• 2 min read
Original Xbox games hit PC as Microsoft expands compatibility
Microsoft has brought four original Xbox games to PC, with Game Pass access, visual upgrades, and more classic titles planned.
Image: The Verge
Microsoft is extending Xbox backward compatibility to PC, starting today with an early preview of four original Xbox games. The first wave includes Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy.
Each game can be purchased and downloaded on PC, and all four are also included with all Xbox Game Pass plans. Microsoft says anyone who already owns a digital copy of these titles can now play them on PC and on handhelds such as the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X.
The PC versions add a range of modern features while keeping the original gameplay intact. Microsoft has added:
- VSync support
- Up to 4x resolution upscaling
- Anisotropic filtering
- Enhanced anti-aliasing
- Fullscreen and windowed modes
- Customizable language and audio settings
Achievements are also coming to the four games in the coming months, a feature Microsoft says has been heavily requested on both console and PC.
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Most modern PCs should be able to run the games comfortably. Microsoft’s minimum requirements are:
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 950, AMD Radeon RX 550, Intel UHD 770, or Intel Arc A310
- CPU: Intel Core i3-8100, AMD Ryzen 3 1200, or AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor
- RAM: 8GB
- OS: Windows 11
For the best experience, Microsoft recommends a GTX 1070 Ti or equivalent GPU and a six-core CPU such as the Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600.
“This marks the beginning of a broader effort to preserve Xbox games from the past and bring them to PC over time.” “Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC is another step toward preserving the games from the past and making it easier for you to enjoy and play more of the games you already own across the devices you use every day.”
Ronald had previously hinted earlier this year that classic Xbox games were headed to PC during a discussion about the next-generation Project Helix Xbox console. Microsoft’s next Xbox is also expected to play PC games, and the company has been developing a disc-to-digital feature so Xbox owners can digitize physical game collections ahead of future hardware.
Culture Editor
Maya explores gaming, streaming, and the internet as a place where people actually live. From deep-dives into creator economies to the anthropology of digital communities, she tracks platform drama and cultural shifts so you don't have to. She believes the best tech stories are fundamentally about human behavior.
via The Verge
