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Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Could One Day Work With Original Xbox Games

"I ask the backwards compatibility team this question a lot."

400 Comments

Maybe don't throw away your original Xbox discs just yet. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said today that the Xbox One's existing backwards compatibility functionality could one day be extended to original Xbox titles.

Spencer made the tease in an exchange on Twitter. Here's how the conversation transpired:

Question: "Very silly question, but if Xbox One essentially has Xbox 360 emulator, how much work would go into making original Xbox titles backwards compatibility?"

Spencer: "I don't think it's silly. I ask the backwards compatibility team this question a lot. Need to finish 360 backwards compatibility for now."

No Caption Provided

Spencer's comments shouldn't be taken as confirmation that the Xbox One will add original Xbox backwards compatibility support soon, or ever. Clearly, nothing is set in stone at this time.

Backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games is currently available on Xbox One for Preview Program members only. It will roll out to everyone in November, at which time there will be more than one hundred available games. In addition, all future Xbox 360 Games With Gold titles (starting in November) will be backwards-compatible.

Microsoft has not yet announced the full lineup of supported titles, but you can check out this list to see all of the confirmed games so far. The list may grow later this week, as Microsoft says it will announce the next wave of backwards-compatible games in the next couple of days.

If the Xbox One were to add backwards compatibility support for original Xbox games, which titles would you like to see made playable? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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VolcanoMan001

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Edited By VolcanoMan001

GLADIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jyi-Tolman

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YAS DESTROY ALL HUMANS 1 AND 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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IAmMcGruber

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@jyi-tolman: Yeah, those were good ones

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Jdzspace

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II think this console is the best last gen console on the market right now. I mean selling new games isnt doing so well so why not just sell systems for old games.

good luck Microsot, good to know you are taking large strides backwards into your past, when things were better......i guess

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SkyHighGam3r

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@Jdzspace: Because no one ever enjoyed playing old games on their new system... lol

People are CRAZY

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IAmMcGruber

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@Jdzspace: you do realize there holiday lineup is stronger than ever right? And with 2016 filled with games like ReCore, Sea of Thieves, Quantum Break, Scalebound, Gears 4, Crackdown 3.....yeah they're giving up on new games alright.

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Sevenizz

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@Jdzspace: Typical jealous owner of a ps4 - knocking one of your system's biggest customer requests.

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Jdzspace

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@Sevenizz: yes, i'm jealous. I wish i had a console that was trying to kill gaming, had sub-par games outside of the FPS genre and just doesn't understand why people don't like them.

nah, I have a PS3, if i want to play a PS3,PS2 or PS game, I can do so on my PS3. i'm good.

I mean it's good that Microsoft is realizing that this gen they just don't have what it takes to be competitive, it's best to wax poetic about yesteryear.

good on them

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Sevenizz

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Edited By Sevenizz

@Jdzspace: I'm sorry your ps4 is a soulless, featureless, mediocre spewing piece of plastic. Good luck with Until Dawn lol.

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Jdzspace

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Edited By Jdzspace

@Sevenizz: LMAO....soulless? lol.....hillarious. it has plenty of features. my favorite feature is the "release the best games of any generation over the last 20 years."....that's my favorite feature.

but snap is cool too. LOL

and I am looking forward to Until Dawn, I love how Sony isn't afraid to push boundries of story telling and isn't afraid to try new ways to tell a story or craft an experience. Kind of what makes them the best.

but no, repackaging old titles and pushing out sequels to long played out games is cool too......if your into the same old, same old.

which clearly you are, but real gamers demand more.

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Sevenizz

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Edited By Sevenizz

@Jdzspace: 'best games'. The Order, Knack, Driveclub, and the future 6 rated game Until Dawn say hello.

Speaking of repackaging and sequels - Sony leads in that department - Uncharted 3, LBP whatevernumber. And if you want to play games you already own on your ps4, you have to pay for it?

No thanks - I'll buy the system with games I'd play. Not interactive movies. Isn't Sony's highest rated game a clone of an already popular franchise?

Have a nice holiday lol.

And yes, Snap is cool.

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Mirimon78

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@Sevenizz: lol, knocking on knack again? When even a bad ps4 game is wanted more by consumers than 86% of the xb1 library?

Then you make fun of a cg movie posing as a game, which is clearly different than the flagship xb1 title Ryse, son of drone....

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Jdzspace

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@Sevenizz: yes, best games. it's not rocket science. look at the hands down best games of the last 20 years, every year, GOTY games.....none are on Microsoft. .....why is that? hmmmm

I don't expect you to appreciate good games, you are a microsoft gamer. it's not your way.

but it's cool, casuals gotta eat too ....i guess.

