How Likely is Xbox 720 Backwards Compatibility?

Gaming Future takes a look at the possibilities for backwards compatibility support with Xbox 720.

[Omar91]

I understand those who say "I will play my ps4 for ps4 games and keep my ps3", but if the whole purpose of sony adding all these great features to ps4 are to make gaming more convenient for everyone, what better way can you make a console convenient to players by having 4 systems in 1? Sure I can keep my ps3 and play ps3 games when I want, but thats not convenient at all. It would be nice if they find a way to make this all work.

Nextbox will most likely have a similar approach to BC using a cloud service imo.

[NYC_Gamer]

I doubt 720 will have traditional backwards compatibility..I'm keeping my old consoles anyway so doesn't really bother me..

[BanBrother]

Yeah probably only MS first party games. The BC on 360 is quite limited. PoP 1 is BC, but not 2 and 3 lol.

Next-gen will have a huuuuuge amount of remasters of games we have this gen, mark my words.

[MikeMyers]

After all the headaches and paying royalties to Nvidia from going to the Xbox 360, I think the next Xbox will have it. They are once again going with AMD and could easily offer it either on the hardware end or through the cloud. Perhaps both Sony and Microsoft will have a streaming service, or continue selling them digitally, that gives consumers the option to play older generation titles. Probably makes more sense from a business perspective.

[C-Thunder]

I think that we, as gamers, should hope they can add it, even if it isn't at launch, purely because many Xbox exclusives deserve to be playable in the future. Lets face it, in 10 years we'll probably be hard pressed to find functioning Xbox 360s, there's just to much in them that goes wrong too often.

[majiebeast]

Not gonna happen next xbox is moving from PPC to X86(rumoured) So they would have to put a 360 in every Durango, which would up the cost of the console by a generous ammount. This includes both disc and digital title's not being BC.

[turnerdc]

Not necessarily. They could do like they did with the Xbox 360 and do software emulation. The original Xbox was x86 while the Xbox 360 was PPC.

[greenpowerz]

I love how Sony fans are sure what MSFT can do or can not do, or will do or will not do when they want to paint the 720 the way they wan't in defence of PlayStation.

[BlueTemplar]

I love how you are sure what they will do without a single shred of evidence to back it up.

Seems you're happy to believe rumours that you like, while instantly dismissing any you dont.

[SDF Repellent]

Of course it can happen. First, Microsoft is a software company and they will have a better knowledge of implementing BC through emulation via software; especially when the last GPU was from ATI, which is much easier to do BC than the PS3 with its Cell processor and Nvidia GPU. It is a combination of hardware and software that will enable this to happen.

[BlueTemplar]

That knowledge didnt serve them that well with B/C on the 360 - they only got around half the games working after about 2 years before giving up on it - and those that worked were full of glitches and issues.

Also, you say that as though the other platform holders arent software companies - what are the games they produce if not software?

[SDF Repellent]

Hmm, because just like the PS3, the GPU in the original Xbox was made by Nvidia vice ATi? I thought I pointed that out already.

Regarding software company, I think you are either trying to twist my words or just not understanding the words that are coming out of my mouth. What I meant was Microsoft is a software company first, that is what they are, so in order to do emulation, you got to be good in writing software and create the emulation. That is why they will have the advantage over Sony, and did such a great job of emulating most of the original xbox games for the X360, which is something that Sony had failed to do with the PS3/PS2.

Edit below. Son, when you are talking about BC it is mostly software and unless your hardware feature components that are similar to previous hardware that you are trying to emulate, it is a hard task to do. Even if Sony is a better hardware maker, so what? They make the best cameras, the best TVs, the best mp3 players that feature all the bells and whistles but where have that gotten them? Hardware is only part of the equation, along with software, a long term overall plan, and marketing.

[BlueTemplar]

I understand you perfectly well, but just because they are primarily a software company doesnt mean they are the only software company in the land that is capable of writing emulation software.

EDIT: And they didnt do a "great job" of emulating xbox software on the 360 - only the halo games were playable at launch and both they and subsequent games were a glitchy horrible mess to play.

Also, if we accept what you say and that microsoft make the best software because thats their primary business, does that mean sony makes the best hardware because they are primarily a hardware company?

[rainslacker]

What a load of crap. First you don't emulate software, you emulate hardware. Are you telling me that Sony which has the capability to build 5 entirely different consoles, all built on highly specialized processes and unique chips, don't understand hardware or software enough to write their own emulators.

