My Xbox Series X has become a glorified Xbox 360 — and that’s fine with me

For well-nigh gamers the highlight of this week's Xbox 20th Anniversary Celebration stream was the surprise reveal that Halo Space multiplayer would be available to play that twenty-four hours. For me, that was only a bit-function annunciation compared to the real game-changing news.

76 additional games take been added to the Xbox backward compatibility program. Among the listing are splendid Xbox 360 titles similar Max Payne 3, F.E.A.R and, one of my personal favorite games of all time, Skate ii. Confirmation that the entire Skate trilogy is now playable on Xbox Series X had me physically fist-pumping with excitement.

I managed to snag an Xbox Series X restock back in February after a couple of weeks of searching, and since then I've used it almost exclusively every bit an Xbox 360 emulation machine. In fact, over the last nine months, I've played exactly two current-gen games on the system: Psychonauts 2 and Aliens: Fireteam Elite.

Granted, part of the reason for this is that the PS5 is my master system (yeah, I'k lucky to have both), so I play the vast majority of recent releases in that location, but I don't regret my $499 investment in an Xbox Series X. Being able to play games across four generations of Xbox on a single motorcar has justified my investment alone.

Xbox Series X: And then many Xbox classics to play

Since the Xbox astern compatibility programme launched in 2015, originally every bit a characteristic for the then current-gen Xbox One, Microsoft has made 695 previous-gen games playable on the almost recent Xbox (632 Xbox 360 titles, 63 original Xbox games). Non to mention every unmarried Xbox One title has been playable on Xbox Series X since launch.

Amid the listing of backward compatible titles are some of the best games of the seventh generation of consoles. Including Fallout New Vegas, Left iv Dead, The Witcher two: Assassins of Kings, Yard Theft Auto 4, and many (many) more classic games. Just listing all the available titles worth playing (or replaying) would take up this entire article.

The smaller simply still excellent selection of original Xbox games shouldn't be overlooked either. Being able to easily access almost 20 years old games such every bit Star Wars Knights of the One-time Republic, Max Payne 2 and TimeSplitters 2 on a mod console is aught to sniff at.

When I first booted upwards my Xbox Series X my original plan was to check out the impressive Game Pass service, but instead, I speedily found myself downloading the original Dead Space so I could revisit the Ishimura and boxing hordes of nightmarish creatures like information technology was 2008 all over again. Having easy access to these familiar favorites is an irresistible depict.

Xbox Series X makes the all-time even better

A screenshot from Skate 3 — (Paradigm credit: EA)

Some other feature of the backward compatibility part that should not be overlooked is how the Xbox Serial X gives many of these games a much-needed performance heave. The kickoff fourth dimension I booted upwards Skate three and cruised effectually Port Carverton in glorious lx fps I felt similar my entire $499 outlay had been justified.

The offset fourth dimension I booted up Skate three and cruised around Port Carverton in glorious lx fps I felt like my entire $499 outlay had been justified.

Unfortunately, the whole roster of about 700 games hasn't been additional only a solid handful has been. Plus, during the same Xbox Anniversary stream, some other couple of dozen were added to the list. Amongst the games boosted this week is dear 2008 RPG Fallout iii which definitely needed a framerate increased as on 360 it was prone to chugging fifty-fifty at 30 fps.

Microsoft deserves huge credit for not merely enabling previous-gen games to be playable on the Xbox Serial X (and the Xbox One family of consoles) but also actively working to make them play meliorate than ever on its newest motorcar. This stands in stark contrast to Sony who's made cipher backward compatibility efforts with the PS4 and made picayune more than the minimum amount with the PS5.

The true all-in-one Xbox

Xbox Series X on wooden table. — (Prototype credit: Alex Van Aken | Shutterstock)

During the disastrous announcement showcase of the Xbox One way dorsum in 2013, Microsoft pitched the panel every bit in the "all in ane Xbox" (hence the name). They were referring to the panel existence designed as an entertainment hub, but to me, the Xbox Series 10 has achieved the existent "all in i" panel dream

It's not done this by providing a load of additional streaming and media applications, which in fairness the panel does offer, simply by enabling users to play games from across four generations of Xbox on a single machine. That's one hell of a selling point. Especially when your biggest competition doesn't offer annihilation fifty-fifty shut.

Previously when I wanted to smash the limbs off Necromorphs or shred my favorite skating spots in New San Vanelona I had to reach into the darkest depths of my cupboard and dust off my rapidly deteriorating PS3.

Now I just switch on my Xbox Series X and I can be playing some of my favorite games of the by two decades with boosted framerates and quicker loading times. That alone has completely justified the weeks of frustration I endured chasing downwards an Xbox Series X restock.