Starting tomorrow, over 100 games originally made for the Xbox 360 will be playable on the Xbox One. But the titles that garnered the most votes in a Microsoft user poll are missing.
If you were hoping you’d be able to play last-gen classics like Red Dead Redemption or Halo: Reach on your Xbox One tomorrow, you’re going to have to wait a little longer. Microsoft has published a list of the first batch of Xbox 360 games coming to the Xbox One backwards compatibility program. It’s a mix of big-company and indie titles, with well-loved games like Castle Crashers, Viva Pinata and Ikaruga.
But some fan-favourite titles are conspicuous in their absence. The announcement of backwards compatibility was one of Microsoft’s biggest surprises at this year’s E3 and the makers of Xbox launched a site where fans could vote for the games that they wanted to join the backwards compatibility program. None of the top five titles from the poll site are on today’s list. In today’s release, Microsoft is still encouraging people to go and vote for their favourite Xbox 360 games.
It’s worth noting that this is just the first wave of backwards compatibility titles and that, unlike Sony’s woefully overpriced PlayStation Now service, this feature is free of charge. Today’s blog post notes that Halo: Reach — one of those top five titles — will be coming in a future update. Nevertheless, it’s going to be interesting to see how many third-party publishers Microsoft can convince to partner up with them as the service expands.
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37 responses to “Xbox One’s First Wave Of Compatible Xbox 360 Games Has Hidden Gems But Not Fans’ Most Wanted Titles”
Microsoft: what’s the point of asking the community for feedback and not even bothering to listen to them? Not a single one in the top 5 to be supported, round 1. Lucky I still have my 360 around I guess …
Call of Duties make up most of the Top 10 which I don’t care about….
As for the others you’re better off talking to Bethesda and Rockstar.
I’m assuming Fallout 3 made the cut as it was included with Fallout 4 pre-orders.
Skyrim with next Elder Scrolls?
You ignore the fact that Microsoft is adding backward compatibility by recompiling the game for x86 architecture, not emulation. This means they need access to the game’s source code, as well as the publishers approval.
Not an easy situation, even for Microsoft.
@gump24601 needs to be reasonable, they announced how many games they would have out (roughly) and when at E3 and didn’t put the website up until afterwards.
This is the delivery of that first batch that they were probably already working on. Give them time to see what they do from here before you have a cry about it, even taking into account the issues with publishers (mentioned above), the fact that Halo Reach isn’t in the first batch probably suggests that they haven’t had time to start work on the titles that have been nominated.
Edit:
Also, as specifically stated on the website that’s linked (but not quoted due to incompetence):
Sounds like they’ve paid some attention to fans at least.
It comes down to the developers wanting it on there… The developers are not going to let you play their old CODs, SKYRIM, or Halo:Reach the very month that they release new games for the systems… Come on people, use your heads. It’s business. The only 1 of the top 5 I could see getting released soon is Red Dead.
Keep in mind that of the top 5 Red Dead is the only one published by someone who has yet to put up any offerings. Black Ops II/MW2 are with Activision who put up Black Ops. Skyrim is with Bethesda who put up Fallout 3 (for free with Fallout 4). Halo: Reach is with Microsoft (which makes it weird that it isn’t already on the list, but it is coming soon). Red Dead Redemption is with Rockstar/Take-Two who have yet to mention any intent to participate.
Take 2 have mentioned their willingness to participate.
Bioshock games are listed as coming soon.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Red Dead was coming, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if Rockstar decided it wasn’t going to happen.
I, personally, think that there’s a lot of the tail wagging the dog when it comes to Rockstar and Take 2.
Doh. Yeah, of course. BioShock being on the coming soon list three times isn’t exactly a subtle declaration of intent. =P I think you’re right about Rockstar’s relationship with Take-Two. I guess we’ll see soon enough. If they’re willing to put such a game like BioShock on their list even though it’s a perfect candidate for a next-gen remaster then they’re probably not going to stand in the way of anything (unless Microsoft paid them a ton of money or something to get BioShock on board, can’t rule that out).
It’ll be a shame if we don’t at least see some of the earlier Rockstar games that don’t have much chance at sequels. Bully and Gun would have been perfect candidates even though they’re a little on the small side. I wouldn’t mind proper ports of LA Noire and Red Dead Redemption, but I think XBOX One’s backwards compatibility might change the climate of remasters.
They’re coming. This is just the first wave, which I imagine was decided a long time ago. The actual update itself was really buggy when it went through the preview program, so I imagine they were putting a whole lot of time into fixing that. You also have to remember that the game publishers need to request backwards compatability, its not up to MS in the end
Expect to see Activision release a call of duty legacy pack, why support backwards compatibility when you can just sell it again!
Hmmmmmm…..
Assassin’s Creed II
Mass Effect™
Banjo-Kazooie
Metal Slug 3
Doom
Shadow Complex
Doom II
Tom Clancy’s RainbowSix Vegas
Fable II
Fallout 3
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Hmmmmmm……
that’s a pretty meh list of tittles. mostly ancient games and arcade games. might take this chance to play through the GOW series though. have all the games and have only finished the original.
I got the remake as well…. Still I’ve got 3 on my pile of shame.
It’ll be really interesting to see how GoW 4 is received because I think there’s lots of people who went a little cold on the series for whatever reason.
For me I put it down to difficulty locking down time with the same guy I played through the first 2 with, but I haven’t touched GoW 3 or Judgement either.
I didn’t get to Judgement…. Nor have any real desire to.