Perhaps you missed the flawless emulation of PS1 games on the PS3, Vita, and PSP, or the awesome emulation of PSP games on the Vita, or the limited emulation of PSN PS2 classics on the PS3. Quite honestly much more impressive than Microsoft's lackluster software based emulation which was pretty much crap on a majority of games because it was incomplete.

There is a big difference in architecture with the Cell which is preventing PS3 BC on the PS4, and as much as it sucks, it's understandable, and honestly, the GPU isn't really the issue on any system.

More on topic: Right now it will depend greatly on how much different the architecture is on the nextBox. It can also come down to IF MS wants to support BC. They are perfectly able to block it for whatever business reason they feel will benefit them. Not to call out MS on this, but I am personally wondering why PS1 BC isn't available in the PS4 since the emulation is definitely possible. Only reasonable assumption is to force using the cloud or get people to rebuy games(hence, not really BC).

[miDnIghtEr20C_SfF]

It will happen. It WILL be BC, but not with 100% of all games. This is from my insider on my site... which they quoted and talked about on neogaf.
(
(09:32:41) miDnIghtEr20C: some of guys on hdd say they won't buy unless it's bc
(09:32:47) miDnIghtEr20C: hope it's bc a bit!!
(09:33:46) miDnIghtEr20C: i'm getting so excited for the start
(09:33:46) Source:: Something they don'tmention, though, is the new box will have TWO scaler chips... and what's cool about that is the UI can always be 1080p, while in-gamerendering resolutions can scaled to increase perf as needed... two dynamic resolution planes.It's nifty.
(09:34:29) Source:: It'll defintely be BC... definitely. But, will every game work? Probably not...
(09:34:31) miDnIghtEr20C: nice
(09:34:42) miDnIghtEr20C: OH SHIT!
(09:34:45) miDnIghtEr20C: thanks for that tidbit!
(09:34:48) miDnIghtEr20C: that's awesome
http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

Also, there will be rumble on the triggers and analogs, as well as a screen on the new controller.

Source: so, the next controller will be very similar, but there are some awesome core gamer changes...
(20:48:10) Source: next gen force feedback on triggers and analog stcks
(20:49:24) miDnIghtEr20C: what!!?!!??!
(20:49:24) Source: plus, a discrete screen in the center. you dont see it when the screen is off, but it's amazing... it delivers some crucial information to the user...
(20:49:29) miDnIghtEr20C: that sounds wild!

Source: charging and batteries tbd... likely similar to 360...
(20:50:36) miDnIghtEr20C: i don't mind batteries
(20:50:43) miDnIghtEr20C: that sounds awesome though
(20:50:48) miDnIghtEr20C: wow.. on the sticks and triggers?
(20:50:50) miDnIghtEr20C: interesting.
(20:51:25) Source: Forza feels fucking amazing with it.
(20:51:50) miDnIghtEr20C: wow
(20:51:54) miDnIghtEr20C: i didn't even think of that!
(20:51:59) miDnIghtEr20C: and a tiny screen?
(20:52:28) Source: it's not tiny... it's just discrete.
(20:52:41) miDnIghtEr20C: interesting.
http://showtimeforfree.com/...

[MasterCornholio]

Hmm rumble for the triggers and analog sticks. Now that sounds interesting.

Sony did mention that they improved the rumble for the PS4 but im not sure if that means the rumble is stronger or that it rumbles in a different way.

"Something they don't mention, though, is the new box will have TWO scaler chips... and what's cool about that is the UI can always be 1080p"

This has me lost though. Whats the point in having 2 scaler chips?

" Microsoft will take a page from the Apple playbook and officially call the next-gen Xbox simply “Xbox.” Not Xbox 720, not Xbox Infinity, not anything else. We’ll casually refer to it as “The New Xbox” for a while until it’s not new anymore."

ROFL i was thinking about that as well.

[xxLuckyStrike]

It will be called "O' sacred Box of X" and we will love it ; )

[Summons75]

Xbox was more BC than playstation at least they slowly updated a huge list of BC titles...sony took it away and hardly supports their ps2 classic section which is unfortunate because of how great the ps2 library was.

[Z_-_D_-_3]

The difference is Sony was busy updating classics that actually mattered to fans in beautiful 720p, 60 fps, and adding trophy support. I much preferred the way Sony handled bringing over their Playstation 2 titles. However, I hope they don't try some crap like porting PS3 classics with "even better specs," or something like that. I mean, the choice for consumers is nice, but we need to move away from Backwards compatibility and more towards the future of gaming with true next generation titles.

