Here’s how 25 original Xbox games can now play on PC
A wider PC game selection
The expansion marks part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary and follows Microsoft’s earlier announcement of a paid game-preservation effort. The company first introduced the PC initiative in July with four original Xbox titles.
Microsoft says the 25 games can all be played with a keyboard and mouse. Access requires a digital copy, either one players already own or purchase; the article does not provide the titles in the collection.
Achievements arrive on Xbox
Microsoft is introducing achievements to original Xbox games for the first time. The initial four are Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, its sequel, Blinx: The Time Sweeper, and Conker: Live and Reloaded.
Players can also earn the achievements on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles after a system update. Microsoft says additional games may receive achievements in the future.
Discs and Game Pass limits
Original Xbox discs cannot be used to access these games through Microsoft’s disc-to-digital program. The article says original Xbox and Xbox 360 discs predate the unique serial numbers Microsoft embedded in Xbox One discs, and describes PC backward compatibility as apparently emulator-powered.
Microsoft says most newly added games are not currently on Xbox Game Pass. The exceptions listed are Blinx, Conker, Crimson Skies, Fusion Frenzy, Morrowind, and Grabbed by the Ghoulies.
Plans for future Xbox games
Leaked Microsoft documents previously pointed to October 2026 as the planned full launch of original Xbox games on PC. The same documents described a gradual rollout of Xbox 360 games to next-generation consoles between 2027 and 2028.
Those years are also when Microsoft is expected to introduce a handheld and a Helix box, according to the article. It says Helix could play games from every Xbox generation, even if the device is fundamentally a Windows PC.
Key points
- Microsoft has brought 25 original Xbox games to Windows PC, up from four in July.
- The PC games support keyboard and mouse, but require digital copies.
- Four games are getting original Xbox achievements, with more potentially coming later.
- Original Xbox discs are unsupported, and only six listed titles are currently on Game Pass.