Xbox is Done With Backward Compatibility; Reasons Include Licensing

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S will not receive any more backward compatible titles. Microsoft has exhausted both legal and technical options that allowed games from previous generation consoles to be launched.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S will not receive any more games as part of backward compatibility, announced Peggy Lo, head of the game backwards compatibility program;
Currently, more than 600 titles from the first Xbox and Xbox 360 are included in backward compatibility.

Peggy Lo, Xbox's head of backward compatibility, has announced that the company has exhausted its ability to add new compatible titles. In a post on the Xbox Wire blog, she explains the reasons behind this situation:

"While we continue to stay focused on preserving and enhancing the art form of games, we have reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints. Thank you for being part of this journey with us," wrote Peggy Lo in a post on Xbox Wire.

It is worth mentioning here that recently the library of games from previous generations of Xbox consoles covered by backward compatibility has grown by 76 titles. The collection now includes the F.E.A.R. and Max Payne series, as well as Red Dead Revolver or Mortal Kombat. The entire library of emulated games already contains a total of nearly 600 titles from previous generations, which you can play on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

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If you have the impression that such information is a kind of déja vu - no wonder. A similar announcement has already appeared in 2019 and concerned the backward compatibility of the Xbox One. However, this year's situation differs from that of two years ago for reasons - these are legal issues, not another project. This in turn allows us to believe that this time we are dealing with a final decision.