A leaked developer document viewed by The Verge shows Microsoft plans to bring Xbox 360 games to PC between 2027 and 2028. The feature will roll out across next-gen devices including Project Helix and handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally. Developers will control pricing and Game Pass inclusion through a backwards compatibility toggle.
Microsoft's new Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC initiative runs on an Xbox 360 emulator that itself emulates original Xbox games through Xefu. Dataminers and the XWine1 team have already run Xbox 360 and original Xbox ROMs unofficially, confirming the platform can handle 360 titles despite Microsoft only releasing four original Xbox games so far.
Developer Mike Wing has launched Call of Duty Ambience, a free website that streams simulated 2010-era lobby voice chat from Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops, and Black Ops 2. The site recreates the Xbox 360 dashboard aesthetic complete with period-accurate gamertags and runs 24/7 for anyone seeking a very specific kind of white noise.
The Steam Machine, Valve's ambitious PC-console hybrid, has launched to mixed reviews and a troubling issue reminiscent of the Xbox 360's "Red Ring of Death"—a "Red Line of Death" indicating GPU failure after just 20 minutes of use. This critical flaw, combined with a significantly higher price tag and reported performance steps back, has divided the gaming community. Despite its promising HAL 9000-style LED displays, the device's reliability and value proposition are under scrutiny.
Josh Sawyer reveals Obsidian's approach to skill balance in Fallout: New Vegas, ensuring no character build is left behind. The studio's "Karma Police" team reviews script checks to maintain diverse gameplay experiences. Sawyer emphasizes fun over perfect balance, supporting unique character concepts.
In a surprising turn of events, a dedicated Bully player's pacifist playthrough quest has led to the discovery of a glitch, enabling the use of the previously inaccessible rifle in free roam for the first time since the game's 2006 release. This exploit, shared by content creator JustGarrison on YouTube, reveals the rifle's hidden functionality, sparking intrigue about its development intentions. The discovery sheds new light on Bully's design choices, especially considering the controversy surrounding Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas at the time.
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena offers brutal FPS fun with inventive stealth and melee mechanics, despite frustrating checkpoint issues.
Sonic Generations has been unexpectedly delisted from the Xbox 360 store. Learn more about this change and the upcoming Sonic X Shadow Generations release.
