Microsoft is reaching into the past to shape the future of gaming with the launch of Retro Classics, a new addition to Xbox Game Pass that lets subscribers play over 50 beloved titles from the ’80s and ’90s. Featuring classics from the extensive Activision vault, this initiative is designed to appeal to retro fans and younger players curious about the roots of gaming.
Retro Classics is a full-on restoration effort in collaboration with Antstream Arcade. The collection is available not only on Xbox consoles and PCs but also across a wide range of devices, including Samsung and LG smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV sticks, Meta Quest headsets, and other cloud-compatible platforms. This broad accessibility fits neatly into Microsoft’s strategy to make Game Pass the most versatile gaming service in the world.
Retro Classics home page / Image: Microsoft
With plans to expand the library to over 100 games in the near future, Retro Classics is more than just a side project — it’s a central piece of Xbox’s content-driven vision.
Handheld Intersection?
Adding fuel to Microsoft’s evolving strategy are persistent rumors about a dedicated Xbox handheld console. While still unconfirmed, speculation has been amplified by comments and hints from Xbox executives, including Phil Spencer, who recently showed interest in portable gaming form factors.
With competitors like Nintendo dominating handheld gaming and Sony teasing the space with remote-play devices, Microsoft could be preparing to bring Game Pass, and possibly Retro Classics, into a portable format. If true, such a move would align perfectly with Microsoft’s cross-device goals and expand the reach of its growing digital library.
The three different colorways available for the Xbox Series X / Image: Microsoft
Nintendo offers a similar benefit for subscribers of its Nintendo Switch Online service. With a subscription, gamers can explore over 100 retro classics from systems like the NES, and soon, going all the way up to the GameCube with the upcoming Switch 2. The difference, however, is Nintendo is personally working to bring their old games (and some fan favorites from competitors like the Sega Genesis) to their own modern systems.
Retro Revival, Modern Price Tag
Despite the excitement surrounding Retro Classics and rumors of expansion ahead, not all recent news has been celebratory. In the past few months, Microsoft has increased the prices of its hardware and services. Last month. Microsoft announced broad price increases due to increasing development costs and changes in the overall gaming market. These increases were somewhat substantial; the Xbox Series X released and went for an MSRP of $499.99, but gamers expecting to order a new unit can expect to pay $599.99 in 2025, five years after the initial release.
These changes, while reflective of broader trends, have sparked concern among consumers already navigating a crowded and costly entertainment landscape. The timing has been particularly notable as Microsoft rolls out content-rich offerings like Retro Classics that could otherwise generate unfiltered goodwill.
Still, Microsoft appears confident in its long-term strategy: betting that a robust, expansive content library and flexible access options will win out. Retro Classics is a testament to that approach, blending gaming history with modern convenience and hinting at even more ambitious plans ahead.
Included Titles in the Retro Classics Launch
- Activision Prototype #1
- Atlantis
- Atlantis 2
- Barnstorming
- Baseball
- Beamrider
- Bloody Human Freeway
- Boxing
- Bridge
- Caesar 2
- Checkers
- Chopper Command
- Commando
- Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood
- Cosmic Ark
- Crackpots
- Decathlon
- Demon Attack
- Dolphin
- Dragster
- Enduro
- Fathom
- Fire Fighter
- Fishing Derby
- Freddie Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist
- Freeway
- Frostbite
- Grand Prix
- H.E.R.O.
- Kaboom!
- Laser Blast
- MechWarrior
- MechWarrior 2
- Megamania
- Pitfall
- Pitfall 2
- Police Quest
- Pressure Cooker
- Quest for Glory 1
- Riddle of the Sphinx
- River Raid
- River Raid 2
- Robot Tank
- Sky Jinks
- Space Quest 2
- Space Quest 6
- Space Treat Deluxe
- Spider Fighter
- Star Voyager
- Tennis
- The Adventures of Willy Beamish
- The Dagger of Amon Ra
- Thwocker
- Title Match Pro Wrestling
- Torin’s Passage
- Trick Shot
- Vault Assault
Microsoft’s Retro Classics collection is a nostalgic yet forward-thinking effort that taps into gaming’s past while keeping an eye on its future. Paired with growing rumors of a handheld console and the reality of increased pricing, the company is clearly recalibrating its ecosystem. Whether these changes resonate positively with players may depend on how well Microsoft balances content, accessibility, and cost. But for now, the past has never looked more playable
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