I am more than set for the holidays, between the new Tales game and Persona 5 that'll keep me well entertained until next year ......and we'll see how Until Dawn pans out.

But I don't have a problem with investing in games that take different approaches, that's how the industry grows. I'm all for gaming getting better, not further devolving into a "bro" genre.

but to each their own. There is a reason why Sony is always on top, and Microsoft always is not.

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Sevenizz

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Edited By Sevenizz

@Jdzspace: Not always. The 360 had the ps3 beat 7 out of 8 years and sold more than double the software.

But go on with your tales and person games - I'm sure everyone even knows what they are and will outsell Halo 5 lol.

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Mirimon78

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Edited By Mirimon78

@Sevenizz: 360 lost starting in its 3rd year..

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icerado

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@Sevenizz: to be fair, Sony won in the end with the higher priced console that launched a full year later. The ps3 was ahead of its time, and if you don't believe that you don't realize the pure processing power that the console had. Not to mention the standard features that the 360 didn't have until the 3rd iteration.

The ps3 was and still is an amazing console, and the only reason most people bash the ps4 is because it's just a console. Well Sony built more then a console in the ps3, it made your tv a smart tv before those even existed. Problem is no one appreciated so Sony basically said well then let's try the old approach...and it worked. Microsoft tried to ps3 approach and it's just not working.

@Seven As much as I wanted to think you are a complete fanboy, the truth of the matter is you are being honest not delusional. Sony really does try to support different games, I know I'll personally play rocket league over another fps any day.

Though I think the RPG genre as a whole has been transformed, atleast Sony sticks with them and doesn't force the same games out over and over. The Halo genration is about to take a hit and I cannot wait, because as you said I don't want to be part of a "bro" "skrub" "git rekt" genre

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Sevenizz

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@icerado: The ps3 was a piece of junk. From the interface, to multiplats, to a network that exposed their entire database's credit card info to hackers. It only matched the 360 in sales due to Microsoft focusing on the One before the 360 was dead - so people bought a second console which was cheap and half it's library was in bargain bins.

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Jdzspace

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@Sevenizz: not really. the 360 got it's poo pushed in by the Wii it's entire run. and despite having over a year head start and a $200 cheaper price point than the PS3 at launch managed to get beaten in the end as well. Gaming just isn't Microsoft's thing.....love their computer OS, their tablets, even their phones are getting better.

but console gaming just is not their thing. sorry.

who cares if it outsells halo 5? halo 5 is the only quality game coming out for that system until 2020. Persona is just one of many, many high quality RPGs coming out in the next 6 months. not to mention the many, many high quality games coming out in other genres.

sorry, halo isn't the be all end all of gaming, in fact, it's barely top 20 when it comes to best selling exclusive franchises. I know it seems like a big deal to you, but thats' because you aren't a real gamer and you choose to game on a system with sub-par games. So to you, it feels like the second coming of Jesus when halo comes out.

but to the rest of the gamers....it's a great big yawn. sorry, not really worth much to the rest of the industry

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Sevenizz

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Edited By Sevenizz

@Jdzspace: You realize you're in an Xbox thread, right?

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Jdzspace

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@Sevenizz: no, i'm in a gaming thread. we are all gamers, some to a lesser degree than others.

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Sevenizz

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@Jdzspace: Don't be so hard on yourself. Maybe on day Sony'll release an actual game that requires dexterity and hand/eye coordination instead of all those movie games, walking simulators, and turn based JRPGs.

*crosses fingers*!

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Jdzspace

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@Sevenizz: spoken like a true casual.....tsk, tsk....

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Sevenizz

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@Jdzspace: Says the casual who can't play real games?

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Jdzspace

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@Sevenizz: first step is admitting you have a problem. but at least you aren't in denial anymore.

play on casual......play on.

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Sevenizz

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@Jdzspace: Go 'play' that Rapture game. I'm sure walking is close to your gaming skill level.

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Jdzspace

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Edited By Jdzspace

@Sevenizz: how much does it bother you that Sony has tons of unique and innovative games to choose from? or that so many of them are so highly rated ? hard to believe gaming can be so varied and unique huh? great time to be a real gamer.

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Sevenizz

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Edited By Sevenizz

@Jdzspace: Not at all. If any of them were to my liking, I'd own a ps4. But it's not time to...yet. I need more than marketing.

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pizzaghoul

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Edited By pizzaghoul

@Jdzspace: Let's not forget the best thing that ever came out of Sony: Movie Gear Solid 4. I can't wait for the sequel, Menu Gear Solid 5.

