Microsoft Brings 25 Classic Xbox Games To PC With New Achievements

Microsoft’s Xbox gaming may be actively developing its next generation console, Project Helix, but the company isn’t abandoning its classic titles and adjacent platforms. Earlier this year it announced the first wave of original Xbox games that were coming to the PC for the first time. Now it’s treating players to a new batch of games and this time around achievements are coming along for the ride.

The new games in the backwards combability program include 21 titles, which brings the count of original Xbox games on the PC to 25. It fits in perfectly with the company’s celebration of 25 years in the gaming space, giving both longtime and newer fans an opportunity to experience games that played a large role in the Xbox’s early success.


Some of the titles in this group of games are hardcore classics, which include The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Red Faction II, Secret Weapons Over Normandy, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Jedi Knight II Jedi Outcast, Star Wars: Republic Commando and Time Splitters 2. This batch definitely leane heavily on Star Wars releases, but these are some of the best games in the Star Wars universe, so we’re not complaining.

Of course, it isn’t a complete Xbox experience without achievements, which will now be available in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords, BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, and Conker: Live and Reloaded. The company says it “worked closely with each game’s developers and publishers as we designed the achievements to make sure they fit the spirit of each title.” Let's hope this also opens the door for more classic games to get the same treatment.

It’s great to see the Xbox team honoring its past and giving a whole new generation of players a chance to play these games. That they’ve gone out of their way to get the achievements implemented is just the cherry on top.