Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC entered early release on July 22, 2026, bringing four original Xbox games to Windows 11 PCs and supported handhelds for the first time: BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy.
The games are available to buy through the Xbox PC ecosystem and are included with every Xbox Game Pass plan in supported regions. Crucially, Xbox says owners of a digital console license for any of the four titles can use that license on PC and compatible handhelds as well, through Xbox Play Anywhere. That does not establish support for physical original Xbox discs; the announcement specifically refers to existing digital console licenses.
This is a new PC compatibility program rather than the existing backward-compatibility experience on Xbox consoles. The first four titles can be launched through the Xbox app on PC, including on handhelds such as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, provided the device meets Xbox’s requirements. Xbox Cloud Gaming also provides another way to access the games across supported devices.
Xbox says the releases preserve original gameplay while adding PC-oriented settings that were not part of the original Xbox versions. Available controls include:
Xbox also confirmed that Achievements are planned for selected original Xbox games later in 2026. The four launch titles are due to receive Achievements “in the coming months,” but Xbox has not announced a specific release date, achievement lists, or whether prior in-game progress will count retroactively.
For the recommended experience, Xbox lists an Intel Core i5-10400, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, or AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme; a Radeon RX 6800, GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, or Intel Arc A770; 8GB of graphics memory; and DirectX 12 with hardware feature level 11.
To check eligibility, update Windows 11 and your GPU driver, install or update the Xbox app, sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the game or has the applicable Game Pass subscription, then search the app’s store or library for one of the supported titles.
The launch matters most for players who already bought these games digitally on Xbox: instead of repurchasing them for Windows, they can now access the same entitlement on an eligible PC or handheld. For everyone else, Game Pass offers a low-commitment way to test the first wave while Xbox determines how broadly it can expand the original Xbox catalog.
The games are available to buy through the Xbox PC ecosystem and are included with every Xbox Game Pass plan in supported regions. Crucially, Xbox says owners of a digital console license for any of the four titles can use that license on PC and compatible handhelds as well, through Xbox Play Anywhere. That does not establish support for physical original Xbox discs; the announcement specifically refers to existing digital console licenses.
This is a new PC compatibility program rather than the existing backward-compatibility experience on Xbox consoles. The first four titles can be launched through the Xbox app on PC, including on handhelds such as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, provided the device meets Xbox’s requirements. Xbox Cloud Gaming also provides another way to access the games across supported devices.
PC enhancements arrive with the original Xbox games
Xbox says the releases preserve original gameplay while adding PC-oriented settings that were not part of the original Xbox versions. Available controls include:- Resolution upscaling of up to 4×
- VSync
- Fullscreen and windowed display modes
- Anisotropic filtering
- Enhanced anti-aliasing
- Customizable language and audio settings
Xbox also confirmed that Achievements are planned for selected original Xbox games later in 2026. The four launch titles are due to receive Achievements “in the coming months,” but Xbox has not announced a specific release date, achievement lists, or whether prior in-game progress will count retroactively.
Windows 11 is required
Xbox’s published minimum requirements for backward-compatible games on PC are relatively modest, but Windows 10 is not listed as supported:| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-8100, AMD Ryzen 3 1200, or AMD Ryzen Z2 A; at least four cores |
| Memory | 8GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 950, AMD Radeon RX 550, Intel UHD 770, or Intel Arc A310 |
| Drivers | Latest version as of January 2026 |
To check eligibility, update Windows 11 and your GPU driver, install or update the Xbox app, sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the game or has the applicable Game Pass subscription, then search the app’s store or library for one of the supported titles.
The launch matters most for players who already bought these games digitally on Xbox: instead of repurchasing them for Windows, they can now access the same entitlement on an eligible PC or handheld. For everyone else, Game Pass offers a low-commitment way to test the first wave while Xbox determines how broadly it can expand the original Xbox catalog.
References
- Primary source: XBOX Wire
Published: 2026-07-22T14:55:00+00:00
Play More of the Games You Love, Wherever You Play with XBOX Backward Compatibility on PC - XBOX Wire
Today, we’re introducing XBOX Backward Compatibility on PC, making it easier to play classic XBOX games from the past across PC and handhelds, including the ROG XBOX Ally and XBOX Ally X.news.xbox.com