Project Helix will maintain backwards compatibility: Microsoft ensures support for four generations of Xbox

The future Xbox console will continue to allow playing titles from the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Xbox Series.

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Microsoft has reaffirmed one of the pillars that has defined Xbox in recent years: retrocompatibility will remain a fundamental part of the platform’s future. During the Game Developer Conference 2026, the company confirmed that its next generation of hardware, currently known as Project Helix, will continue to allow access to games from previous consoles.

The announcement was made during the intervention of Jason Ronald, Vice President of Next Generation at Xbox, who explained that the company wants to ensure that the Xbox legacy continues to be accessible even when the new generation arrives.

Project Helix will continue to allow playing titles from four generations of Xbox

Microsoft explained that its goal is to keep games from four generations of Xbox accessible for many years, including titles originally released on:

• Original Xbox

• Xbox 360

• Xbox One

• Xbox Series

This approach is part of the company’s strategy to preserve the historical catalog of Xbox and prevent games from being limited to old hardware. In recent years, Microsoft has significantly expanded its retrocompatibility program, allowing hundreds of classic titles to work on modern consoles with technical improvements.

25 years of Xbox and what’s to come

The company also announced that during the 25th anniversary of Xbox, new ways to play some of the most iconic titles in its history will be presented, which could bring news related to the classic catalog.

With Project Helix, Microsoft aims to continue this philosophy in the next generation, ensuring that players’ libraries remain valid over time, regardless of the hardware used within the Xbox ecosystem.