I've been going through what's backwards compatible and what's not on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One (I don't have a Series S/X but usually they just match the Xbox One anyway I believe) - specifically looking at games that haven't been brought across.
Since Sega is my main jam, I've been scrutinising what the cause of several games being left out might be, I came up with the following;
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Afterburner Climax (XBLA) - Includes Boeing product placement, otherwise I don't see why this hasn't been made b/c
Aliens: Colonial Marines (X360) - Could be due to Aliens licence, but Sega did make Isolation b/c as well as making an Xbox One version. I think this might be due to 20th Century Games now being owned by Disney since the Disney/Fox buyout.
Anarchy Reigns (X360) - Owned by PlatinumGames and poorly reviewed
Beijing 2008, London 2012: The Official Video Game and Vancouver 2010 (X360) - Outdated Sports Licence
Captain America: Super Soldier, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Thor: God of Thunder (X360) - Outdated Marvel Licences, now owned by Disney
The Club (X360) - Bizarre Creations was bought by Activision
Condemned 2: Bloodshot (X360) - The first game is b/c, however I believe this one was left out as it is banned in Germany
Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller (XBOX) - Soundtrack rights, including The Offspring, Bad Religion, Pivit and Silverbullit
Ecco the Dolphin (XBLA) - An XBLA release, might have something to do with Appaloosa Interactive going bust.
Football Manager 2006, 2007 and 2008 (X360) - Outdated Sports Licence
Full Auto (X360) - Pseudo Interactive went bust
Golden Axe: Beast Rider (X360) - Unknown. Secret Level is now owned by Sega. Perhaps it's due to poor reviews?
The Golden Compass (X360) - Movie Licence
Headhunter Redemption (XBOX) - Amuze went bust in 2005
House of the Dead III (XBOX) - Lightguns don't work on modern TVs, this is b/c with X360.
Iron Phoenix (XBOX) - Interserv is a Taiwanese Company, perhaps that has something to do with it? It was only release in the US originally, so perhaps that might be part of why it's not b/c
Jet Set Radio Future (XBOX) - Music rights for all non-Naganuma tracks. Jet Set Radio's XBLA release had the same issue, however a workaround was found by replacing tracks that couldn't be licenced. JSRF can do the same, hell re-hire Naganuma to make new JSRF music for the release and you've got a win all round. Will play on X360.
Outrun 2 and Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (XBOX) - Ferrari Licencing. Both play on X360.
Outrun Online Arcade (XBLA) - Ferrari Licencing
Phantasy Star Online: I & II (XBOX) - Servers have long been offline
Phantasy Star Universe (X360) - Servers have long been offline
Planet 51 (X360) - Movie Licence
Project Gotham Racing 1-4 (XBOX and X360) - Not strictly Sega, but the spiritual successors to MSR on DC. I thought Microsoft Game Studios owned these, but apparently the rights are with Bizarre Creations who were bought by Activision.
Puyo Pop Fever (XBOX) - Unknown
Renegade Ops (XBLA) - Avalanche Studios was bought by Nordisk Film in 2018.
Rent-A-Hero No.1 (XBOX) - International release was cancelled, although the text and dialogue was fully localised. There seems to be no good reason to not make this b/c.
Resonance of Fate (X360) - tri-Ace are owned by Nepro Japan, and Sega only published the X360 version - other publishers handled other consoles so it's likely SEGA hold no rights to it.
Rez HD (XBLA) - Rights were bought back by creator Mizuguchi, so Sega don't have the rights to re-release.
Rise of Nightmares (X360) - Requires Kinect
Sega GT 2002 and Sega GT Online (XBOX) - Car Licencing and Music licencing. Sega GT Online had licenced music from bands like Supersuckers etc. Will play on X360.
Sega Rally Revo and SROA/Sega Rally Online Arcade (X360/XBLA) - Car Licencing
Sega Superstars Tennis (X360) - Unknown. This has to be made b/c. Perhaps it's music rights conflicts with Richard Jacques (though they've made several other games with his music b/c, so unlikely).
Sega Soccer Slam (XBOX) - Black Box is now owned by Electronic Arts. Does play on X360.
