The official title was such marketing speak that I hope no one blames me for changing it. Seemingly this only means the Xbox app on PC and not stores like Steam.
Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/22/xbox-backward-compatibility-on-pc/
67 Comments
bloogoose@lemmy.zip · 30 pts · 13d
Lol... Look at you all... These corporations can do heinous shit and then toss you a treat and you come running back. Pathetic.
the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 13d
You're not wrong, most folks have a memory span of about 5 minutes apparently.
chickenf622@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 13d
You can approve and disapprove of different actions a company takes at the same time. This is a positive move for game preservation (at least on the surface I'm sure M$ will find a way to fuck it up). Still doesn't redeem them in my eyes, but I'm always for positive actions.
SlurpingPus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 12d
They seem to have taken the least-compatible course for preservation, when emulators work fine already (after many years of false starts due to folks believing that Xbox just had an x86 under the hood).
P.S. Meanwhile, PS Classic uses the PCSX ReARMed emulator, even though the game library is still pretty small at just twenty titles (but people sideload basically anything they want).
ISolox@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 13d
When something good happens I'll say good job. When something bad happens I'll call it out. It's not like this is going to move back over to windows to get these, but you don't need to be an asshole.
bloogoose@lemmy.zip · -7 pts · 13d
Explain how this is good for anyone but Microsoft.
Nelots@piefed.zip · 10 pts · 13d
How is having access to previously xbox-exclusive games on the PC good for anyone? Seriously?
bloogoose@lemmy.zip · 0 pts · 13d
What? It's the same issue with not having a physical disc. Microsoft can revoke your access to any game anytime including these Xbox titles.
steelplatedmech@piefed.ca · 9 pts · 13d
I'm happy to see titles that were console only becoming available on PC. Even if revoked it opens a path to still being playable on PC if game gets cracked, but initial hurdle is coming to PC in the first place.
warmaster@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 13d
Thank you Asha Shawarma, forgive our gaming sins!
PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 13d
Bet my whole steam library that it doesn't
LunarLoony@lemmy.sdf.org · 14 pts · 12d
It requires Windows 11 the same way Halo 2 required Vista.
Zahille7@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 12d
I'm assuming, not much?
Coelacanth@feddit.nu · 14 pts · 13d
This is absolutely huge. Ninja Gaiden Black and Ninja Gaiden 2 are finally released from the Xbox prison? It's enough to make a grown man weep. I know emulation exists but it has been very spotty for Xbox titles and marred with bugs and performance issues.
doublah@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 13d
I mean this is emulation, just in an official capacity.
Coelacanth@feddit.nu · 5 pts · 12d
If it works the same way as Backwards Compatibility on the Xbox consoles it will also often have support for higher resolutions, higher frame rates and HDR. And I'm hoping the official support from Microsoft will mean better performance and fewer bugs.
BigTrout75@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 13d
What's a bunch of horse shit. Sony did the same thinking awhile back.
The title reads like you get to play your old disks on PC.
What they're really saying is your can buy access to older Xbox games that are emulated.
scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech · 12 pts · 13d
Technically not emulated. They recompiled them for x86. They do need special Microsoft apis though.
thingsiplay@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 12d
My XBOX backwards compatibility on PC is called Xemu. On Linux, not just Windows 11.
mursejoy@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 12d
Haven’t ever used it yet but it comes with Emudeck. My emulation backlog is a mile long so maybe someday will get to OG Xbox lol
thingsiplay@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 12d
My emulation backlog of games I want to (or started to) play is also huge. But besides that, I am also a sucker for games to try out without the intend to play them for longer session; especially true for really old systems from the 80s... XBOX holds up well, given its age off course. You don't have to play all games, its often just fun to try out to see how the game works and then move on.
For anyone starting with XBOX emulation, I recommend the files in .xiso format. That is a compressed .iso, which saves ton of space if you have lots of them (i am innocent!).
shiroininja@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 12d
Xemu likes to randomly disappear my saves. I’ve given up on that shit
LemmyEntertainYou@piefed.social · 12 pts · 13d
If they don't come to Steam then people will simply continue to emulate.
fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 13d
What’s a “Radeon RX 68005”
Did they just add the 5 for fun? Or is there some new model I’m not aware of?
NGram@piefed.ca · 13 pts · 13d
Probably someone saw the RX 6800S and misread the S as a 5.
tynansdtm@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 13d
Maybe it's 6800.5, halfway between 6800 and 6801?
Katana314@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 13d
They are pleased to support these games from now until they fire the emulation team. (Sometime in the next month)
SomethingBurger@jlai.lu · 3 pts · 12d
Next month? Try two weeks ago.
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 12d
Lol, holy shit.
Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com · 9 pts · 13d
THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 13d
This is a fantastic start.
If I can finally play Gears 2, 3, Judgment, and Skate 3 on PC, I may never turn my Xbox on again. Until GTA I guess.
gwheel@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 13d
Not sure if you've seen but Gears 2 got some sort of recomp/port about a week ago. I haven't had a chance to play it too much yet but the tutorial with Carmine worked without a hitch. https://www.moddb.com/mods/gears-of-war-2-hollow
THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
That is also pretty great. I know Gears 3 also has a working PC port that's been getting content not even in the actual game. I need to try and get all of that running while I wait for E-Day. Similarly, Internet Archive has a great version of the GFWL Gears 1 with added Horde mode and bot multiplayer. Runs on basically any PC too.
