Iconic Xbox classics set for a new generation – PC, PS5 and mobile could be in luck
Xbox is reviving its backwards compatibility program and bringing classic games to a new generation
Microsoft’s vow to offer iconic games in new ways could be a sign the company is preparing to bring original Xbox and Xbox 360 console games to PC via an official emulator, according to a leaker.
This week, the Xbox next generation president Jason Roland offered insight into plans to reinvigorate the backwards compatibility game catalogue. In a blog post outlining the Project Helix console, Roland also promised older games would be playable in “entirely new ways.” That lead to speculation over future plans to expand access.
He wrote: “The Games Preservation Team has been working very hard in the background for a number of years, and as part of our 25th Anniversary later this year, they will release some iconic games from the past that are now going to be able to be played in entirely new ways. And this shows our commitment to games preservation, in enabling these games to be played by the next generation of players in ways that are very familiar for them.”
Now, the well-regarded podcaster and insider Nate The Hate believes Xbox was at least partially referring to an in-development emulator for PC.
“This has been their goal for over a year,” he wrote on the ResetEra forum (via XDA). “I think I made a comment about it before; but MS back-compat team has wanted to bring & make your OG Xbox and Xbox 360 digital library playable on PC.”
Interesting. In the same thread other posters have speculated that “entirely new ways” actually means Microsoft may be bringing the library to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles too. Given Microsoft has taken a very liberal approach to its first-party properties.
Perhaps Microsoft would offer a collection of Xbox classic to gamers on other platforms, or even on mobile? The latter would certainly cover the “next generation of gamers” element of Roland’s comments.
Chris Smith
