New retail packaging spotted for some backwards compatible Xbox 360 games

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
last updated

It looks like game publishers might start making a more concerted effort to advertise the Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature on retail packaging. That's the case for at least 2 games, anyway, as revealed by new retail packaging spotted by a NeoGaf user (via VentureBeat) for both Doom 3 and Fallout 3.

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Doom 3

Not only are the games now packaged in updated Xbox One boxes, but the packaging clearly notes that the games are playable on both Xbox One and Xbox 360. While it's possible that customers could confuse the games for Xbox One titles, the Xbox One and Xbox 360 logos across the top of the label are a good way of communicating that these older games will work no matter what Xbox hardware you're using. Not only that, but it's likely this packaging might make more people who otherwise wouldn't be privy to backwards compatibility aware of one of the Xbox One's better features.

It's unclear if we'll see this packaging spread to more titles, or if it's simply a small marketing test from Microsoft and Bethesda. However, be sure to let us know if you've spotted the new packaging on these or any other games in a retail store near you!

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

14 Comments
  • I've been seeing this kind of packing for months now in my local stores. O.o But awesome, nonetheless!
  • Wonder if they will be in the Xbox One size box? This one looks like the 360 size.
  • I think they will be in the Xbox 360 size boxes, because this one is clearly an Xbox 360 game box.
  • Games featuring Play Anywhere have retail cases that have Xbox One Windows 10 (in place of Xbox 360) at the top of the case.
  • It's not the case actually... Thanks to the beautiful idea to give access to Xbox Play Anywhere only for digital version of games...
  • Thanks for pointing that out, I should have said "the icon" for the game or digital case or some other wording. You are absolutely right, that it isn't a physical case.
  • Right, on Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusives it reads "Xbox One Console Exclusive" on the physical box though. It's interesting that they don't mention Windows 10 on them.
  • Corrected: It's not the case actually... Thanks to the beautiful idea to give access to Xbox Play Anywhere only for SELECT digital version of games... Personaly, they should offer it for Windows 10 users, Dropping the Xbox one game into a PC (a blu-ray player should be able to read the important part). Just like needed on the on the Xbox one, they would need to do the same on the PC...
  • It's an Xbox 360 game packaged to look like an Xbox One game. This could cause confusion. Yes, the game works on Xbox One, and yes there is an asterisk explaining it all in fine print, but I could see some customers buying it--especially parents buying for their kids--thinking they're getting a graphics-rich Xbox One game only to be disappointed when it's actually an outdated Xbox 360 game. I think they'd be better off keeping the original Xbox 360 banner on it and then just supplementing it with an "also works on Xbox One" sticker.
  • I agree, this seems a little unnecessary.
  • Could not agree more. They should of kept the 360 top on the game and below it in smaller text show, also plays on Xbox one. I personally expect a highter quality game from a Xbox one game and I can see people disapointed in this.
  • While going forward, on all platforms, I'm personally going to be trying to do as many digital downloads and as few hard copies as I can (let's just say that after initially protesting it, I've finally been converted). However, I am such a huge believer in the both the cross play initiative with W10/XB1, and the backwards compatibility initiative between XB1/XB360 (and would like to see oXB added to that as well), that I will celebrate and cheer on anything that promotes and advances it. Though I will not be buying either of these two X360 re-releases myself (one I already have on 360, and the other I already have on PS3, and were I to buy again, would buy on PC), I still think they look awesome, and am quite happy to see them in the wild. Cheers!
  • Oh, they look like a true Xbox one game.... Hate that Marketing. I expect better graphics and sound off a Xbox one game and that is a disapointment. Noted: when they have both on the top, they are 360 games.... got it...
  • Sweet