I feel like for me the Gears of War games coasted on how much fun I had playing the original with my friends. Gears of War 2 botched the multiplayer a little at launch and we just never got into it. Gears of War 3 was fun but again it didn’t really capture me with the multiplayer the same way the first did. It’s weird because the multiplayer is vastly superior in 2 and 3. I think there’s something about Horde mode and all the leveling stuff that makes it too busy. There was a lot of pressure to play gigantic chunks and be semi-productive, where the original let us drop in and out on our own terms.
It doesn’t help that it fragmented my friends list. Everyone seemed to have their favourite game mode and had to have their arm twisted to get them into anything else. It was sort of a buzz kill because there was always someone who wanted to be doing something else.
That said I absolutely love the way everything moves and how you can get into proper firefights. It’s just strange that it fell off my radar so hard after 3.
No Red Dead Redemption. No interest.
As much as I’d like it… i played it to absolute death the first time around. Such an amazing game
Great to see South Park on the list, since it’s the only 360 game I haven’t’ finished that I plan to.
Not a bad start really, just hope they keep the games coming.
Would love to see some Civilisation Revolution and X-Com on the list next up.
Also:
THANK YOU!
WORST SYSTEM EVER!
Don’t get me started on Sony and their PsNow debacle!
Seeing this effort MS are putting into BC is really tempting me.
Mind you Sony have stability updates and stickers covered (o_o)
Agreed, I was annoyed that Stick of Truth came out on 360 just as I picked up the Xbox One, but I understand why.
I only really want/need South Park and Skate 3 on Xbox One to be a happy camper and I got 50% of that upfront which is awesome !
Disappointed by a lack of Halo Reach (though I’d rather it be added to Master Chief Collection with 60fps). However i’m actually quite okay with a lot of the rest for now.
I have quite a few arcade games on that list including Doom, Doom II, the various Sega Collections + Sonic and I’m actually kind of glad to see Gears of War 3 on the list and can give Judgment a try now. Also Stick of Truth was the last (unfinished) game i’d been playing on 360 before I stopped playing, so kinda glad i’ll get a chance to finish that now.
Reach will be added in december
Hopefully Reach can get a decent increase of players. Unless players on 360 can’t play with those on Xbone.
You play people on both consoles 🙂
Any idea if we can buy these games digitally on xbox one? wouldnt mind trying South Park
I’m not sure if they’re planning on adding them to the XBOX One store on the console but for now you can buy them via the XBOX website like normal. They won’t install automatically like when you purchase a XBOX One title that way, but if you just go into My Games & Apps then all the way to the right there’s a list of every game you have linked to your account. Any compatible 360 games you own will appear in that list.
I have 2 accounts, my original account got locked out of all EA games online so I had to create a new one which is now my main one going on 6 years now. But I have a few of these games tied to my old account, however the old account is not part of the preview program so I’m wondering if when it goes official I’ll have more games to choose from, currently when I sign in with the original account I only have Keflings and N+.
Guys, Microsoft said from day 1!
Its up to the publishers to give the ok for them to emulate it.
So basically that poll, is to tell the pubs what we want. copyright issues may come into play with music, actors etc
A bit disappointed that there’s no Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata or Tales of Vesperia. The last two are from Bandai Namco, who are supposed to be on board, but the former two were both Microsoft titles.
I suppose MS has decided it’s a market best left to Sony.
I hope they allow purchase of some of the compatible titles online. Since they get downloaded anyway, there’s no real reason it shouldn’t be possible.
From what I’m hearing that is how it’ll work. They’re now saying that you can get 4 free games a months with the Games with Gold promo, so that would suggest that you can just download them straight to you xbox one. Thats how I’ve taken it anyway, but can’t find a solid confirmation of that as yet
Japanese games with voice tracks always seem to struggle with licensing rights when it comes to re-distribution, so I’m guessing those games are absent for legal reasons. Although I’m really hoping Vesperia makes the list at some point.
As for buying games, you can buy digital XBOX 360 titles via the XBOX website, and all compatible games you own automatically appear in your My Games & Apps’s awaiting installation list. Ie, if you go buy Battleblock Theater for the XBOX 360 on the website today it’ll show up in your awaiting installation list on your XBOX One when the update gets installed.
I remember Phil Spencer being interviewed on the Giant Bombcast during E3, and they asked him where the Lost Odyssey announcement was for backwards compatibility.
He said they still hadn’t gotten multiple disc games to work, but that they were working on it. Keep in mind this was said during E3, so they may well have fixed it by now…
Interesting. There are some fairly high-profile titles which span multiple discs (Mass Effect 2 & 3, Dead Space 2 & 3, Forza 4, and many others) so I expect it’s not something they will simply drop.
Almost all of the XBox 360 JRPGs span multiple discs.
Here’s hoping.
I think after a year in the wild, plenty of our favorites will make their way on there.
Also worth noting that any games that are coming out in the Games for Gold promotion will all be backwards compatable. That is Dirt 3 this month, which also has a Deals with Gold promo to get the VIP pass for free! Free stuff is awesome 🙂
What’s this? No Dead or Alive Extreme 2 on that list?
PFFT!
I’m in preview so these games are working for me right now
N+
Banjo Tooie
World of Keflings
Viva Piniata
Toy Soldiers Cold War
Gears of War
Shadow Complex
Here’s what I’m looking forward to
Just Cause 2
Fallout 3
NBA Jam
Monday Night Combat (one of my absolute favourites)
What I’m hanging out for
The Splinter Cell games
Far Cry Blood Dragon
GTA IV
Bioshock Infinite
Dark Souls 1