Xbox launched its Backward Compatibility feature on PC on July 22, bringing four classic Xbox games to computers for the first time. More titles are planned for later, but players can already check whether their systems meet the requirements for the initial release.
The hardware list is fairly approachable, including options that should work well on some gaming handhelds. Both the minimum and recommended configurations require Windows 11, with drivers listed as needing to be at the latest version available in January 2026.
Xbox Backward Compatibility PC Requirements
Here is what players need for the minimum setup:
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 950, AMD Radeon RX 550, Intel UHD 770, or Intel Arc A310
- CPU: Minimum 4-core Intel Core i3-8100, AMD Ryzen 3 1200, or AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A Processor
- RAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Windows 11
- Drivers and versions: Latest version as of January 2026
Players looking for the recommended experience will need the following:
- GPU: Radeon RX 68005, Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti, or Intel Arc A770
- CPU: 6 cores and 12 threads with an Intel Core i5-10400, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, or AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
- DirectX: DirectX12 API with Hardware Feature Level 11
- GPU VRAM: 8GB
- Operating system: Windows 11
- Drivers and versions: Latest version as of January 2026
The first group of games is available now, while Xbox plans to add more classic titles later. The listed requirements also give players using compatible handheld PCs a path to the older games without needing a top-tier desktop.
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