Microsoft has recently collaborated with Antstream Arcade, a retro cloud gaming platform, to bring over 1,300 classic video games to Xbox. This partnership should allow Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S owners to access a wide range of nostalgic titles that were previously hard to acquire.
Many titles come from various older consoles, including the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Commodore 64, and multiple Atari versions. For gamers that are passionate about experiencing their gaming past again, they’ll be able to play iconic throwbacks like Joust (I and II), Dig Dug, Star Raiders, Jumpman, and Missile Command. Along with that, pinball enthusiasts will also find a large selection of pinball games to play.
The move by Microsoft and Antstream Arcade should solve the growing concerns about classic game accessibility. And while some retro games have been preserved by libraries, the large majority remains inaccessible due to copyright protection. According to a recent study, only 13% of classic games are currently playable, leaving many gaming enthusiasts frustrated. Therefore gamers are forced to turn to piracy or hunt for garage sales in order to play the remaining 87% of games.
Antstream Arcade offers a solution to this retro gaming challenge. Over the last decade, the company was collecting and transforming titles from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s into an easily accessible online environment. Anyone with a PC, Mac, Android tablet, or smartphone can download the Antstream Arcade app and gain instant access to a huge library of 1,900 games and minigame challenges all covered with appropriate licenses.