Rumour: Xbox 'Hopes' To Bring Backwards Compatibility Program To ROG Ally & Windows PC

Thanks to DirectX libraries, I think it should be easy to run Xbox and X360 games on Windows, even Xbox One and Xbox Series games if there is enough power to do so.

However, licensing may be a challenge. I don't know to what extent the original console licenses allow the game to be run on other devices, such as a PC, without anyone having to pay for it. If we look at it as simple backward compatibility, without having to recompile the games, perhaps the licenses are still valid. But no matter how much Microsoft wants, a PC it's not exactly a new Xbox...

I wonder if the effort is worth it, given how Xbox is willing to completely change up its entire hardware strategy and, let's face it, how precarious its position in the console and/or hardware market currently is.

They did all that work - backwards compatibility, FPS boost, etc - for legacy games running on Series X|S, only to seemingly pivot to a more PC-focused hardware strategy going forward. What happens in 5-10 years time if Xbox needs to or decides to change it up again in some way? Does a second round of costly legacy game compatibility development also essentially go to waste?

It's got to be a difficult position to be in, given that consumers more than ever want their libraries to come with them across hardware generations, and Xbox's future in hardware is so uncertain and likely to change at almost a moment's notice.

Here's the problem with this. Emulation laws are very clear, you can emulate games you own, however, if Microsoft SELLS these games in their store, they need approval and licenses from each and every game or publisher. That was why the backwards compatibility program stopped in the first place.

I hope they fnd a way to 'emulate' their Series Hardware/OS etc for PC and that can play EVERY game the Series S/X can inc those on BC. I'd hope more for the 'X' so you'd get all the 'X' upgrades - including those XB1X.

However, the code may send the Audio to an Audio Processor built into a Consoles chip, where as on PC, that maybe processed by GPU or CPU so that may not work as expected - unless they come up with a solution.

Its a 'difficult' one because MS don't own the rights, licences etc to a LOT of those games and people purchased a Licence to play on 'Specific' Hardware. You bought a licence to play 'Mass Effect' on Xbox 360, not PC or other platforms. Its an EA/Bioware game so MS has no 'right' to bring that game forward or even sell it without EA's permission. Its not an 'Xbox' game, its an EA game.

Licences also may well limit BC - its not worth renewing some Licences if the game isn't selling anymore to recoup that investment - 3rd Party music, branding (like Ford, Ferrari etc) won't let you sell their IP's and not get money and therefore those games may not be brought forward...