Microsoft has discussed Project Scarlett’s backwards compatibility – and said it will be able to play the 3000-strong Xbox One library, as well as all 360 and OG Xbox games currently in the Xbox One’s backwards compatible catalogue.
It’s a feature first hinted to Eurogamer this time last year, during an E3 2018 chat with Microsoft’s gaming boss Phil Spencer.
But Microsoft will also now move on from adding more Xbox 360 and original Xbox games to its hugely popular back-compat program. Announced to huge cheers during Microsoft’s E3 2015 press conference, the service now supports more than 600 games.
A final few back compat games become available on Xbox One today – more on those below – but the team behind it all has told Eurogamer it will now “go dark” to focus on ensuring this entire library – including some 3000 Xbox One games – will be compatible with future Xbox consoles.
This includes work on any more Xbox One X-enhanced ports – although again, a final few have been added today.
Speaking to Eurogamer ahead of E3 2019, Xbox platform exec Jason Ronald said Microsoft’s back compat team was now “shifting focus” to ensure the next generation of Xbox backwards-compatibility worked just as well.
Looking to the future, the “choice” of redeeming backwards-compatible games digitally or via a physical disc was also something Microsoft is keen to keep for next-gen, the company added (something Xbox gaming chief Matt Booty also confirmed to me at E3 2019 yesterday).