Over two years ago, the long-running Backward Compatibility program of Microsoft was brought to a stop. The service updated original Xbox and Xbox 360 games to run on Xbox One (and newer) systems natively, but with the Series X|S on the horizon, the team involved was moved to supporting the latest hardware.
Today during the Xbox Anniversary Celebration stream, Microsoft reintroduced the Backward Compatibility program for a final wave containing a massive new injection of games. Highlights from the latest additions include the complete Max Payne and F.E.A.R. franchises, Timesplitters 2 and 3, and even Skate 2.
From the 76 games added today, more than 20 are from the original Xbox. Here's the full list:
- Aces of the Galaxy
- Advent Rising
- Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
- Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Make the Grade
- Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Burning Earth
- Bankshot Billiards 2
- Beautiful Katamari
- Binary Domain
- Black College Football Xperience: Doug Williams Ed
- Cloning Clyde
- Conan
- Darwinia+
- Dead or Alive Ultimate
- Dead or Alive 3
- Dead or Alive 4
- Death by Cube
- Disney Universe
- Disney’s Chicken Little
- Elements of Destruction
- F.E.A.R.
- F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
- F.E.A.R. 3
- F.E.A.R. Files
- The First Templar
- Gladius
- Gunvalkyrie
- Islands of Wakfu
- Lego The Lord of the Rings
- Manhunt
- Max Payne
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
- Max Payne 3
- Mini Ninjas
- Mortal Kombat
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
- MX vs. ATV Alive
- MX vs. ATV Untamed
- NIER
- Novadrome
- Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee
- Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
- Otogi: Myth of Demons
- Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
- The Outfit
- Outpost Kaloki X
- Quake Arena Arcade
- R.A.W. - Realms of Ancient War
- Red Dead Revolver
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
- Ridge Racer 6
- Rio
- Risen
- Risen 2: Dark Waters
- Rock of Ages
- Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
- Scramble
- Screwjumper!
- Secret Weapons Over Normandy
- Skate 2
- SpongeBob SquarePants Underpants Slam!
- SpongeBob’s Truth or Square
- Star Wars Starfighter: Special Edition
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars
- Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
- Switchball
- Thrillville
- Thrillville: Off the Rails
- Time Pilot
- TimeSplitters 2
- TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
- Toy Story Mania!
- Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
- Viva Piñata: Party Animals
- Warlords
- 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
Those who already own these classics in disc form or digitally can jump in right now on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. The Microsoft Store will begin offering most of the games later today for purchase as well.
Moreover, all 76 titles added today support auto HDR on compatible displays when playing on Xbox Series X|S hardware. The original Xbox titles are gaining bumps to their resolutions as well: 2x on the Xbox One, 3x on the Series S, and 4x on the Series X and One X.
At the same time, FPS Boost is being applied to 37 games in the entire Backward Compatibility stack, including Fallout 3 and New Vegas, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins, Dead Space 2 and 3, Alan Wake, and Sonic Generations. On Microsoft's latest consoles, the feature essentially doubles the original frame rates of supported backward compatible titles.
Speaking in regards to why this is the final addition to the Xbox Backward Compatibility program, Xbox compatibility program lead Peggy Lo added, "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."
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