[DigitalRaptor]

Why would I need to re-buy my PS3 games in better quality, when I'll be able to stream them on PS4/Vita when I see fit? That's how I see it. That convenience of service will override any desire I have to buy to play Uncharted 1-3 with more pixels and increased resolution and frame rate.

I doubt even developers will see much point from that when consumers have access to it through streaming. I think HD collections will remain a bullet point of this generation, whilst cross-generational titles (PS3/PS4) will be how developers see maximizing their profits.

Looks, the conversation has turned away from Xbox, but to keep on topic, I'm looking forward to the Xbox event. let's hope the new console brings something amazing, whilst opening up more options for gamers: like free online.

[Summons75]

no the HD collections were just a huge money grab and with no BC on the ps4 a huge throw away after making such a huge deal about them. Just like GaiKai will be a money grab by going "wanna play ps3 games on your ps4? well pay money and get your games again"

[glennco]

BC means you don't buy the game again. Why would I want HD upgrades of all the games I have played already?

[rainslacker]

I own almost every game that was remade into an HD classic in their original format. Many people on the forums commented how much they loved replaying those old games in HD. Just because they exist doesn't mean that the older ones are worthless. For the ones I brought I didn't own, it was great being able to play those games for the first time at a reasonable price.

Also, unless I'm mistaken, true(physical disc) PS1 BC is still available in the PS3. It's just done through software now, instead of hardware like the launch systems. Does suck the new ones don't do PS2 as well, but it isn't the HD remakes that took that away. It was Sony wanting to reduce the cost of making the system.

More on ZD3's post: I don't have a problem looking to the future of gaming at all. I'm actually excited for what's to come. But one should never forget where it started, and how we got to where we are. I love playing older games and seeing what they did, and see how the principles in those games can still be applicable today. There is a lot of fun in some older games, and that should never be forgotten, because for the most part, I believe games should be fun.

[BlueTemplar]

Xbox was significantly LESS bc than the playstation - yeah the ps3 didnt play ps2 titles but it ran every single ps1 game.

[sway_z]

As someone who's had all the PlayStation/Xbox Consoles, I have no interest in revisiting PS2 games..yes, PS3 B/C would have been nice...but since I believe PS3 will remain relevant long after PS4's launch...I believe the PS3 is even more valuable to me than ever before....

Hang on to your PS3's ;)

[JohnApocalypse]

I hope so. I can sell my 360 to get the new Xbox and still be able to play Halo 4

[southernbanana]

This is only my opinion, but I do not see why Sony or Microsoft would use resources toward backwards compatibility. Both companies started out this generation supporting backwards compatibility, but then abandoned it due to cost and different business models. Very few consumers put up resistance to their decisions and until recently nobody seemed to care anymore. I would love to see both companies add backwards compatibility, but I do not believe they will do so. Only time will tell.....

[PooEgg]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Plus this gens BC was sort of half-assed on both machines, with lots of games that were not compatible, or only partially compatible. Nothing worse then playing half-way through a game and then not being able to finish it because the game was not truly compatible.

If they are not able to do BC right, I would rather they just skipped it completely.

[cervantes99]

Enough already!

If current gen games are so important to you then don't upgrade until you are ready. Just because a PS4 or 720 is out does not mean you have to upgrade.

Wait until you are ready and then take the plunge. I can't play my SNES/N64 cartriges on my Wii U but I'm not complaining.

Jeez, bitch, bitch, bitch. Sometimes I think N4G is filled with 80 year old ladies.

[dcbronco]

The author is overstating the expense of adding BC to the 720. The fact that Microsoft moved to an APU for the Slim and IBM is working on a 22nm chip leads me to think that MS could do BC very cheaply. They are still using AMD for their GPU so I think it will have full BC. BC should add less than $15 to cost of the 720. And despite the power of new systems, they aren't as expensive as previous consoles to make.

People keep thinking these parts are getting more expensive because of the amount of power they put out. But if that was the case why are computers so cheap? And why are SoCs appearing in more and more cheap devices? It's because the chips are getting cheaper and cheaper. But I bet they love that people think they are costing more and more.

[LtFaku]

I don't have a xbox 360, so if the nextbox has bc, it would be a possible purchase for me.

[Mkai28]

I wonder, I remembered hearing something where the up and coming Xbox would have the 360 hardware still in it. Rumor of course.

[dcbronco]

The leaks from Microsoft show 360 hardware in the 720 in a diagram.