Backwards compatibility has been a massive part of the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S eras, and we've already heard from the likes of Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer how it's going to remain a key part of the brand moving forward.
However, it may need to change along the way. Xbox is obviously embarking on a new strategy now where every device is essentially considered an "Xbox", and with rumours of a planned Xbox handheld alongside a new Xbox console in 2027, we're assuming one of the goals is to try and make console games playable on as many systems as possible.
Windows Central talked a little bit about this in a report on Xbox and Steam integration yesterday, mentioning that the "next mainline Xbox consoles" are expected to make Win32 the preferred development environment - with Microsoft working hard to "integrate Xbox and Windows game development more closely into the future."
However, it remains to be seen how backwards compatibility will be handled as the next generation rolls around:
"Where that leaves our existing library of [Xbox One/Series X|S] ERA games remains to be seen, but it seems emulation is one avenue Microsoft is exploring for backward compatibility and game preservation.
Will that allow those games to run on Windows devices like [the rumoured 2025 Xbox handheld] and the ROG Ally, or any average gaming PC, though? It's hard to say, because there are some legal hurdles contractually about exactly what Microsoft is allowed to do with third-party titles in its store."
It appears that Xbox is working hard on backwards compatibility for the next Xbox consoles as we speak. Last year, it was revealed by Xbox president Sarah Bond that a new "game preservation" team had been set up internally, and Windows Central's Jez Corden has advised that it's focused on "compatibility" for future Xbox devices right now:
The handheld is going to be a particularly interesting case, as we've heard from some Xbox fans how they're not massively interested in a device that can't play console games natively. Xbox Play Anywhere will fill in the gaps for the time being with over 1000 supported titles, but we're still holding out hope for native console support eventually.
Whatever ends up happening, it's great to see that Xbox remains extremely committed to backwards compatibility and game preservation going forward, and we're crossing our fingers for some exciting innovations and announcements around this topic over the coming years.
What are your thoughts on the future of Xbox backwards compatibility? Tell us down below.
Comments 25
It would be interesting to see what team Xbox does. I may be in the minority but if Xbox can pull it off this would open up steam gaming for me while enjoying what Xbox has provided over the years. I’ll get the Xbox branded handheld to see what the future holds.
How about they add more for this gen?
It’s funny because when you think about it this really is Microsoft doing a Sega and exiting the console business. The only difference here (and to be fair it’s massive one) is that they have an alternative platform to fall back on, the PC.
So many questions. Quality of the emulation for backwards compatibility is obviously absolutely paramount. Surely though if it’s just all emulation this means our games could run on any PC and not just the first party Xbox branded one?
And I still have no idea how Microsoft plans to make money from this whole transition. It’s intriguing, exciting, confusing, and baffling all at the same time.
I am excited for the future of xbox if they get our current and future library playable on pc and a pc based xbox.
I have wanted this for a long time now and it's looking more and more likely to be true.
Past games need to be future proofed. For sure. I'm certain they'll do it. They said once upon a time that 360 was impossible on X1, and looks at us now... This gen is the most cross platform gen going. They'll 1000% want to carry libraries and support over.
360 & OG Xbox “backwards compatibility” already runs via emulation, it’s not true backwards compatibility. The downside is that only a small percentage of those game libraries are available, around 22%.
I assume they won’t want to do the same with XBO & XSX as you would lose too much of the library, so it’s more likely to be some sort of PC compatibility layer similar to Proton / Linux / Steam Deck to run Xbox games on PC. It will still have some failures but likely far fewer.
The alternative would be some sort of dual boot / dual OS system. That perhaps can boot into Xbox games on the fly. That would likely guarantee the highest chance of working next gen, but presents a number of problems, not least they’d theoretically need to do the same again the following gen.
Need system-wide framerate unlocker in the OS for Xbox One games and up.
I am gonna give credit when its due. Good job MS.
I see the argument that people are “scared to invest” money into Ms ecosystem (aka buying games on xbox console) because of all rumours and how bad console sales are looking.
I say that Ms does the way better job than sony and Nintendo in preserving your library, older games and making it available on more devices.
If you sell your ps5, you dont have any option to play those games. You can sell your xbox and next gen still have access to at least some form of your library via pc or cloud. Not ideal but better than nothing.
For example I entered this gen with series X and did not own any ps console as I sold my ps4 prior to that. Of course I could not play any game that I owned at any form. Same was when I sold switch.
So am i missing something here? I thought the next console would still be x86 and it would just work with all plaofrms that used it. So wouldn’t this only be for the first 2 Xbox libraries?
Next gen 😂 seriously they will have a much smaller user base as people who are still interested in Xbox will transfer over to pc. Xbox always thinking ahead never in the here and now 🤦🏻♂️.
@HonestHick my (admittedly limited) understanding is that whilst the current series consoles do use an x86 ARM, it's bespoke to the hardware. Win32 also uses x86 but doesn't have the main console benefits (so stuff like pre-compiled shaders) because you can't predict what CPU someone will have. With a console you already know because it's a fixed APU.
