MachineGames is making Wolfenstein 3, Xbox announced on November 12 during its 25th anniversary celebrations. Brian Bloom will return as BJ Blazkowicz and Debra Wilson as Grace Walker. Xbox confirmed the actors and the studio but has yet to give the game a release date or name its platforms.
For players looking for something to play this week, the same announcement brought a more immediate change. Xbox added 21 original console games to its backward compatibility program for PC. Among them are The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, TimeSplitters 2 and both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games. The additions are available in supported markets on Windows 11.
What changes for players returning to the classics
Xbox launched the PC program in July with four games, including the time-bending platformer Blinx: The Time Sweeper. The November additions bring the catalog to 25. Every game in the collection now supports a mouse and keyboard, and Xbox says it has improved performance and stability for the original four.
How players get access depends on the title. Of the new arrivals, Xbox lists Morrowind and Grabbed by the Ghoulies as available with Game Pass. An individual game purchase may be required for other titles. The collection runs on compatible Windows 11 PCs, including handheld devices such as the ROG Xbox Ally.
Four titles also get Xbox achievements for the first time. Players can earn them in the two Knights of the Old Republic games, Blinx and Conker: Live and Reloaded. The new achievements work on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles as well as PC. For someone picking up an old save, Xbox says progress already made may count toward some of them.
Halo brings four players together for Firefight
Halo Studios is bringing Firefight to Halo: Campaign Evolved in a free winter update. Four players team up against successive waves of computer-controlled enemies. The studio showed the mode on new maps at Xbox FanFest in Seattle, where attendees were given the first chance to try it.
The next public preview is scheduled for Halo Fest in Seattle on December 12 and 13. Halo Studios says visitors will be able to play Firefight throughout the weekend and that it will share more about the update there. The December dates are for the event. A specific release day for the update has yet to be announced.
Doom sets a November date for Slaughter Mode
The nearest dated release in the anniversary lineup is Slaughter Mode for Doom: The Dark Ages, due November 16. Each run mixes up enemies, bosses and arenas, and the rounds get harder as players advance. Rewards build as a run continues.
Xbox says the mode comes at no additional charge for owners of the Revelations downloadable content, the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade. That distinction matters for anyone deciding whether the copy of Doom already in their library gives them access on launch day.
