Microsoft Is Working to Bring Xbox 360 Backward Compatibility for PC and Project Helix

Last month, Microsoft made an important announcement regarding its backwards compatibility program: specifically, it was revealed that PC users now have access to launch titles from the original Xbox, and there are currently four games available—Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. That said, the library will gradually expand, and it seems this is not the only backwards compatibility feature in store for PC users in the near future.

According to The Verge's Tom Warren, Microsoft is actively working on an Xbox 360 backward compatibility feature not only for PC but also for handheld devices and its future next-generation console, Project Helix. PC gamers are expected to be able to play Xbox 360 games between 2027 and 2028, with full backward compatibility for the original Xbox scheduled to launch this October. As stated in the report, “With 360 games, developers can opt in to make them backwards compatible, and they will have control over aspects such as a game’s price and whether it is available on Game Pass.”

The Verge also confirms that Microsoft is continuing to work on the implementation of ‘disc-to-digital’—a feature that will allow owners of physical copies of games to obtain an official digital license. Despite this positive news, the company itself has not yet made any official announcements regarding Xbox 360 backwards compatibility on PC.

Microsoft is bringing Xbox 360 games to PC

Xbox 360 games will be able to run on the next-gen Project Helix console, “Xbox PCs,” and handheld devices.

It looks like devs won’t have to do any engineering work to get Xbox 360 and Xbox games on PC. Microsoft’s Xbox PC emulator handles it all.

The feature is expected to have a “gradual” rollout between 2027 and 2028 “across next-gen devices.” The “full launch” of original Xbox games on PC is also set for October 2026.

According to the document, a public beta for the disc-to-digital program was set for July with general availability set for August. We understand Microsoft had originally planned to test its disc-to-digital program with Xbox Insiders in July, but the beta was delayed. It’s unclear if the timeline of August general availability is still accurate.

However, given that Xbox 360 emulator files were discovered by dataminers in the Xbox version of Fuzion Frenzy—which became available to PC gamers thanks to the backwards compatibility feature—it is most likely only a matter of time.