I'm sure someone more techy can help me out here!
@Residentsteven next gen is pc-based xbox. And they are working on backwards compat so your xbox library is compatible.
Backwards compatibility has always been one of the best parts of Xbox so I'm excited to see what they do with it next.
I'm a little skeptical that they can do this so it covers the vast majority of games.
Fortunately, I hardly ever return to games I've completed and have almost no library on Xbox to concern me, so for me it's an interesting technical conundrum which I have no stake in. I hope they do it, but I'd bet there will be huge compromises. Emulation, for example, always adds latency and rarely feels like playing on original hardware in my experience.
Still, if anyone has the financial muscle and clever coders to achieve it, you would expect it would be MS.
@Coletrain what you said makes sense. I forgot about the shaders. Guessing this will be a big project. It’s needed to be there tho. Otherwise people will really lose their minds over Xbox. Haha
@HonestHick god I know, sometimes you'd think the world was ending with the hyperbole. Until I see Devs dropping support for Xbox entirely, I'm good with my X.
I do think it'll be sorted with back compat though. With the new Xbox there's still gonna be a baseline spec for games made in xbone/series era. Wish I knew more about coding but it'll be something to do with changing that. Exciting part is the potential for OG Xbox and 360 games to run natively instead of through emulation, because then we could see custom resolutions on things that were previously locked (think something like GTA4 which is stuck at 720p on a series x)
They still don't even have the OG and 360 categories right.
If they truely cared about backward compatibility than they would put a disc drive in the next console..
@Coletrain absolutely i mean there is a high likelihood the games will get a lot of PC like sliders to adjust them and make them run to your liking, within a certain range of course. I have seen a few videos saying this Xbox will come in at $700-$800 dollar but will be plenty powerful. So i am excited but to be fair a little nervous too. That is why i am saving some money aside for a PC build. Even if the next Xbox blows it out of the water, i will still enjoy the PC and Xbox both and thats the thing with cross saves and buy once and you have the copy for all devices. I am all about that world. Cause as much as i tried to talk myself into a PS5 Pro and PC, i just can’t do it. I dislike the thumbstick placement so much on Sony controllers, that i would pay thousands to use a Xbox controller on PC and next Xbox. Rambling aside, you seem very smart and if you wanted to learn more coding more i am more than sure you could do it. Even if it was just a hobby or fun for you to learn. 😀
@HonestHick very kind of you but no desire other than pure interest! I do financial advice, but my best friend just starting a coding job and it's absolutely fascinating hearing him talk about the differences between coding for different OS, even just Windows Vs Linux is a totally different ball game.
I'm with you 100% though, "next gen" for me is either PC gaming, or the new Xbox makes that need redundant (which I am very much hoping for.) I had PS1 to PS4 and despite trying out the dualsense at said friends house multiple times, the series controller fits like a glove
@Coletrain we are so close to the same person, haha! I am an accountant for local government. So i too do finance. Never got to much in the tech side of work. Love to study it in my free time and of course am 12/10 crazy for video games.
I owned all 5 PS consoles and from PS3-PS5 they have been only a exclusive machine for me cause largely i dislike all 3 controllers, the six axis on launch which i bought was trash, worst controller I’ve ever used. Dual shock 4 on PS4 was sort of ok. Useable but not my lay out, Dual sense on PS5 is a little to big and wide and has those awful thumb stick placement so it’s largely just sitting around until they get something i have to play on it. So to say i have hated exclusives isn’t a new thing for me just because MS is bringing its games to all platforms in some fan boy plastic war.
However i get the draw of them and am ok with platforms using them to lure in customers, hence i still buy the box even tho months go by without me turning it on for long. I just want Xbox to be around until i am not. I love it that much as a brand and it makes me mad they gave back all the work 360 did. I always said nothing would top my joy than i had with Super Nes, my first ever console i got for Christmas. Had a ton of games on it and crushed every score on Super Punch Out ever recorded. Still play it today on Switch. Then came along 360 and Gears of War, my friends all moved away, got married, had kids etc etc, Xbox live on that for what we called Friday night Gears and Beers became my first time in gaming history. I am a HUGE Gears of War fan, 1-3 of course. E-day being my most wanted game since RDR2. There it is my friend. Thats my love for Xbox, Gears and Beers. It changed me and secondary and maybe more importantly the controller. Every Xbox controller after the Duke has been my favorite of the generation. Series X fit’s me like a glove. I am so fast on it when i play on PS i feel like my hands grew 30 years in time i am so slow. HAHA
@Bmartin001 This. It's hard to properly do backwards compatibility without a disc drive because there's just too many old games that can't be sold anymore.
Honestly if they have some big push for streaming I'm just over Xbox and got no interest in their next gen console.
Hopefully they add more to the catalog for backwards compatibility
there’s too much pessimism about xbox, have some positivity every once in a while
1) Optimized windows for gaming with all stores.
2) Decent hardware that is sold at cost or for a small profit.
3) Copy everything steam did well with steam deck and steam os.
4) Release an emulator for series consoles.
And you have the best gaming machine ever.
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