Xbox One backwards compatibility explained (and what does the PS4 offer?)

New consoles are an exciting investment, but what do you do when you realise that your existing games library – a library you’ve painstakingly built up over several years – no longer works with your new machine? Game incompatibility across hardware generations is a reality all consumers must begrudgingly face.

But there is a silver lining. Owners of the Xbox One, Xbox One S or Xbox One X now have access to backwards compatibility, a feature that is bringing those old Xbox 360 games back to life.

In essence, the Xbox One is able to emulate (or mimic) the original Xbox 360 system. This emulation layer is automatically bundled with Microsoft’s routine updates, so you don’t have to tinker with anything on the Xbox One to activate it.

The upshot is that most of your library is now playable on your current-gen console, and that includes those discs you’ve been using as coffee coasters.

To help you along, we’ve put together a handy guide to cover all the basics, looking at:

1. All the great games you can play on your Xbox One

2. What X Enhanced means

3. Why Sony hasn’t offered backwards compatibility

4. What Sony offers as an alternative

Xbox One backwards compatibility

Will Microsoft let me play my old games on my Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X?

Irrespective of whether you have an Xbox One, a Slim or an X, you can now play 500+ Xbox 360 and Xbox Original discs in your machine. ***Jump to the end of the article for the full list. ***

How does Xbox One backwards compatibility work?

Microsoft has developed software that imitates Xbox 360 hardware and tricks a 360 game into thinking it’s running on the old system. And, since Microsoft has a dedicated team working on backwards compatibility, they’re able to get these games running better than they ever did before.

Are there some games that are not backwards compatible?

Microsoft has done a fantastic job bringing most of the classics over to new devices, but games that haven’t yet been ported include Max Payne 3 (Xbox 360) and the Splinter Cell trilogy on the original Xbox. If you’re a diehard Resident Evil fan, you’ll be disappointed to hear that Resident Evil 5 and 6 are not yet supported either. Nor, strangely, is Skyrim. Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3 HD Edition are missing too, though it should be stressed that Microsoft is adding new classics all the time.

…So, what is Xbox One X Enhanced?

Xbox One X owners are in for a treat! Microsoft has handpicked a selection of Xbox 360 games, revisited them, and wrung the most it can out of the original code. These games now support 4K resolution and other enhancements like high dynamic range lighting, improved textures and vastly better loading times. Seeing an X Enhanced game playing side by side with its Xbox 360 original is night and day.

Note: This feature is only available on the Xbox One X console.

If you’re lucky enough to own an X, simply pop the Xbox 360 original disc into the tray, download the free update and away you go. Granted, the list of X Enhanced games is small, but it’s growing slowly but surely:

What are the X Enhanced titles?

(Up to date as of 31/7/2018)

Assassin’s Creed

Crackdown

Darksiders

Fable Anniversary

Fallout 3

Forza Horizon

Gears of War 2

Gears of War 3

Halo 3

Mirror’s Edge

Oblivion

Portal 2

Red Dead Redemption

Skate 3

Sonic Generations

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Witcher II

Did you know?

X Enhanced titles let you switch between a Performance mode (60 frames per second) and a Graphics mode (4K at 30 frames per second).

To toggle between the two options:

• Press the “Menu” and “View” buttons on your Xbox One X controller at the same time.

• Hit the “Settings” option and go to “Xbox One X settings”.

• Switch between Graphics or Performance modes using the right bumper.

X Enhanced or not, what are some of the best games to play for the first time?

Dead Space 2

Isaac Clarke endures a day he’s never going to forget in Dead Space 2. If jump scares and an atmosphere thick with dread are your thing, this is one of the best games of the last generation.

Fallout 3 (Xbox One X enhanced)

Does it get any better? The first fully 3D open-world Fallout is playable in glorious 4K on an Xbox One X.

Far Cry 3

One of the most underrated games of the last generation, Far Cry 3 looks a treat all these years later.

Gears of War 3 (Xbox One X Enhanced)

Assume the role of Marcus Fenix in crisp 4K on the Xbox One X. No matter which console you play it on, Gears of War 3 is one of the best games of the last generation.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV hasn’t had the X Enhanced treatment, but it still benefits from the Xbox One’s extra horsepower. Frame rates are improved, allowing you to enjoy the story of Niko Bellic in greater fidelity.

