Xbox Boss Says Backwards Compatibility is About Preserving Games

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One might wonder about Microsoft’s strong commitment to backwards compatibility. The company announced backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One at no additional cost whatsoever but this year, it went ahead and added original Xbox titles to the backwards compatible roster as well.

Sure, it’s good business for Microsoft but according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer while speaking to Wired, there’s more to it than that. Spencer believes that backwards compatibility is about preserving games and allowing new players to see how the medium has progressed throughout the year.

“I see games as an art form. Console games can get lost when hardware generations go away. It can become more challenging to play the games of our past. There’s something to be learned from experiencing what I played as a kid. There’s good business there for the content owners, but as players, it’s nice to be able to understand how our artform has progressed.”


Which is pretty noble, especially considering how large the roster for backwards compatible Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One is currently. The list will be slightly smaller for original Xbox titles though and Microsoft has yet to provide a comprehensive list of the same.

How important is backwards compatibility when the Xbox One’s release lineup is kind of bare? That remains to be seen especially in light of the Nintendo Switch’s stellar launch year and the PS4’s solid library.

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Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://gamingbolt.com/xbox-boss-says-backwards-compatibility-is-about-preserving-games

Comments

"Xbox Boss Says Backwards Compatibility is About Preserving Games" :: Login/Create an Account :: 14 comments

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MazePosted:

Travis RiP MW2. Bring that back you selfish pricks.
they are PRESERVING IT! Cmon now

SleepPosted:

RiP MW2. Bring that back you selfish pricks.

ProJimmyRustlerPosted:

Preserving mostly crap games that people don't play, or remember in the first place. They shouldn't be preserving games, they should be preserving the communities that where built around the better games that haven't made it to BC yet.

MazePosted:

Don't see the art, and can't agree with "preserving" the games I already own.
BC has always been a joke.