Do you have a collection of Xbox 360 games and wonder if they’ll work on your Xbox One? Thanks to Microsoft’s backward compatibility program, over 600 Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One, sometimes even with graphical enhancements. In this article, we’ll explain how to enjoy your old games on your current console, whether you own physical or digital versions.
Compatibility and the Xbox 360 Backward Compatibility Program on Xbox One
Xbox 360 backward compatibility on Xbox One is a great story that began in November 2015. Microsoft initially offered 60 compatible games, and the list has grown significantly over the years.
Today, more than 600 Xbox 360 games work perfectly on Xbox One. And the good news is that you don’t have to pay anything extra: if you already own the game, whether in physical or digital format, you can play it for free on your Xbox One.
How does it work?
- For physical game discs: simply insert the disc into the console to start the download.
- Keep the disc in the console while playing, as it serves as a verification “key.”
You also don’t need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to enjoy your backward compatible titles in solo mode. Gold is only required if you want to play online, just like with any other game.
The program ended on a high note on November 15, 2021 with the addition of 76 final titles. Microsoft then announced that it had reached the technical limits of what was possible in terms of backward compatibility for the Xbox 360.
Now that you know which games are compatible, it’s essential to understand how to get them working properly on your Xbox One to make the most of this impressive library of classics.
Ways to Play Backward Compatible Games
You have two main options to enjoy your Xbox 360 games on Xbox One. You can use your original physical discs by simply inserting them into your console. For players who prefer digital format, the Xbox Store allows you to buy and download compatible titles directly. In both cases, a download is required to install a compatible version of the game on your Xbox One.
Using Physical Discs
Playing your Xbox 360 games on Xbox One from a disc is quite simple. Start by inserting the disc into your console’s drive. The Xbox One will then recognize the game and download an optimized edition directly to the hard drive. This process is necessary, as the console doesn’t play the game directly from the disc, but uses a compatible version to run properly.
Don’t forget this step if you want to enjoy your old titles!
Digital Downloads
Digital downloads make accessing Xbox 360 games on Xbox One very easy. If you purchased digital versions of games on your old console, there’s no need to buy them again. They’ll automatically appear in the “Ready to Install” section of your Xbox One, as long as you’re using the same Microsoft account that was used for the original purchase.
To find them, just go to your game library. Once you select the title, start the download. Depending on the game’s size and your internet connection, this may take some time, but don’t worry: thanks to FastStart technology, you’ll be able to start playing even before the full download is complete.
