Summary
Xbox fans will be able to play a selection of PlayStation 1 games in the near future thanks to the new cloud-based service calledAntstream Arcade. The service is available now with two classic PlayStation 1 games at launch, plus over 1000 other classic titles from the ’80s and ’90s.
It may seem surprising to some, but87% of classic games made before 2010 are commercially unavailable. This means for old-school gamers, many of their favorite classic games may be lost in time forever if they’re not preserved properly. Microsoft is doing what it can to solve this problem by teaming up with the retro gaming cloud serviceAntstream Arcadeto add over 1,300 classic video games to the Xbox ecosystem. The service offers games from many different retro systems, including the PlayStation 1. As of today,Antstream Arcadehas two PS1 games available,40 Winks, a 3D platformer about a brother and sister named Ruff and Tuble who venture into a dream world andLoaded, a top-down shooter featuring six unique playable characters.
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As revealed in July’s Antstream Connect, moreclassic PlayStation games will be coming to Antstream Arcadein the near future. Games that were thought to be forever lost, likeGlover, a unique platformer featuring a magical, four-fingered glove on a quest to restore his kingdom. Or MDK, also known as “Murder, Death, Kill,” a third-person shooter with smooth 3D gameplay that offered some of the most advanced weapons for its time. The classic gameWormswill make its return, bringing back its classic 2D team-based tactical feel and turn-based gameplay. Also,Reloaded, the sequel toLoaded, will make its way to the service.
The highlight reel featured at the Antstream Connect showcases at least a dozen other PS1 games without naming them, givingclassic PlayStation fans a sneak peekat what’s in store. Unfortunately, there’s no set timetable for when fans can expect more PS1 games to come to the service. Antstream has promised that “a huge number” of PlayStation 1 games will appear as soon as the online leaderboards and challenges are ready for each title.
Access toAntstream Arcadecan be purchased for $29.99 annually or $79.99 for lifetime access. Currently, over 15 classic systems are represented with the service, from Atari to Sega Genesis to the Super Nintendo. Gamers shouldn’t expect first-party games likeMario Bros.with this service, but instead, players should expectall-time classic arcade gamesand third-party retro titles that are hard to find, likeSuper Star Wars: The Empire Strikes BackandIndiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures.
Antstream Arcadeis available now on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
