* BACKWARD COMPATIBLE *


Xbox Series X and Series S 

Microsoft has been more ambitious with backward compatibility. The $499 Xbox Series X and $299 Series S, which launched Tuesday, Nov. 10, play original Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games. That's four generations of games, stretching back to the first console's 2001 launch. 

But it doesn't include literally everything. Microsoft has a comprehensive list of the games that play on its new consoles: 568 games from the Xbox 360 and only 39 games from the original Xbox library are currently backward compatible. And titles that require its defunct Kinect motion sensor won't work at all.

Old games get a visual boost on the Series X and Series S, by way of high dynamic range graphics. 

"After 500K+ hours of testing, we're are excited to share that all Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games playable on Xbox One today, except for the handful that require Kinect, will be available -- and look and play better -- on Xbox Series X|Sat launch," Jason Ronald, Xbox director of program management, tweeted on Oct. 28.


Here’s What’s in Store for Xbox One Backward Compatibility

By Xbox Wire Staff posted on  at 6:00 am

Post Updated on 1/21/16 at 3:30 p.m. PT to reflect updated region availability.

Since we kicked off Xbox One Backward Compatibility in November, we’ve been extremely happy with the response and engagement. Fan feedback is essential in shaping the Xbox experience, and it was integral in making Xbox One Backward Compatibility a reality. To date, millions of your fellow Xbox gamers around the world have already logged more than 21 million hours playing Xbox One Backward Compatibility games – and we’re continuing to listen.

Based on your feedback, the Xbox Engineering team will start to pilot a new way to launch Xbox One Backward Compatibility titles. Starting today, we’ll release titles as they become available, rather than a set monthly launch date. What this means for you is that you won’t have to wait to find out the latest titles; we’ll release whatever is available, when they’re available, once each title has received the engineering and publisher stamp of approval.