Halo 3 (Xbox One X Enhanced)

Everyone has their favourite Halo title, but the way Microsoft has enhanced the trilogy-concluding 3 is a joy to see.

Mass Effect series

If you haven’t had a chance to play the Mass Effect games before, you owe it to yourself to get the whole trilogy in one juicy box set. Explore the galaxy as Commander Shepherd and choose whether to be an evil sadist or a man/woman of the people.

Portal 2 (Xbox X enhanced)

Few games are as funny or as inventive as Portal 2. The classic is made all the better on Xbox One X, with smoother edges and a marked jump in resolution.

Red Dead Redemption (Xbox One X enhanced)

Now is the perfect time to revisit John Marston’s story.

Vanquish

Fast, fun and frenetic, Vanquish is a blast to play and you can pick up a bargain copy for a couple of pounds.

The Orange Box

No games collection is complete without a copy of The Orange Box, which bundles Half-Life 2 with its episodes One and Two, as well as Team Fortress 2 and the original Portal. Get this collection alongside Portal 2.

The Witcher II (Xbox One X enhanced)

Even all these years later, The Witcher II is one of the most technically demanding games of all time, and its X Enhancements reveal features that were never possible on the Xbox 360.

Just a note: games like Borderlands, Dark Souls and Bioshock aren’t featured in this list as they’re available as first-party Xbox One and PS4 titles in remastered form.

PS4 backwards compatibility

Does the PS4 offer backwards compatibility?

In a word, no. True backwards compatibility is not a feature Sony has unveiled. That is, you can’t buy a PlayStation 3 game and play it on your PlayStation 4.

Why?

One reason might be the way the PlayStation 3 was built. During its lifecycle it had a reputation for being extremely complicated to develop games for, and the challenge of getting an emulator to mimic it might be proving prohibitively costly.

In any event, Sony has gone a different route. The company has chosen to remaster some of its classic titles, like Shadow of the Colossus, repackaging these games with overhauled graphics.

What’s the difference between a remaster and a game that’s backwards compatible?

Remasters are re-released in a new box with a new price tag for a new console. They generally come with significant improvements that bring them up to speed with contemporary standards.

In lieu of backwards compatibility, what else does Sony offer?

Sony has also made 50+ PlayStation 2 titles available for download from their online hub, the PlayStation Network. Just bear in mind that those old PS2 discs in your garage aren’t going to work, so you’ll need to buy the digital copies instead.

The full list of PS2 games that can be bought from the PSN and played on a PS4 is as follows:

ADK Damashii

Ape Escape 2

Arc The Lad: Twilight of the Spirits

Art of Fighting Anthology

Canis Canem Edit (Bully)

Dark Chronicle

Dark Cloud

Destroy All Humans!

Destroy All Humans! 2

Everybody’s Tennis

Fahrenheit

FantaVision

Fatal Fury Battle Archives: Volume 2

Forbidden Siren

Fu’un Super Combo

GTA 3

GTA: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy

GTA: Vice City

Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland

Jak 3

Jak II: Renegade

Jak X: Combat Racing

Kinetica

Manhunt

Max Payne

Metal Slug Anthology

Okage: Shadow King

PaRappa The Rapper 2

Primal

Psychonauts

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

Red Dead Revolver

Red Faction

Red Faction 2

Resident Evil – Code: Veronica X

Rise of the Kasai

Rockstar Games PS2 Classics Bundle

Rogue Galaxy

Samurai Showdown VI

Star Ocean Till The End Of Time

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter

Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter

Star Wars: Racer Revenge

The Jak and Daxter Collection

The King of Fighters 2000

The King of Fighters ‘98 Ultimate Match

The King of Fighters Collection

The Mark of Kri

The Warriors

Twisted Metal: Black

War of the Monsters

Wild Arms 3

The other option is to join PlayStation Now. PS4, PS4 and PS2 games are available on the service and are all hosted on Sony’s servers, so you can play them remotely using a broadband internet connection. Sony sets the minimum-required broadband speed at 5 mb/s, but you’ll likely want to double that for the best performance. Check out our range of gaming routers, ideal for high internet use.

And, while you won’t be able to pop down to your local second-hand shop to pick up the titles you love, Sony has got a robust selection available to stream. Just make sure your internet connection is up to the job.

Want some help? You can always chat to an expert in-store or via a video call on ShopLive.