Leaked Memo: Next Xbox Will Play Old Games — But Only If Publishers Agree

A leaked Microsoft memo reveals the next Xbox, code-named Project Helix, will play games from every past Xbox generation. But older titles will only work if each game's publisher agrees to include them. Publishers set the price and decide whether games join the Game Pass subscription. The approach mirrors Nvidia's GeForce Now service, which faced publisher pushback before adopting opt-in. Legacy catalog depth will hinge on rights-holder cooperation.