Xbox adds 21 original games to PC backward compatibility, reaching 25, with free PC copies for existing owners, first-ever achievements and mouse-and-keyboard support.
Xbox just turned 25 in style, and the gift is aimed squarely at PC players: 21 classic original Xbox games arrive on PC today, and if you already owned them on console, you get them for free. With this batch, the brand’s PC backward-compatibility library climbs to 25 titles — not bad for a catalogue that was just four games a few months ago.
The games landing today
The list is stacked, with a Star Wars presence any fan would envy: eleven of the 21 new titles come from that galaxy far, far away. Standouts include Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, TimeSplitters 2 and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, Republic Commando, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy and both classic Battlefront games.
Also joining are Armed and Dangerous, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb, Red Faction II, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Thrillville and Disney’s Chicken Little, among others. The four already-available titles (Blinx, Conker, Crimson Skies and Fuzion Frenzy) stay in the lineup.
Free if you already owned them on console
Here’s the part your wallet cares about: if you bought these games back in the day for Xbox, you get the PC version without paying again. These are digital copies, so you’ll need the title tied to your Microsoft account.
Morrowind, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Blinx, Conker, Crimson Skies and Fuzion Frenzy are also included with Game Pass. The rest aren’t, so if those are the ones you want, you’ll have to buy them.
Achievements and mouse-and-keyboard, for the first time
Microsoft is adding achievements to original Xbox games for the first time, starting with four: both Knights of the Old Republic titles, Blinx and Conker: Live and Reloaded. You’ll be able to unlock them on Xbox One and Series consoles too, after a system update.
On top of that, every title now supports mouse and keyboard, which changes the feel noticeably in shooters like the classic Battlefront games. Microsoft says the first four games have also been improved for performance and stability.
The rest of the birthday
The announcement came alongside other big names. Xbox confirmed that Wolfenstein 3 is in production at MachineGames, with Brian Bloom and Debra Wilson returning as BJ Blazkowicz and Grace Walker — though no date or platforms were given. It also revealed that id Software’s next project is now in development, and showed off fresh Fable gameplay.
There are no dates yet for more classics on PC, but Microsoft has said it will keep growing the list, both with games and with achievements. If your original Xbox library has been gathering dust, it’s a good moment to dig it out.
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