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Xbox Backwards Compatibility Adds 70+ More Games Today As Microsoft Ends The Program

November 15, 2021

As part of Microsoft’s 20th anniversary of Xbox broadcast, the company announced that 70+ additional original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles have been added to the backwards compatibility library in what looks to be the single biggest day for new additions in the history of the program. It’s also the last batch of new additions, as Microsoft will no longer add more games to the program as it focuses its efforts elsewhere going ahead.

The games are available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and all of them support Auto HDR, while many get a resolution enhancement boost. Additionally, FPS Boost has been added for 11 of the titles added today and 26 from the existing library. The third big piece of news was that FPS Boost is launching now on Xbox Cloud Gaming for 33 titles, including Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, among others.

It’s a big day for backwards compatibility

“At Xbox, we believe in celebrating gaming and preserving its legacy. No other art form offers the opportunity to be immersed in expansive universes through the combination of stunning visuals, evocative music, emotion-driven storytelling and interactive, living worlds. Since 2015, the backward compatibility program for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S has made it possible for gamers around the globe to discover and replay thousands of games spanning our 20-year history,” Microsoft said.

The entire Max Payne and FEAR franchises are now available through backwards compatibility, while the much-loved Skate 2 has been added as well. More than 20 OG Xbox games join the backwards compatibility catalog today as well, including Dead or Alive Ultimate, Star Wars: Jedi Knight II, Star Wars: Starfighter, and multiple Otogi games.

All of these games are playable on a disc (if you still have it) or digitally. The “vast majority” of them can be purchased anew through the Microsoft Store beginning today.

As for the enhancements, Microsoft said every game added today features Auto HDR (for supported displays), and fans can look forward to 4x resolution increase on Xbox Series X and Xbox One X; 3x resolution increase on Series S; and 2x resolution increase on Xbox One S and Xbox One.

For the FPS Boost updates, players can expect up to double the original frame rate for games like Binary Domain, Nier, FEAR, Fallout: New Vegas, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins, Alan Wake, and Dead Space 3, among others.

This will be the final addition to the backwards compatibility catalog, Microsoft said.

“This latest and final addition of 70+ titles to the backwards compatibility program was only possible through the passion and feedback from the community,” Microsoft said. “Your constant requests for specific titles and enhancements encouraged the Backwards Compatibility team to partner with the original creators to preserve thousands of games from over four generations of Xbox. While we continue to stay focused on preserving and enhancing the art form of games, we have reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.”

While this run of backwards compatibility releases is coming to an end, Microsoft teased that backwards compatibility and game preservation are “core to the DNA of Team Xbox,” and as such, the company is looking at other ways to keep it alive through Xbox Cloud Gaming and “future platforms.”

“Together, we’ve celebrated our passion for incredible games and proven the importance of preserving our legacy for future generations of gamers. By empowering players to play the games they want, with the people they want, on the devices they want regardless of where they were originally created, we continue to enable new generations of gamers to experience great games and franchises from the past,” Microsoft added. “Compatibility and game preservation are core to the DNA of Team Xbox and our community, and we are excited to explore new ways to preserve our history and bring the catalog of the thousands of titles available in the Xbox ecosystem to more players via new innovations such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and future platforms.”