GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

"Too Early To Say" How Many OG Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Games There Will Be

"There will be a library of games available, for sure."

121 Comments

One of the biggest announcements Microsoft made at E3 2017 was backwards compatibility support for original Xbox games on Xbox One. The console already plays Xbox 360 games through backwards compatibility, and the library of supported titles is pretty massive, recently having surpassed 385 games. But will the lineup of OG Xbox games be as big? It's "too early to say," according to Microsoft's Dave McCarthy, but it sounds like it will not be.

Speaking to GameSpot, McCarthy said Microsoft only talked about Crimson Skies and Fuzion Frenzy at E3, but there are more games up and running.

No Caption Provided

"We have multiple games up and running--we just decided to tease the first one[s]," McCarthy explained. "There will be a library of games available, for sure."

This follows what Xbox boss Phil Spencer said earlier this month. He outright confirmed that the lineup of OG Xbox games played on Xbox One through backwards compatibility will not be as extensive as the library of Xbox 360 games that work on the newer console.

In our interview with McCarthy, he said Spencer played a huge role in convincing the engineering team to add backwards compatibility support for Xbox 360 games on Xbox One. The team wasn't sure it was possible at the start, apparently, but Spencer kept pressing the matter and the engineering team found a way. It's the same engineering team doing the work for OG Xbox backwards compatibility.

"Phil is really good for this, in terms of audacious challenges we give the team," McCarthy said. "It fit nicely into our compatibility story--games will play great across all our lineup. They'll play best on Xbox One X. It kind of fit the whole vibe that we were trying to get in terms of choice for our customers. It is going to be a big program for us."

The OG Xbox backwards compatibility program for Xbox One launches later this year. What titles would you like to see added the library? Let us know in the comments below!

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 121 comments about this story
121 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for kirklandcriss
Kirklandcriss

1

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

There is only one game I would like to see made backwards compatible:

Need For Speed: Underground

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dfalls1
Dfalls1

-1

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

There are 5 games I want made available, through backwards compatibility:

Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams (original Xbox)

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2x (original Xbox)

Max Pain 3 (Xbox 360)

GTA: San Andreas (original Xbox)

Jade Empire (original Xbox)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for darkouer
darkouer

235

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Silent Hill 4: Room, I'm probably asking too much...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for santinegrete
santinegrete

7085

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 46

User Lists: 0

Please Metal Arms, PLEASE.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lonewolf1044
lonewolf1044

4983

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Please make Mech assault BC :)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TightNinja
TightNinja

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By TightNinja

Oh yeah and don't forget Ghost Recon

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TightNinja
TightNinja

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

If Star Wars Battlefront 2 is BC...I will cancel my Star Wars Battlefront 2 pre order.

4 player split screen with Live/System Link.....yes please!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Codename_Falcon
Codename_Falcon

28

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gdizzle01
gdizzle01

26

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

For goodness sake, I'd rather them announce a bunch of new Xbox 360 back-compat games than announce that original Xbox games will be back-compat. I feel like 360 games will now take a backseat to original Xbox games and some of the games that we've been asking for will be further delayed or never become backwards compatible (L.A. Noire for instance). For people like me that had to trade in their Xbox 360 to get an Xbox One, moves like this are very frustrating.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for chiefwiggum16
chiefwiggum16

2826

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Toejam & Earl III

Upvote • 
Avatar image for imajinn
imajinn

1060

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By imajinn

The Warriors, Armed and Dangerous, Silent Hill 4: The room, Ninja Gaiden Black, Time Splitters 2 & Future Perfect, Narc, Manhunt, G Onimusha, The Suffering, MDK, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Psychonauts, GTA: San Andreas, Splinter cell: Chaos Theory, Odd world: Strangers Wrath, Shenmue 2, Thief: Deadly Shadows, NBA Streets 2, Black, and Def Jam: Fight for NY.

All these would be great to see and play again.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for chrischupp2
ChrisChupp2

41

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By ChrisChupp2

Burnout 3 Midnight Club 3 Roadkill Underground 2 Mercenaries SSX3

Upvote • 
Avatar image for uncle5555
uncle5555

557

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@deadpen: Umm why...? Rather play the remastered/anniversary editions personally.

Jet Set Radio Future, many of the Sega exclusives, there's plenty other games that I'd rather see than Halo for the umpteenth time. Maybe something from the large library of OG XB games out there, region free would be cool too, there's a couple really good import only games as well.

Expand your horizons man, the Xbox had more than just shoot-bros games...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TightNinja
TightNinja

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@uncle5555:

YES THE SEGA EXCLUSIVES!!

One of my favorite beat em is Spikeout Battle Street. Most people do not know this game and it may never receive the BC treatment but if it did....I would cream my pants lol

Upvote • 
Avatar image for xavier141524
xavier141524

511

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Unreal Championship 2 and Ninja Gaiden black please for the love of God!

