Xbox has always been a step ahead in the gaming world, especially when it comes to making old games playable on new systems. This commitment to backward compatibility means that gamers can enjoy titles from the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on the latest Xbox Series X|S consoles. Not just through physical discs but also via the Microsoft Store. Xbox is taking this dedication a step further by setting up a brand-new team focused solely on the preservation of games, ensuring that these classics can be enjoyed by future generations.
The creation of this team was revealed through an email, highlighting Xbox’s ongoing commitment to not only keep the vast library of Xbox games accessible but also to honor the gaming industry’s heritage. Sarah Bond, a leading figure at Xbox, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We have formed a new team dedicated to game preservation, important to all of us at Xbox and the industry itself. We are building on our strong history of delivering backward compatibility to our players, and we remain committed to bringing forward the amazing library of Xbox games for future generations of players to enjoy.”
The topic of video game preservation has gained significant attention over the past decade, with many companies struggling to maintain their gaming history. Games have been lost, and countless titles are not playable on modern systems. Xbox stands out by not only making older games accessible on its current hardware but often enhancing these games. Titles like Sonic Unleashed and Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed, unavailable on newer platforms like the PS5, not only found a home on the Microsoft Store but also received performance upgrades, including a boost to 60 fps.
Although the list of backward-compatible Xbox games hasn’t seen new additions since 2021, the formation of this new team could potentially change that. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft might play a crucial role, especially with the interest in reviving Xbox 360 classics like Transformers: War for Cybertron.
It’s still early days for this game preservation team, and the future of Xbox backward compatibility remains to be seen. Whether it leads to more games being added to the compatibility list or improvements to the existing library, it’s a positive step for the preservation of video game history and for gamers who love diving into the classics on their Xbox consoles.