Microsoft Teases “Iconic” Xbox Games for Backwards Compatibility With “Entirely New Ways” to Play

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I was really excited to hear that Xbox is planning something special for its 25th anniversary! Jason Ronald, who was VP of next-gen Xbox back in December and now is just VP of Xbox, mentioned they were looking at expanding backwards compatibility. He recently spoke at GDC and confirmed that we’ll be able to play “some iconic games from the past” later this year. I can’t wait to see what they announce!

Ronald didn’t share many specifics, but mentioned these games will be played in “entirely new ways.” Though that’s open to interpretation, one ResetEra user, NateDrake, suggests it could mean older Xbox titles will be available to play on computers.

At the Game Developers Conference, Ronald announced that to celebrate their 25th anniversary, the game preservation team will be releasing classic games with updated ways to play them. A presentation showed a variety of titles, including the party game Fuzion Frenzy. Originally released for Xbox in 2001, Fuzion Frenzy has never been available on other systems, making this a particularly exciting addition.

Microsoft has been working for over a year to make original Xbox and Xbox 360 games playable on PC. NateDrake has confirmed that the company’s backward compatibility team has been focused on bringing players’ digital libraries to PC for some time.

Microsoft isn’t just focused on the Xbox console; they’ve also been working to make Windows a better platform for gaming. We recently saw this with improvements to the Xbox experience on handheld devices like the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. These advancements will probably be key to the next Xbox, currently known as Project Helix.

According to a report from October, Microsoft is developing Project Helix as a device that blends the features of a PC and a gaming console. This hybrid machine is expected to play new Xbox games, but also support other game stores like Steam and the Epic Games Store. Because it won’t exclusively rely on Microsoft’s own digital store for game purchases, the company likely won’t be able to lower the device’s price. The cost to manufacture the system is reportedly high, exceeding $999.

At GDC, Ronald also revealed that developer kits for Project Helix would be shipped next year. These kits will let studios explore the machine’s unique AMD chip and how it integrates with technologies like DirectX and FSR.

Project Helix uses a specially designed AMD chip and was created with the latest DirectX and FSR technologies to push gaming forward. It offers a huge improvement in ray tracing, bringing more realistic visuals and better performance. It also uses AI to enhance both graphics and processing power, leading to greater efficiency and allowing for more detailed and immersive game worlds.

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2026-03-12 18:41