Xbox gamers can access a ton of classic games from Bethesda and id Software for free right now, as Microsoft has released a preview list of new games for Xbox Insiders.
If you're signed up for Microsoft's free beta platform, you can play The Elder Scrolls: Arena, The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, Quake Champions, Wolfenstein 3D, Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, and Hexen: Deathkings of the Citadel Dark at all. Do not start your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One as they are only playable on PC.
Microsoft has made the games free as a preview before their full release on the Xbox Store. Announcing the games on Xbox Wire (opens in a new tab), he said he was looking for fans to test the games and report any bugs or issues. It also means that you can play all the games right now without paying a penny.
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There is a whole selection on offer. Wolfenstein 3D may seem very old-fashioned, but it was an ancestor of modern FPS. Playing Elder Scrolls games will give you an interesting insight into the origin of the series and how it grew enormously to spawn Starfield. Though Hexen was never mainstream, it's a cult classic that every old-school fantasy dungeon crawler will love.
Quake Champions is the newest title on the list. Released in 2017, the multiplayer shooter is heralded as a throwback to the frenetic arena shooter that characterized the early days of FPS. If you're an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you'll also get a bunch of in-game goodies for joining the Quake Champions preview.
Although the games are only available for PC, you won't need one of the best graphics cards to enjoy them. Most were released more than 20 years ago, which means that even the most basic desktop PC can run them.
To play sweepstakes, you must be registered as an Xbox Insider. Fortunately, it is very easy to do. Go to the Xbox Insider page - opens in a new tab on the Microsoft Store and install the app. Sign in to your Xbox profile (or create one if you're brand new) and you'll see a menu on the left side of the screen. Click "Overview" to find all available beta programs you are currently enrolled in.
You should automatically see Bethesda and id games. Choose the game you want to play, click "Join" to sign up for your preview, and wait to be directed to the Microsoft Store. Paste! Just click the blue install button and it will be gone.
Microsoft hasn't clarified whether the games are free forever. They will be available while the bugs are fixed, but will eventually be removed from the Xbox Insider platform and left in the Microsoft Store. When this happens, they are likely to disappear from your account.