Xbox unveils the first batch of backwards compatible Xbox 360 games for the Xbox One

Fable II, Mass Effect and Mirror's Edge and 101 other games will become backwards compatible from 12 November.

Classic Xbox 360 games are finally about to become playable on the Xbox One (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)

Xbox has announced the first batch of Xbox 360 games that will be made playable on the Xbox One.

From 12 November, 104 Xbox 360 games will become backwards compatible, and Microsoft intends to increase this number as time goes on.

The announcement will be music to the ears of Xbox loyalists, who upgraded to the Xbox One but still have boxes full of classic games like Gears of War 3, Fallout 3, Mirror's Edge and Just Cause 2.

The company is also allowing fans to ask for games to be made backwards compatible through Xbox Feedback - they say the suggestions will be listened to, and the most popular titles will make the cut.

They've also announced a handful of upcoming backwards compatible titles, like Halo Reach, Skate 3 and Bioshock Infinite, which should be made playable on the Xbox One in December.

However, looking at the list of games that will be backwards compatible from launch, it's not clear why they couldn't have just made these titles available from the start.

Sure, Mass Effect and Rainbow Six Vegas will be backwards compatible from launch, but why did they bother with Hardwood Hearts and MMA Onslaught?

You can find the full list of games that will become backwards compatible on the Xbox website.

The selected 360 games will be playable on the One from Thursday 12 November, as will all 360 titles made available through Games with Gold, the game giveaway service for Xbox Gold subscribers.