Xbox backward compatibility on PC could be start of emulating all Xbox consoles

Microsoft recently brought official Xbox backward compatibility to PC, and users can now play four original Xbox games on PCs and Windows handheld consoles like the Xbox ROG Ally. Being a beta, the current Xbox backward compatibility effort is a work in progress and has issues. However, it is the potential and the promise of the Xbox backward compatibility program that excites Moore’s Law Is Dead, as the leaker suggests that Microsoft could be laying the groundwork for something big.

Moore’s Law Is Dead suggests that the release of official Xbox backward compatibility on PCs for emulating original Xbox games could be signaling a unified Xbox console emulation on the next-gen Project Helix. 

MLID’s “hunch” is that Microsoft is working behind the scenes on taking this Xbox backward compatibility program to a place where gamers can play their OG Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series games on the next-gen Xbox console. The leaker claims to have run this idea past game developers who also seem to agree.

On the surface, this reads like a wishlist item for a diehard Xbox fan. However, MLID’s idea is not out of the realm of possibility. It might even be Microsoft’s end goal, if we connect the dots.

For starters, the Xbox backward compatibility on PC within the Xbox App is reportedly essentially an OG Xbox emulator running inside an Xbox 360 emulator. This means that by ironing out bugs and improving emulation, Microsoft can swiftly bring not only OG Xbox games to PC but also Xbox 360 emulation. The Xbox One and Xbox Series emulation could potentially then follow.

Now, Microsoft is also developing a disc-to-digital service for Xbox codenamed “Positron”. So, we could be looking at a future where Microsoft could allow gamers to digitize their physical Xbox game discs to play their games on the next-gen Project Helix.

Granted, this is super ambitious and is pure speculation at this point. But, this is the kind of console-selling feature that Microsoft needs, especially when Sony is actively moving away from physical discs and the PS6 might not let you play your PS5 games.

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