Xbox Backward Compatibility has launched on PC in early release, bringing four original titles to computers and handhelds for the first time with new graphics features, license carryover, and Achievements planned later this year.
The company describes player libraries as repositories of meaningful stories and lasting memories that should travel alongside gamers as hardware progresses.
https://x.com/Xbox/status/2079944898183405970
Achievements, one of the most requested additions by fans, are scheduled to reach select original Xbox games on console and PC later this year.
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The Verge reported that Xbox had landed exclusive cloud streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI). Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball says the game "will not be streaming exclusively or to PC," and The Verge has corrected its report. Rockstar Games and Take-Two have not commented.
Xbox released its disc-to-digital feature to all Series X and Xbox One owners on Sept. 29 after a month of Insider testing. The update lets owners convert physical discs to digital licenses while retaining their discs for lending or resale.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has denied reports that Microsoft is considering selling or spinning out its gaming business. The statement follows June restructuring plans that include up to 3,200 layoffs during the 2027 financial year.
Microsoft has rolled out Mythic Achievements to Xbox Insiders, awarding them retroactively for completed games as far back as the Xbox 360. The new system includes a Gaming tab that organizes progress and lets users compare with friends.
Xbox confirmed it is eliminating 268 roles across Halo Studios, other first-party studios, and the XGS management layer, and is reorganizing studios so Activision develops the next Halo while Obsidian moves under Bethesda. Official Xbox Wire says the company is roughly three-quarters through its previously announced 3,200-role restructuring.
