Microsoft May Bring Legacy Xbox Games to Windows and Ally

Microsoft may be exploring a plan to bring legacy Xbox and Xbox 360 games to Windows PCs and the ROG Ally, according to insider sources. On the ResetERA forums, insider Nate the Hate wrote on Dec 9, “there exists a hope to make legacy Xbox (OG and Xbox 360) games BC on ROG and Windows. Whether they succeed is the unknown.” 

The effort, said to be in early stages, would extend Xbox’s backward compatibility program beyond console hardware for the first time. While Microsoft has not commented publicly, the claim has triggered discussion about the company’s platform strategy and ambition to make Xbox titles more widely accessible. The speculations started after Jason Ronald, Vice President of Next-Gen Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem, claimed the company is planning to celebrate the legacy and history of the platform.

From Xbox Play Anywhere to Game Pass for PC, Microsoft has spent years promoting interoperability across its Xbox and PC ecosystems. Extending official support for legacy games to Windows-based handhelds can be consistent with that strategy. 

Earlier, in June 2025, another report noted Microsoft was planning a "Xbox Classics" program with the Xbox Xenia team to bring legacy titles to PC. However, Xenia later denied it.

Technical Hurdles and Unanswered Questions

Observers say the rumored effort aligns with Microsoft’s broader attempt to strengthen its next-generation Xbox. The next-gen Xbox is rumored to use AMD Magnus APU, which would make it backward compatible for older generation games, which could enhance the company’s future-tech understanding for backward compatibility and help in the integration of Xbox legacy games on Windows. 

However, technical limitations are not the only issue for bringing legacy games to PC and the ROG Ally. Reportedly, publishers are against the effort, so Microsoft would also face long-standing challenges around licensing rights. 

If verified, Microsoft's efforts to bring back old Xbox libraries on Windows would mark a significant change in its distribution strategy for its old catalog. The decision might enhance its cross-platform ecosystem, but it would require overcoming licensing, emulation, and strategic trade-offs issues.