Rumor: More Xbox 360 Games Possibly Coming to New Consoles and PC

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Rumors suggest Microsoft is working on a way to play Xbox 360 games on Windows computers, potentially including handheld devices like the ROG Ally and future Xbox consoles. This information comes from a reliable source known for leaking gaming news, who has also provided further details about the project.

Throughout the Xbox One’s lifespan, Microsoft worked hard to make older Xbox 360 games playable on the newer console. They consistently released updates that allowed access to a growing number of these games, whether you owned them digitally or on disc (though even disc versions needed a download to play). However, in November 2021, Microsoft stopped adding new backward-compatible games, explaining that licensing issues, legal hurdles, and technical limitations prevented them from adding more.

Microsoft Reportedly Once Again Exploring Xbox 360 Backward Compatibility

After four years, it looks like Microsoft might be working on making older Xbox games playable on newer systems again. In early December 2025, a reliable source known as NateTheHate posted on the ResetEra forums that there’s a possibility of bringing Xbox and Xbox 360 games to both ROG devices and Windows. This came after rumors surfaced in mid-October 2025, reported by Jez Corden, that Microsoft was developing an official emulator for Windows Xbox consoles.

The Scope of the New Xbox Backward Compatibility Program Is Unclear

NateTheHate explained that plans are still up in the air because of several unknowns surrounding this potential project. The biggest question is what Microsoft intends to do: will they build on their existing work of making older Xbox games playable on newer consoles, or will they simply release those games on other platforms? The latter seems more probable, as the same licensing issues that stopped the program in 2021 might still exist, preventing more classic Xbox titles from being playable on modern systems.

There’s a possibility that older Xbox games – from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 – could become playable on ROG devices and Windows PCs. It’s not guaranteed, but work is being done to try and make it happen.

The Windows backward compatibility program might not be as extensive as the one on Xbox One and Series X/S, depending on the licensing deals Microsoft made to support older games on those consoles. If those deals don’t cover future platforms – which is probable – Microsoft would have to individually renegotiate with game publishers for each title. However, even a limited program on Windows would give Microsoft a significant edge in gaming, especially as players become more concerned about preserving access to older games.

Popular Xbox 360 Games That Were Never Added to Microsoft’s Backward Compatibility Program

  • Alpha Protocol
  • Project Gotham Racing 4
  • Ninety-Nine Nights
  • Eternal Sonata
  • Resonance of Fate
  • The Simpsons Game
  • The Saboteur
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine
  • Blur
  • Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
  • Transformers: War for Cybertron
  • Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
  • Wet
  • Stranglehold

Recent reports suggest Microsoft is designing the next Xbox as essentially a powerful PC with a user interface geared towards televisions. If this is true, any games from older Xbox consoles that can be played on PCs would likely also work on the new Xbox, since they’d share a similar internal structure. This would fit with Microsoft’s broader goal of creating a gaming experience where features work seamlessly across all devices – PCs, handhelds, consoles, and even mobile devices using cloud gaming.

There’s been talk in the gaming industry that new consoles might be released as soon as late 2027. It’s still unknown if Microsoft will follow the same approach as with the Xbox Series X and S, offering two different models. If they do, the more affordable next-generation console could be a handheld device that can connect to a TV, instead of a standard console.

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2025-12-09 23:10