First Original Xbox Games for Xbox One Arrive Tomorrow

It's finally happening: The first 13 original Xbox games will be made available on Xbox One via Backward Compatibility starting tomorrow. Instead of just announcing the news, Microsoft instead allowed a single video game publication, IGN, to reveal the information exclusively, which I feel is unfair. But here are the details: 13 games. Microsoft is releasing 13 original Xbox games to Xbox One Backward Compatibility: BLACK, BloodRayne 2, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Dead to Rights, Fuzion Frenzy, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, The King of Fighters Neowave, Ninja Gaiden Black, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Psychonauts, Red Faction II, Sid Meier’s Pirates!, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. I actually owned at least half of those back in the day. Enhanced for Xbox One. Each of these games is "enhanced for Xbox One" (not to be confused for "Enhanced for Xbox One X"), meaning that each plays in 1080p and offers higher and/or smoother frame rates than was the case on the original console. Your discs will still work. If you still have any of these games on disc, you can insert them into your Xbox One and it will just work. Ditto for digital purchases. Multiplayer works across platforms. You can play multiplayer games with these titles across console types, but only in System Link mode. The online multiplayer servers for original Xbox games were shut down long ago, apparently. You can buy them all now. Each of the games is available for purchase now from the Microsoft Store digitally for $9.99. I actually purchased Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge over the weekend in anticipation of this move. (You can use the links above.) You can start playing tomorrow. The first original Xbox games arrive via Xbox One Backward Compatibility tomorrow, October 24. Good stuff.

It’s finally happening: The first 13 original Xbox games will be made available on Xbox One via Backward Compatibility starting tomorrow.

Instead of just announcing the news, Microsoft instead allowed a single video game publication, IGN, to reveal the information exclusively, which I feel is unfair. But here are the details:

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13 games. Microsoft is releasing 13 original Xbox games to Xbox One Backward Compatibility:BLACK, BloodRayne 2, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Dead to Rights, Fuzion Frenzy,Grabbed by the Ghoulies, The King of Fighters Neowave, Ninja Gaiden Black, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Psychonauts, Red Faction II, Sid Meier’s Pirates!, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. I actually owned at least half of those back in the day.

Enhanced for Xbox One. Each of these games is “enhanced for Xbox One” (not to be confused for “Enhanced for Xbox One X”), meaning that each plays in 1080p and offers higher and/or smoother frame rates than was the case on the original console.

Your discs will still work. If you still have any of these games on disc, you can insert them into your Xbox One and it will just work. Ditto for digital purchases.

Multiplayer works across platforms. You can play multiplayer games with these titles across console types, but only in System Link mode. The online multiplayer servers for original Xbox games were shut down long ago, apparently.

You can buy them all now. Each of the games is available for purchase now from the Microsoft Store digitally for $9.99. I actually purchased Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge over the weekend in anticipation of this move. (You can use the links above.)

You can start playing tomorrow. The first original Xbox games arrive via Xbox One Backward Compatibility tomorrow, October 24.

Good stuff.

 

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Conversation 12 comments

  • mclark2112

    Premium Member
    23 October, 2017 - 12:03 pm

    <p>Crimson Skies was an awesome PC game, but I remember being a little disappointed with the Xbox version. </p><p><br></p><p>I still wish there were more games in that universe. Two just wasn’t enough. I just loved he feel of everything. I’d even consider a console purchase if a new game came out.</p>

    • jrickel96

      23 October, 2017 - 3:59 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#209731"><em>In reply to mclark2112:</em></a></blockquote><p>Maybe if it is used a lot and sells well to current X1 owners, MS will revive it.</p>

  • Mestiphal

    23 October, 2017 - 12:59 pm

    <p>I really hope they don't start including this games in the Games with Gold…</p>

  • BoItmanLives

    23 October, 2017 - 2:06 pm

    <p>Seems like they're trying to distract from the anemic Xbone library and lack of new IP or exclusives. Like one of those tv channels that just shows reruns of old shows.</p><p><br></p><p>The magic of xbox's 360 era is clearly gone.</p>

    • jrickel96

      24 October, 2017 - 10:15 am

      <blockquote><a href="#209764"><em>In reply to BoItmanLives:</em></a></blockquote><p>Sure they are. Cuphead just sold a million in two weeks. They have a lot more new IP coming via Indy developers. And they have their own coming.</p><p><br></p><p>They also have 130+ X1X enhanced titles available as the console launches while launching plenty of exclusives over the past two years.</p><p><br></p><p>Fact is that you can play a lot more games on the Xbox One than you can on a PS4. </p>

    • Munsey Slack

      24 October, 2017 - 5:31 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#209764"><em>In reply to BoItmanLives:</em></a></blockquote><p>Lord…do I hate trolls…how can anyone be so bored that they do nothing but see who they can irritate. Wow…</p>

  • Mike Brady

    23 October, 2017 - 3:05 pm

    <p>I sure hope I didn't throw away my old Crimson Skies disc.</p>

  • wolters

    Premium Member
    23 October, 2017 - 4:37 pm

    <p>As a football fan, it is a long shot but would love for ESPN NFL 2K5 and Arena Football to make the list. 🙂 </p>

  • Tallin

    23 October, 2017 - 8:59 pm

    <p>What's interesting is that these links are games that were not previously available digitally for the Xbox 360 (KotOR, Sands of Time), but can also be purchased and downloaded on the 360.</p>

  • bluvg

    24 October, 2017 - 6:03 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kung Fu Chaos Kung Fu Chaos Kung Fu Chaos</span>!!!! Pleaseeeeee bring this game to XBox One!!!! Such a fun party game, and so few of them around.</p>

  • rth314

    Premium Member
    24 October, 2017 - 9:54 pm

    <p>When you turn on your Xbox One there is no indication that they have enabled this. You would think they would utilize some of that ad space to advertise this in the Home Screen and in the Store. I suspect most users will never know this happened. Microsoft can do so many awesome things, and then completely flop on the communication.</p>

  • snapch23

    26 January, 2018 - 1:17 am

    <p>We do want to know about the <a href="http://choiceshack.me&quot; target="_blank">choices stories you play hack</a> online.</p>

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