Menschlicher_Fehler@feddit.org · 5 pts · 13d
Judgment and the sequel are on Steam, btw.
THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 13d
I know 4 and 5 are natively on PC, along with UE and Reloaded, but I don't think Judgment is on PC.
Menschlicher_Fehler@feddit.org · 4 pts · 13d
Oh, I was talking about Judgment the Yakuza spin-off. My bad.
THE_GR8_MIKE@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
Ahhh, no you're good. I should check that out too actually.
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 12d
Can't speak to the others, but you can emulate Skate 3 with RPCS3. Has a few glitches, but totally playable.
RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip · 7 pts · 13d
Blinx. Are you fucking kidding me.
Zahille7@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 12d
Nope. It was my flavor of weird when I was a kid. I loved the sequel, Blinx 2, which let you play as the Tom Tom Gang and customize your timesweepers/pig-men. The levels were all super cool too, like the ice caves or the Egyptian ruins. The whole "multiverse of time" thing was cool too.
IronKrill@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 13d
When I saw the title I got excited for some kind of way you could actually use the old disks in your PC... but this is fine too I guess, if a lot less inspiring.
gnuplusmatt@reddthat.com · 7 pts · 13d
Which emulator did they fork?
creamfresh@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 13d
It’s recompilation.
popcar2@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 13d
Neat. I wonder how they're doing this though, because I'm assuming it's just an Xbox emulator adding the games on PC. Or are they proper PC ports?
Anarch157a@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 13d
The Xbox One and Series use x86 CPUs and Radeon GPUs, so emulation is not necessary, it's more likely a compatibility layer, similar to what Proton does to allow Windows games to run on Linux.
als@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 13d
This is for OG Xbox games though?
Anarch157a@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 12d
Same thing, the only Xbox that was not x86 was the 360.
TORFdot0@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
To be fair the original Xbox uses x86 and a nvidia gpu, so not that different from the one and series either
xCookes@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 13d
Both the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One/Series are using emulators to run OG Xbox games. Its called Xefu (Xenon Fusion Emulator).
Just having a x86 CPU doesn't mean console generations are interchangable.
So to answer the parent comment, yes, it's emulation.
PaulWrites@mastodon.social · 2 pts · 13d
@xCookes @TORFdot0 If I recall, the OG Xbox had a custom Nvidia GPU that caused problems for a while. Didn’t help that Nvidia and MS didnt get along for a hot minute.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 4 pts · 13d
Crimson Skies on PC? :O
Bosht@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 13d
Crimson skies had a PC release in 2000. Amazing game.
mursejoy@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 13d
Loved that game as a kid, and still have my OG copy.
It wasn’t until going back and playing as an adult that I recognized Timothy Omundson as the lead VA. Loved him in Psych and in Supernatural. Apparently he voiced various characters is KoTOR 2 and I desperately need to replay that as an adult.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 2 pts · 13d
Well shit... If I had known that, I woulda got it on PC so I wouldn't have had to have XBL to play it online. :/
(not that I paid for XBL anyway on the OG xbox; i was getting a new game at least once a month, and most of them came with a 3 month pass to XBL 🤣)
TallonMetroid@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 12d
Crimson Skies on Xbox was actually Crimson Skies 2. Crimson Skies 1 on PC was a completely different game. Still great if you like less arcade-like flight sims, though.
grueling_spool@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 13d
"Backward compatibility"? So I can put my Xbox discs into my PC and run the games?
Wispy2891@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 13d
I only read the headline but I'm 100% sure they mean you can purchase your games again at full price
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 13d
For an original Xbox, you'll need to soft mod the Xbox (you need a game controller to USB adapter cable to connect your PC into your Xbox) Then you can ftp the game files off the dvd drive.
Aielman15@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
After the head of the BC program got sacked in the last round of layoffs, I lost all hope about it going anywhere in the near future. I'm happy I was proven wrong.
What's not clear in the linked article is how to access the BC games: do I need to buy them from the store, or is a disc allowed like on Xbox console?
A lot of BC games have been delisted over the years, so being able to access them via disc would be great. It's not an immediate concern as they only made four games available on PC, but I'm thinking ahead.
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 13d
It’s clearly spelled out literally right after the announcement of the first 4 games.
Aielman15@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
Sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear.
Yes, it's spelled out clearly for these 4 games in early release. As I said, I was thinking ahead. Lots of 360 games I own are not available to buy anymore, unfortunately. If this BC program only affects digital licences, it will be a bummer.
I seem to remember they were looking into ways to convert disc into digital licenses, so maybe that's how they are planning to do it.
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 12d
We don’t know how they’ll handle games that are no longer available for sale. I’d say they won’t be a focus, but will probably be available for those of you who already owned it digitally.
blomvik@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 13d
I seem to remember needing a special drive to read the x-box discs. But i might be wrong.
gwheel@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 13d
Most early disc consoles had nonstandard discs in some way. Even if they are readable with a standard drive I doubt MS will support it. (They've surprised me with this announcement though, so who knows)
Zahille7@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 13d
Now they just need to get Blinx 2 on there and my life will be almost complete.
mrfriki@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 13d
Fuck MS, make that backwards compatible!
jtrek@startrek.website · -1 pts · 13d
They should have had cross play with windows from the start. Fuck Microsoft.