyes and close my wallet. I think I'll stick with Xbox and PC for the foreseeable.

Related: Full list of Xbox backward compatible games