2 • 
Avatar image for PSYCHOV3N0M
PSYCHOV3N0M

1221

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@xavier141524: I still have my Liandri Conflict disc :D

2 • 
Avatar image for xavier141524
xavier141524

511

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

@PSYCHOV3N0M: really? That's awesome! I had so much fun with that game and it's peer to peer network!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for s7eventhheaven
S7eventhHeaven

408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

these are the ones they should release support for. panzer dragoon saga, spyro a new beginning, cold fear, silent hill the room, still life, obscure, stubbs the zombie, timesplitters future perfect, jet set radio future, shenmue 2, the suffering, the suffering ties that bind, manhunt, outrun 2, burnout revenge, taito legends, taito legends 2, genma onimusha, burnout 2, burnout 3, need for speed underground 2, oddworld strangers wrath, beatdown fist of vengence, the simpsons hit and run, sonic heroes, otogi, otogi 2, black, fahrenheit, narc, crash bandicoot wrath of cortex

5 • 
Avatar image for santinegrete
santinegrete

7085

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 46

User Lists: 0

@s7eventhheaven: stubbs the zombie, man what a great game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TightNinja
TightNinja

83

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@s7eventhheaven:

Very good list! I am suprised you played beatdown lol! Timesplitters was awesome. I would also add the Ghost Recon Games. I liked Final Fight Streetwise better though :)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for uncle5555
uncle5555

557

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@s7eventhheaven: You are a good person, that is a very commendable list of games you have there. Lots of high quality titles, maybe deadpen up above here can learn a thing or three from your list.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for s7eventhheaven
S7eventhHeaven

408

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@uncle5555: i forgot red ninja, scarface and project zero 1 &2

Upvote • 
Avatar image for louixiii
LouiXIII

10052

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Otogi

2 • 
Avatar image for vickissv2
vickissv2

1951

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

No more than 20, which is fine because it's mostly going to be B list games that nobody was really asking for and Ninja Gaiden Black.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mpl911
mpl911

1225

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Edited By mpl911

Good work again MS. Although I'm sure you know you're on a hiding to nothing - if you say "Here you are - here are 10 bc original xbox games to start you off" people will say "pfffft - only 10? What's the point?" and if you say "right - here's 200 bc original xbox games- get stuck in!" people will say "pffft - who wants to play old games anyway?"

I'm not particularly fussed about the original xbox games, although when they start bringing them out, if they add them to the GwG program I'll be very impressed - imagine 2 x Xbox One games +2 x 360 games + 2 original Xbox games every month? For free!!

"Hi - is that ebay? Can I order a new 8TB hard drive please?"

4 • 
Avatar image for khanwashere
KhanWasHere

1596

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

"Black".... that is all.

4 • 
Avatar image for Bloodwolf_19
Bloodwolf_19

167

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 1 and 2, SW: KOTOR, Elder Scrolls: Marrowind GOTY, Metal Dungeon, AD&D Heroes, Azurik, Jade Empire, Bloody Roar Extreme, Amped 2, Onimusha or Otogi, Panzer Dragoon Orta, these are some I'd like to see, I still own over a hundred different titles from OG Xbox, but trying to get a new system is a joke. Last one we got from amazon came filled with dirt an tray didn't even want to open, lens all scratched to hell, so yes, I would be excited to finally get to play my old games on my Xbox One. :)

2 • 
Avatar image for deactivated-5ae060efb3bf6
deactivated-5ae060efb3bf6

2147

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

People want brand new systems to play old games. .... FYI, just keep your old systems. Really is that easy.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for santinegrete
santinegrete

7085

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 46

User Lists: 0

@Triton: but I want to play Metal Arms in stable 30FPS!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for sodapoppimpski
SodApOpPIMPski

1035

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

@Triton: are those games going to run better on the original system? no. do i want 6 consoles hooked up to my tv at once, no. there are many reason why that is a terrible option when i can have the newest console handle what 3 consoles would need to do.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Attitude2000
Attitude2000

4781

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

@Triton: Things happen. You get on hard times, you get robbed, things break down, you move and don't have a bunch of space. I don't think it's just that easy.

2 • 
Avatar image for xavier141524
xavier141524

511

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

@Triton: playstation selling old ps2 games for the ps4 you mad at them too?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for pcps4xb
PCPS4XB

3632

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By PCPS4XB

@Triton: I'm not really into it but its a nice bonus for the people who like it.

2 • 
Avatar image for chris91090
chris91090

397

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Triton: Except controllers wear down and die eventually, and so do the consoles. When production has long since stopped, what will you do then? It's a free program for the Xbox ecosystem. The only negative I see here is that the competition charges you for a less reliable solution.

10 • 
Avatar image for Attitude2000
Attitude2000

4781

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

@chris91090: Honestly, I've been playing some Xbox 360 games lately, and as great as it was for its time, I realized how much more improved the Xbox One controller is. I've only held the Dual Shock 4 and not played any games on it. That said I'm sure fans in the Sony camp can say the same as well. Up until then it hadn't changed a whole bunch besides becoming wireless and adding analog sticks.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for chris91090
chris91090

397

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Attitude2000: I hate the PS4 controller. That cheap rubber they use for the thumbsticks makes my thumbs constantly slide off. I still use my 2014 Xbox controller with no issues, but with this 3 week old gold Dualshock 4 I bought during the promotion, I'm having trouble keeping my thumbs from sliding. The Xbox one controller is definitely better craftsmanship for me.

2 • 
Avatar image for moonco
Moonco

3848

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Moonco  Moderator

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth and Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue

3 • 
Avatar image for asnakeneverdies
asnakeneverdies

3765

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By asnakeneverdies

@moonco: Even though I wouldn't consider it a Survival Horror game for its lack of backtracking and emphasis on playable set pieces (and probably some other things I don't remember), I've to say that I really enjoyed Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth! It was a pleasant surprise many years ago.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TwinStripeUK
TwinStripeUK

611

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

SW:KOTOR, SW: Battlefront, Jade Empire, MechAssault, Micro Machines, TES: Morrowind, Jet Set Radio Future, Ninja Gaiden Black, The Suffering, Timesplitters 2.

I'd be happy with any of them - all of them and I'd be ecstatic...

6 • 
Avatar image for rasterror
rasterror

3696

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

@TwinStripeUK: and Jedi Academy and Republic Commando.

Upvote •