Microsoft plans to bring Xbox 360 games to PC with new developer program
Microsoft is preparing a program that would allow developers to bring Xbox 360 games to PC, according to a leaked internal document reviewed by The Verge. Supported titles would run on Project Helix consoles, Xbox PCs, and handheld gaming devices. Developers and publishers could choose whether to participate, set prices, and decide if their games appear on Xbox Game Pass, with a gradual rollout planned between 2027 and 2028.
Microsoft is also expanding its original Xbox games program on PC, with a full launch scheduled for October 2026. Together, these programs are intended to create a broader Xbox library accessible across consoles, PCs, and handhelds, bringing Microsoft closer to its multiplatform goal.
The document also outlines a disc-to-digital program for Xbox One and Xbox Series games, which we reported on last month. Players could insert a physical disc into a compatible console to receive a digital license linked to both the disc and their account, allowing access on devices without disc drives. If the disc changes owners, the license would transfer and the previous entitlement would be revoked. A planned July 2026 beta for this new program was delayed, and the updated launch date remains unclear.
Comments
Yeah, who doesn't want to pay for old 720p 30FPS games on a 4k 120FPS screen? Nobody? Even with AI upscaling?
But on the bright side we can play games that used to be exclusive back then even tough some of them have decompiled (Sonic Unleashed) in 2025
You could play any of these games with an emulator... Pretty easy to set up and roms are so easy to find, just check r/emulation or r/piracy or simply browse at internet archive. They just want to gain easy profits without doing anything, classic microslop movement.
Many of x360 backward-compatibility games received substantial updates for high-resolution and 60FPS. Depends of the game of course, but please read about it first, then try to mock.