Microsoft is planning to allow developers to bring Xbox 360 games to PC, according to a leaked document seen by Theverge that was sent to developers recently. The leaked document indicates that Xbox 360 games will run on the next-gen Project Helix console, “Xbox PCs,” and handheld devices.
Microsoft Reportedly Plans Xbox 360 Games for PC and Project Helix
Building on previously announced plans to bring original Xbox games to PC, the 360 games will run through an emulator on PC. According to reports shared by GAMINGbible, third-party publishers will not be required to develop a port because the emulator will handle the conversion, though each game will be certified title by title. Developers can opt into making their 360 games backward compatible, retaining control over pricing and whether a game is available on Game Pass, as reported by Theverge.
The roadmap outlines a gradual rollout for the 360 games feature between 2027 and 2028 across next-gen devices. This follows an initial program announced in July that included just four games, with the full launch of original Xbox games on PC set for October 2026, as detailed by Theverge.
Disc-to-Digital Program Details and Timelines
The leaked internal communications also outline a disc-to-digital program, referred to as the Positron program in a Windows Central report mentioned by Wccftech. The system is designed so that when a player inserts an Xbox One or Xbox Series game disc into a console with a disc drive, they receive a digital license bound to that specific disc and the player’s account.
According to Theverge, if the physical disc changes hands, the digital license transfers to the new person, meaning the original owner can no longer play the digital version once they trade or sell the disc. Console modder and developer RetroGamer_74 shared details of this mechanism on X, noting that the license is linked to the physical disc and transferred with it to prevent duplication, as covered by Wccftech and GAMINGbible.
The public beta for the disc-to-digital program was originally scheduled for July, with general availability planned for August, though the exact timeline has faced delays and uncertainty, as reported by Theverge and GAMINGbible. References to enabling “Disc2Digital” have appeared in the Xbox PC app code since May.
Hardware Strategy and Industry Context
The multi-device library approach helps set up a future of consoles without disc drives, according to Theverge, which notes that Sony has already declared game discs dead. PlayStation announced it is ending physical game disc production for all new games released on PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, according to VGChartz.
Despite industry shifts toward digital-only platforms, Digital Foundry’s John Linneman reported hearing from sources that Microsoft was very much planning to continue disc support before the current Xbox reset, specifically to ensure that all legacy Xbox games remain playable on new hardware, potentially via an external drive or through the disc-to-digital initiative, as detailed by VGChartz.
These planned changes arrive in the wake of a major Xbox reset announced in July, which included thousands of layoffs and the sale of four studios by Microsoft, as reported by Theverge.
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