As gamers hunker down and get ready for the next generation of video game consoles, one of the biggest questions that comes to mind is whether games from the previous generation will work with the new consoles. After all, many players have thousands of dollars invested in their existing game libraries. The idea of losing all those games when moving to the next generation of consoles is somewhat unnerving. Will Xbox Series X be backwards compatible?
We have a pretty clear picture of what Sony intends to do for PS5 backwards compatibility. Recently, Microsoft posted on its blog to clear up its stance for Xbox Series X backwards compatibility.
Will the Xbox Series X be backwards compatible with Xbox One games?
The biggest question coming into the launch of the Xbox Series X is whether games from the Xbox One will work with the upcoming console. According to Microsoft, the plan is to have all Xbox One games that don’t require Kinect working for the Xbox Series X on launch day. That means the console will launch with access to thousands of games available because of the vast library currently available on Xbox One.
Many players may have games from the current generation that they didn’t get a chance to finish, so having the opportunity to go back and play them on the new console is great news.
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Microsoft also said games played on the Xbox Series X through backwards compatibility will look better without the need for game developers to put in any extra work. “Our backward compatibility engineers have spent years devising innovative ways for modern, next-gen technology to make the games library you’re building today even better, at no additional cost and with no work from developers,� Microsoft said in a blog post. “Your favorite games will load faster and look and perform many times better on the new console.�
That means those games sitting in the back catalog will be more enjoyable than they would be on the Xbox One, which is a nice bonus. Additionally, launch lineups for consoles tend to be a little spotty in terms of game quality, so going back and playing some of the gems from the previous generation with better visuals could be a huge selling point for the new devices.
Which Xbox One games won’t work with Xbox Series X?
The Kinect didn’t set the world on fire as an accessory for the Xbox One, and as such, Microsoft isn’t bringing it the Xbox Series X. That means any games that require the Kinect won’t work with the new console. Fortunately, that list of games is relatively small, but anyone looking to play the Kinect-exclusive games will need to keep their Xbox One hooked up.
Will Xbox One accessories work on the Xbox Series X?
While we tend to expect some level of backwards compatibility with games as we move from console to console, what we don’t typically see is accessories from previous generations coming along for the ride. However, with the Xbox Series X, Microsoft is shaking things up by allowing the Elite Controller and Xbox Adaptive Controller to work on Xbox Series X. Both of those devices are quite expensive, so it’s good to see anyone who invested in them won’t have to buy new ones with the upcoming Xbox Series X.
Will previous console games play on the Xbox Series X?
Of course, before the Xbox One, there was the Xbox 360 and original Xbox, and those games shouldn’t be forgotten. Microsoft stated that all Xbox and Xbox 360 games that play on the Xbox One will also run on the Xbox Series X. The company has a page that lists all the Xbox and Xbox 360 games that work on the Xbox One, and it’s an impressive list boasting over 600 games.