Microsoft has announced Xbox One backward compatibility with previous-generation Xbox 360 games during its E3 2015 press conference. The surprising news will surely be a huge benefit for those that haven’t chosen which current-generation console to purchase and it’ll be interesting to see how or if Sony will answer in a few minutes when it kicks off its press conference.
According to Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, “The games you have invested your time and money in will be able to be played natively on your Xbox One.” In order to take advantage of the feature, you will need to have the original Xbox 360 disc, at which point the Xbox One will download the digital version of the game. For those that purchased Xbox 360 games digitally, they will automatically appear on the system once they are available for backward compatibility.
At least 100 games will be supported by this holiday season, Microsoft promised and there will be no additional cost to play the games you already own. Members of the Xbox One preview program will have a selection of games to check out immediately.
The company also released a list of games that will initially have Xbox One backward compatibility:
- Banjo Kazooie: N n B
- Banjo-Kazooie
- Banjo-Tooie
- BattleBlock Theater
- Defense Grid
- Geometry Wars Evolved
- Hexic HD
- Jetpac Refuelled
- Kameo
- Mass Effect
- Perfect Dark
- Perfect Dark Zero
- Small Arms
- Super Meat Boy
- Toy Soldiers
- Toy Soldiers: Cold War
- Viva Piñata
- Viva Piñata: TIP
