Microsoft has officially launched Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC, bringing classic titles from the original Xbox library to personal computers and PC handheld devices such as the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X.

Quick Facts

  • Platforms: PC (Windows 11) and supported handhelds
  • Initial Lineup: BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy
  • Availability: Available for purchase on PC and included with all Xbox Game Pass plans
  • Cross-Device Access: Existing digital console licenses carry over to PC and handhelds via Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming

Enhanced Features and Early Release

Rolling out in early release, this initiative marks the beginning of an effort to preserve older Xbox games and bring them to PC over time. Beyond simply running the software on new hardware, the Xbox team has added customizable graphics settings to enhance the experience while preserving original gameplay.

Players can adjust settings including up to 4x resolution upscaling, VSync support, Fullscreen and Windowed display modes, anisotropic filtering, and enhanced anti-aliasing. Customizable language and audio settings are also included in the early release build.

Furthermore, Microsoft confirmed that Achievements are coming to select original Xbox games on both console and PC later this year. The first four titles released in preview will be updated with Achievement support in the coming months.

System Requirements

To run backward compatible titles via the Xbox on PC app, player setups must meet specific minimum hardware and software standards.

Minimum Specifications

  • GPU: Nvidia GTX 950, AMD Radeon RX 550, Intel UHD 770, or Intel Arc A310
  • CPU: Minimum 4 cores (Intel Core i3-8100, AMD Ryzen 3 1200, or AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor)
  • RAM: 8GB
  • OS: Windows 11
  • Drivers: Latest version as of January 2026

Recommended Specifications

  • GPU: Radeon RX 6800S, Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti, or Intel Arc A770
  • CPU: 6 cores and 12 threads (Intel Core i5-10400, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, or AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme)
  • DirectX: DirectX 12 API, Hardware Feature Level 11
  • GPU VRAM: 8GB
  • OS: Windows 11
  • Drivers: Latest version as of January 2026