Redakcja Choose TV
Microsoft has announced the return of the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program, which enables older games to run on newer Xbox devices. This information was revealed during the Game Developers Conference 2026. The program is set to return later this year and introduce new ways to play classic titles from earlier console generations.
Four Generations of Xbox Games
Microsoft emphasises that it wants to maintain the ability to play titles from four generations of Xbox consoles for many years to come. This means support for games from Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The backward compatibility program was launched in 2015 and quickly became one of the most important features of the Xbox ecosystem. Thanks to it, players can return to classic titles without the need to own an older console.
According to Microsoft's announcements, new ways to launch older games will be introduced later this year. Details are not yet known, but the company suggests that classic titles may also be available on other platforms. One area of development is the integration of Xbox games with computers running on Windows 11.
Project Helix and the Future of Xbox
Everything suggests that backward compatibility will be an important element of future Xbox devices. Microsoft is currently working on a new hardware platform called Project Helix, which aims to bridge the world of consoles and PCs. This will allow older games to run on both new consoles and Windows PCs.
Microsoft is increasingly developing the idea of a single ecosystem for gamers. The company is working on solutions that will facilitate gaming across different devices and transferring progress between them. One example is the recently announced Xbox Mode, which will turn a Windows 11 computer into an interface resembling an Xbox console.
The return of backward compatibility is good news for fans of older games. Microsoft wants not only to preserve classic titles but also to make them available on new platforms and devices. In practice, this could mean that in the future, many iconic Xbox games will be able to run on both consoles and PCs.
Source: techradar.com
