Every iteration after the original Xbox has supported backwards compatibility to some degree. At GDC, Microsoft touted its commitment to “keeping games from four generations of Xbox playable for years to come.” Towards that end, Microsoft teased “new ways to play” some of the system’s iconic games later this year for Xbox’s 25th anniversary.
During Microsoft’s keynote presentation, vice president of next generation Jason Ronald said, “The game preservation team has been working very hard in the background for a number of years.” He added that the team has chosen “some iconic games from the past that are now going to be able to be played in entirely new ways. This shows our commitment to game preservation, and enabling these games to be played by the next generation of players, in ways that are very familiar to them.”
Neither Ronald nor Microsoft elaborated on what those “new ways to play” will be, but a remaster of Halo and a new Gears of War game are both slated to be released this year. Those are two of the flagship franchises on Xbox, but the company could potentially dive even further into its back catalogue for more neglected titles that haven’t had the same kind of spotlight in the last 25 years. Microsoft announced the formation of a games preservation team in 2024 that is focused on continuing the tradition of Xbox’s backwards compatibility.
Microsoft did share some details about its next Xbox console, Project Helix. The Project Helix development kits will be going out to game publishers in 2027. That would seemingly quash any rumors of a 2027 launch for the system itself. Microsoft didn’t offer pricing details for the new system, but at least one video game analyst is already predicting a price point of $900 or more.
Outside of the console realm, Microsoft announced that Xbox Full Screen Experience will finally launch on PC in April.