Microsoft Announces Xbox Game Lineup for Windows 8

Microsoft has announced plans to release a sizable number of Xbox games on Windows 8. The titles were previously exclusive to the Xbox 360 console, but thanks to improvements to the architecture in Windows 8, the upcoming operating system will be capable of running certain Xbox 360 titles.

The list of games includes titles from Microsoft Studios, Gameloft, and Rovio, all of which were previously released on Xbox LIVE.

The first wave of games includes 29 titles and will be available starting October 26. Anyone with Windows 8 can download the titles through the preinstalled Windows 8 Xbox Games app or find them on the Windows 8 Store, which is also built into the new OS.

Here's what's in store:

4 Elements II Special Edition
A World of Keflings
Adera: Episode 1
Adera: Episode 2
Adera: Episode 3
Angry Birds
Angry Birds Space
Big Buck Hunter Pro
BlazBlue Calamity Trigger
Collateral Damage
Crash Course GO
Cut the Rope
Disney Fairies
Dragon’s Lair
Field & Stream Fishing
Fruit Ninja
Gravity Guy
Gunstringer: Dead Man Running
Hydro Thunder Hurricane
IloMilo
iStunt 2
Jetpack Joyride
Kinectimals Unleashed
Microsoft Mahjong
Microsoft Minesweeper
Microsoft Solitaire Collection
Monster Island
PAC-MAN Championship Edition DX
Pinball FX 2
Reckless Racing Ultimate
Rocket Riot 3D
Shark Dash
Shuffle Party
Skulls of the Shogun
Taptiles
Team Crossword
The Harvest HD
Toy Soldiers Cold War
Wordament
Zombies!!!

Microsoft has not specified whether gamers who already own these titles on XBLA will get these titles for free, but we doubt it.