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Sevenizz

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@pizzaghoul: Sony had nothing to do with MG, you realize.

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Scubasteveo336

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Cool I'd love to play morrowind again

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deactivated-611a5e2c32f34

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Hunter The Reckoning Ooooo yes please

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Gord0nD

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Backwards compatibility is kind of the holy grail of current consoles. MS is going the native compatibility rout. Great for people who have games from older systems. And of course there are cheap games (for now anyway) in used games stores for xbox360. Xbox games are getting aharder and harder to find.

Sony is doing the streaming thing. Which gives access to the entire catalogue of available games for a monthly fee. Beneficial for gamers that don't want to have to hunt down old copies of games, but at reduced visuals/performance.

I'm glad MS is pushing this envelope, as it will put pressure on sony to add more and more games to their service.

That all being said, I don't currently have any consoles. My PS4 was sold for a pc upgrade. But I am all for options. And everyone benefits from what MS is doing. (sony users will benefit as sony tries to find options to balance the features of xbone)

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epobirs

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@gord0nd: Everything supported on the backward compatibility list to date is available for purchase through XBL. No need for any existing physical disc. You buy it, you own it across both Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

If this were solely driven by games sold at retail years ago, they wouldn't bother. Without the potential for new revenue for MS and the third party publishers it would make far more sense to go the steaming route along with enhanced remakes.

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Sevenizz

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@gord0nd: Go to your local flea market. TONS of original Xbox games for only a buck or two. I got a mint Conker Reloaded for 5 bucks. They ebay for about 50 in poor condition - 100 mint.

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Daveof89

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@gord0nd: You sir, make some great points. I'm tired of all the people on here that attack the console they like less. You point out that what MS is doing is good for everyone.

More people should take notes out of your book!

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xOmniCloudx

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Panzer Dragoon Orta. I am appalled that SEGA has not remastered it or re-released it anywhere but then I remember it's SEGA so that's expected. They may have lost the source code to it like they have Saga, the original House of the Dead and some others as well. *sigh*

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sonofdark18

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Edited By sonofdark18

@xOmniCloudx: jet set radio future and schenmue 2 never got Remade, the original Jet set radio, which was called JET Grind Radio here in the states (for sega Dreamcast) was Remade for Xbox live and PSN.

They have to have the source code for Panzer Dragoon Orta, they just choose NOT to remake it becuase Sega (whenever they can't use Sonic Generations gameplay style for 4 new games for stupid fucking reasons) are run by brainless turkeys that need to be tossed in the oven and cooked until its time to come out and we can all eat without running to the bathroom to spit out what we just ate becuase it tastes like Shi--

Goddamnit I'm hungry now

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xOmniCloudx

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@sonofdark18: I'm still confused why they decided to HD remaster space channel 5 part 2 but not the first game. They had years to simply remake Panzer Dragoon Saga and the original House of the Dead so the source code would be irrelevant. Didn't HD remaster Skies of Arcadia and now they haven't even began Shenmue 1 and 2 HD plans despite the 3rd game finally being in development. What did SEGA remaster? Sonic the fighters? Are you kidding me? Oh wait no because it's post 90s era SEGA. Wont even localize most their games people actually do want. Here's our mascot we ran into the ground instead though. The pain of being a SEGA fan today.

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BenihanaGT

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The backwards compatibility is emulating the entire xbox 360 console. The xbox 360 console could play some of the original xbox games. No reason why they couldn't allow the emulated xbox 360 console to play xbox games.

That wouldn't be the way to do it though, you'd want them to fully emulate the console like they are doing for the 360.

Sadly, multiplayer would never work, the xbox live they build those games for is long gone.

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dlCHIEF58

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@BenihanaGT: You are not taking into account that they could redesign the emulator in such a way that it could interface with Live in its current state - think of it as a firmware update. Not saying it would happen, but it is a possibility. But it wouldn't change anything on the physical Xbox consoles, just emulated ones on the One.

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ccanfield1

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This would be great. Then I could really get replace my Xbox 360. Shenmue 2 and Panzer Dragoon Orta alone make me hope this becomes a reality.

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XBOXftw

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Edited By XBOXftw

I never got to try Morrowind on Xbox, so I'd love to give it a try on Xbox One

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Marky360

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This is awesome I mean I still have my Original Xbox and a whole collection of original Xbox games but it's still cool to know I could potentially play them on the Xbox One.

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Rmokeefe76

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Edited By Rmokeefe76

MVP Baseball 2005.

(drops microphone and exits stage)

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angrycreep

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( Panzer Dragoon Orta )for the xbox was one of my favorites. It would be great to play this timeless gem in Xbox One again

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