Microsoft has started expanding Xbox backward compatibility to Windows 11, with four original Xbox games now playable through the Xbox app. The rollout addresses a long-standing request from users as the company continues integrating Xbox console features into the Windows PC experience.
The rollout starts with four original Xbox games: Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fusion Frenzy. Although these titles have been supported on Xbox One and Xbox Series hardware through Microsoft’s backward compatibility platform, this is the first time they are running natively on Windows PCs. Microsoft characterizes the release as a pilot, with a wider expansion planned over the coming months. The company has yet to disclose the next wave of titles or a release schedule, despite maintaining a backward compatibility catalog of hundreds of original Xbox and Xbox 360 games, including many that never made it to PC.
The games are available through a Game Pass Essential subscription or can be purchased individually for $10 each in the Xbox app. Players who already own the digital Xbox versions of these titles can also download them on PC without paying again.
Digital Foundry’s testing shows the games can run at up to four times their original rendering resolution, with a maximum output of 2560 × 1920. The original 4:3 aspect ratio and frame rates have been retained, including 60 fps for Fusion Frenzy and 30 fps for the remaining titles. Players also gain access to graphics settings such as v-sync, anti-aliasing, and anisotropic filtering, along with support for both windowed and fullscreen modes. Microsoft has also confirmed that achievements are scheduled to arrive later this year.
Microsoft has kept the hardware requirements relatively low for the new emulation system. The minimum specs include an Nvidia GTX 950, AMD Radeon RX 550, Intel Arc A310, or Intel UHD 770 integrated graphics, along with a quad-core processor. That level of support should allow devices such as the ROG Ally to run the games. For better performance, Microsoft recommends an RX 6800, GTX 1070 Ti, or Arc A770, paired with at least 8GB of VRAM and a 6-core, 12-thread processor.
Moving backward compatibility to PC shows Microsoft is still serious about making Windows a stronger gaming platform, although the program’s long-term future is still uncertain. Earlier this month, Kevin LaChapelle, the lead engineer for the project, was included in a round of 1,600 layoffs during the company’s restructuring. Microsoft has also announced plans for another 1,600 job cuts over the next 12 months.
Maybe you’d like some other interesting articles?