[Updated] Rumor: Microsoft would be working with the Xenia emulator to bring massive retrocompatibility to many devices

It seems that Microsoft wants to get rid of hardware completely and for that, nothing better than having games on all possible devices, even classic games.

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Update 20/06/2025

Original News

According to a source close to Microsoft, the company is working on a project called “Xbox Classics” that focuses on emulating the original Xbox and Xbox 360. This would translate into a new advanced emulation platform that would allow classic titles from these consoles to be run with improved stability and graphics. The integration would be complete with Game Pass, PC, current consoles, portable devices like ROG Xbox Ally, and the cloud.

We’ve learned this thanks to Spanish YouTuber eXtas1s, who shared this information in a video, mentioning that Xbox might split the announcement of this project into “two big waves” in 2026, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the brand. Although specific dates are not known, it’s rumored that collaboration with the team behind the unofficial Xenia Xbox 360 emulator has been key to making this project possible.

“Xbox Classics” would be the project’s name

Among the games that will be optimized on this new emulation platform are Fable 2, Skate 3, Gears of War 3, and Batman Arkham Asylum. These titles will be more stable, with fewer errors and better frame rates, and will be optimized to work on both PC and cloud. The list of games is not exhaustive, as several titles are being evaluated for technical and licensing compatibility. Other games that could be included are Def Jam: Fight for New York, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, Castle Crashers, Darksiders 2, Prince of Persia (2008), Skate 2, and Left 4 Dead 2.

eXtas1s mentions that this project would be internally and provisionally called “Xbox Classics”, but it’s unclear how much Microsoft wants to keep that name given the existence of “Xbox Retro Classics”. As the video creator says, it’s temporary, and it would make sense for them to change it to avoid confusing users.

What is Xbox looking for with all this?

Xbox’s goal is for these video games to be played better than ever, even on portable devices like ROG Xbox Ally and the cloud, on a smart TV, or on a mobile phone. To achieve this, the company is betting on three simultaneous versions for each game: a console version, a PC version, and a cloud version. This would mean a significant overhaul of the current system, which is only optimized for consoles on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Keep in mind that all this information is just a rumor and has not been officially confirmed by Microsoft. However, many details are being shared, which makes it possible that this renovation could become a reality at some point in 2026.