Shadow the Hedgehog (XBOX) - Unknown. Could be music licencing, though that's unlikely. Could be that it was unpopular. Could be that the game outputs in interlaced mode and is difficult to force into progressive? Really I have no idea.
Shenmue II (XBOX) - While not b/c, the Shenmue I & II release on XONE cover for this title. Will play in X360.
Sonic Heroes (XBOX) - Unknown.
Sonic Riders (X360) - Possibly rights issues with Now Production?
Sonic Free Riders (X360) - Requires Kinect
Sonic 2006 (X360) - Likely poor reviews and numerous glitches? There seems to be no legal issue making this b/c.
Sonic Mega Collection Plus (XBOX) - Unknown, but was replaced on X360 with Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection/Ultimate Mega Drive Collection. Will play on X360.
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection/Ultimate Mega Drive Collection (X360) - Unknown, but was replaced on XONE with Sega Mega Drive Collection. The emulator is terrible in the XONE game, however.
ADDITIONAL - Sonic Team are actually doing full ports of the original Sonic games under a supposed 2022 game "Sonic Origins". Because they will be full ports, they'll support 16:9 widescreen and allow for extra features akin to Sonic CD's XBLA re-release by Christian Whitehead. It's likely none of these Sonic game emulators will be ported as they'll be replaced with Sonic Origins.
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (X360) - Unknown. Transformed (the sequel) was made b/c, there seems to be no reason not to do the first title in the racing trilogy (this, Transformed and Team Sonic Racing). Perhaps it's the X360 versions' appearance of Banjo-Kazooie that is the problem?
Space Channel 5: Part 2 (XBLA) - Space Michael Jackson.
Spartan: Total Warrior (XBOX) - Unknown
Spikeout: Battle Street (XBOX) - Unknown
Stormrise (X360) - Unknown
Streets of Rage 2 (XBLA) - Unknown. Likely not bothered as the game exists in both the Sega Vintage Collection: Streets Of Rage and in Sega Mega Drive Classics.
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (XBOX) - Unknown, however Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania (XONE) is a new port of the title. The Xbox disc plays in X360.
Taito Legends and Taito Legends 2 (XBOX) - Taito Licences, retro compilations almost never get made b/c.
Toejam & Earl III: Mission To Earth (XBOX)[/color] - Visual Concepts (devs) now owned by 2K, TJ&E owned by Greg Johnson/HumaNature Studios
Universe at War: Earth Assault (X360) - Unknown
Viking: Battle for Asgard (X360) - Unknown
Virtua Fighter 5 (X360) - Unknown. They did make Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown b/c, though it feels like a stripped down version of the disc title. Final Showdown is based on a more recent arcade board revision so it's likely that's all they'll release.
Virtua Striker (X360) - Outdated Sports Licence
Virtua Tennis 2009, Virtua Tennis 3 and Virtua Tennis 4 (X360) - Outdated sports licences, specifically players
World Series Baseball 2K2 and 2K3 (XBOX) - Outdated sports licence. 2K3 is playable on X360.
World Snooker Championship 2005 (XBOX and X360) - Released on both previous console iterations, neither are backwards compatible. Outdated sports licence.
Worms and Worms 2: Armageddon (XBLA) - Owned by Team17
Worms 3D, Worms 4: Mayhem and Worms Forts: Under Seige (XBOX) - Owned by Team17. Worms 4: Mayhem may be comparable to Worms Ultimate Mayhem on XONE.
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Out of the list, these are the ones I'd love to see fixed;
Afterburner Climax
The Club
Jet Set Radio Future
Outrun 2
Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
Outrun Online Arcade
Phantasy Star Online I&II
Renegade Ops
Rent-A-Hero No.1
Sega GT Online
Sega Rally Revo
Sega Rally Online Arcade (SROA)
Sega Superstars Tennis
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Toejam & Earl III: Mission to Earth
Virtua Tennis 3
16 of about 80 titles for Sega to bring back. I'll take the PGR games too, but those aren't actually within SEGA's control whatsoever.
That's not a major ask, especially since several of them require the same licencing. 3 Outruns have the same licencing as each other, as do the two Sega Rallys. JSRF's can be gotten around by replacing licenced music tracks with more Naganuma goodness for an easy victory.
For anyone looking for a list on Xbox backwards compatibility, I made this:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing