MS enhances Xbox 360 backwards compatibility

Microsoft has released a new update for the Xbox 360 console, providing support for an additional 21 Xbox titles and reinforcing Peter Moore's comments that backwards compatibility is important to the firm.

Moore has been forced to clarify his position with regards to backwards compatibility, after recent comments from the Xbox exec that it was not something Microsoft was concerned about were apparently misinterpreted.

The new update, which has been released via Xbox Live and will be available for download from Xbox.com, brings the total number of original Xbox titles which can be played on a 360 to 227.

Notable additions, which were highlighted by Peter Moore recently, include Activision's Doom 3 and Eidos's Lego Star Wars. Also on the list is Star Wars: Battlefront, Amped 2, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, Silent Hill 4: The Room, Rare's comic-book arcade adventure Grabbed by the Ghoulies and THQ's The Punisher.

Further additions include 4X4 Evolution 2, Bad Boys 2, Big Mutha Truckers, Fatal Frame, FlatOut, Intellivision Lives, Minority Report, MLB Slugfest 2004, RalliSport Challenge, Spawn: Armageddon, Spider-Man, State of Emergency, and Zapper.

A handful of Japanese only titles were also included in the update, and Microsoft has reiterated that it will continue to work towards its goal of achieving 100 per cent backwards compatibility - releasing additional updates as swiftly and as regularly as possible to satiate the needs of a fairly substantial consumer audience for the original Xbox console.