Microsoft may be exploring a way to allow players to access their original Xbox and Xbox 360 digital libraries on PC, according to a new claim from industry insider NateTheHate.
Responding to a discussion on ResetEra that referenced a Bluesky post by The Verge editor Tom Warren, NateTheHate said the idea has been under consideration internally for quite some time. According to the insider, Microsoft’s backward compatibility team has been interested in expanding access to older Xbox titles beyond console hardware.
“This has been their goal for over a year,” NateTheHate wrote, adding that the team “has wanted to bring & make your OG Xbox and Xbox 360 digital library playable on PC.”
The conversation stemmed from comments made by Xbox executive Jason Ronald regarding Microsoft’s upcoming 25th anniversary celebrations. In a post highlighted by Warren, Ronald stated, “As part of our 25th anniversary later this year, [the game preservation team] will release some iconic games from the past that are now going to be able to be played in entirely new ways.” The remark prompted speculation that backward compatible titles could be made playable on PC.
This is not the first time such a possibility has surfaced. Earlier reports suggested Microsoft may be working on an emulation system designed to run select Xbox titles natively on Windows devices. Journalist Jez Corden discussed the potential effort during an episode of the Xbox Two podcast and later expanded on the topic in the Xbox Era Discord.
According to Corden, the technology could allow certain Xbox games to run directly on Windows hardware, including devices like the recently released ROG Xbox Ally. He suggested the feature could help the handheld feel more integrated with the Xbox ecosystem.
“The people saying that the Xbox Ally isn’t an Xbox because it can’t play actual Xbox games might eat crow next year if what I’ve heard is true,” Corden said. He added, “I’ve heard there’s work being done on an emulator that will run at least some actual Xbox games on Windows PC, think the Xbox 360 back compat emulator as an example of the subset.”
Corden also noted that licensing agreements would play a role in determining which titles could become compatible. Because of those requirements, not every game from the Xbox and Xbox 360 libraries would necessarily be supported if the system is introduced.
