Microsoft brings original Xbox backward compatibility to Windows PCs
Microsoft announced an Xbox Backward Compatibility program that lets people play classic original Xbox titles on Windows PCs and handhelds. The program launches with the first four compatible games, which can run on hardware as old as an 11-year-old graphics card and include achievement support. Titles will be playable across laptops, desktops and handheld devices.
Why it matters
Extending backward compatibility to PC broadens Microsoft's push to make Xbox a cross-device software platform rather than a console-bound brand, reaching handheld and desktop gamers.
Sources
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Part of the July 23, 2026 brief.