E3 2017: Xbox One backwards compatibility will now support games built for the original Xbox

In what has turned out to be a rather pleasant surprise, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will be backwards compatible with games made for the original Xbox.Xbox chief Phil Spencer told the crowds at E3 2017 that “our team of engineers are working hard to bring some of your favourite original Xbox games to today’s Xbox One library.” The first game to make it to the library is the beloved Crimson Skies.In a tweet spotted by Polygon, Albert Penello, Senior Director – Product Management and Planning at Microsoft clarified that original Xbox game discs will work on the Xbox One. In the tweet, he says that “digital licenses will carry over”, which we’re guessing means that the licenses will be tied to your Xbox Live account, once activated. The best part of Penello’s announcement is that the games can be played across three generations of Xbox console via system link. In other words, you’ll be able to hook up your Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One series console to play supported games over LAN.However, as The Verge points out, there’s no information yet on which games are compatible or on when the feature will be rolling out.As Polygon points out, the Xbox 360 was backwards compatible with hundreds of Xbox games to begin with.Head here to follow our complete coverage of E3 2017.