Phil Spencer wants to preserve Backwards Compatibility for 'as long as possible'

A lot of talk has been circling about the future of the Xbox brand, namely Project Scorpio with one developer claiming that the system is a "next-gen machine" capable of having your entire library be backwards compatible. One fan reached out to Spencer on Twitter to see if he could offer any insight into the future of backwards compatibility, and naturally, he had an answer.

[FallenAngel1984]

I was hoping that would be the case considering how big a deal Microsoft is making towards backwards compatibility

[Lennoxb63]

There's no promise that x86 will be the go to architecture in the future. So lets hope by then, whatever they choose to use is able to emulate past games.

[SegaGamer]

You would think that whatever they make in the future would be able to handle emulation. Technology is only going to get better so i see no reason why it won't be possible.

I'm hoping backwards compatibility is something that stays around forever.

[Fishy Fingers]

X86 will be the standard format going forward. It's win win for everyone. Cheaper components, standardised development, easier platform porting, greater optimisation, mid gen upgrades etc and of course, backward compatibility.

Consoles are (becoming) small form PCs with minor hardware modifications and closest OS.

[mcstorm]

That's the thing the 1st xbox was more or less a pc in a box and ran a custom Intel Pentium III and I think they should of carried on down this rout. I think Microsoft will carry on down the x32 rout as long as the cross play is there and that will be the way MS push developers onto it as the development cost for pc/xbox games will be less.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed, that is what I'm worried about the most.

Of course in a perfect world I would like backwards compatibility to be a normal feature especially amongst digital titles, but I also don't want it determining the future architectures if something is an advancement of Technology let the architecture exist and move on.

If anything I would simply like A system that had some sort of emulation chip that they could just charge extra to the consumers that wish to use that version.

We already have multiple sku, in my opinion they might as well make a specific version for those that wish to have backwards compatibility so that way people are not paying for a forced cost or the cost and the implementation is not determining future architecture.

[TheCommentator]

Eddmix, two console SKUs is a brilliant idea going forwards. It would be cheaper for new customers without existing libraries and offer a choice for those who do. It could even be an add on upgrade that fits in an expansion slot.

[Nu]

BC adds value to my consoles, especially when it's time to sell them packed with all those games.

[gangsta_red]

That's great, one of the best options to have for any console.

[christocolus]

Also the fact that all their consoles will keep running on versions of the windows OS makes this quite convenient for them.

[bleedsoe9mm]

its a huge library for any ms device to start off with in the future

[Derceto]

Phil is right in wanting to do this. Having people pay, and pay, and pay, and pay yet again, for games they already bought in the past, is simply stupid. Porting takes some work of course, however, you'll build a larger customer base into the present system.

In the end, it's an investment into the system by Microsoft. Not every single cost needs to be dumped on to the customer. It's obvious that retro (including up to last gen) gaming is popular enough to warrant remasters, remakes, and re-releases. Good call Phil.

[ninsigma]

Hope so. And I hope Sony follows suit moving forward from this gen. With the x86 architecture, it should be a lot easier to that now.

[Jon_Targaryen]

I really love BC. Really great to have the option to play last gen games again.

[Fist4achin]

It also helps with clearing clutter of consoles taking up space and running through a backlog!

[XXanderXX]

If it last the duration of Xbox one & Scorpio exsitence . Then you have done enough for it to be relevant and worth wild.

[XXanderXX]

Double post lol

[KakashiHotake]

Bringing back backwards compatibility is one of the smartest things Xbox has done this entire generation. I remember when PS4 and Xbox 1 launched without BC it almost was a deal breaker for alot of people. Because you spend alot of time and money building up your game collections, and then when the next generation console comes out, these companies expect you to just push it all to the side. It also makes it easier to buy new hardware because when consoles initially launch there's not alot of good games to play immediately as was the case with PS4 and now Nintendo Switch, but with BC you could atleast still play the older gen games until the newer ones get up to speed.

That's one thing I didn't like about PS4 this generation. No backwards compatibility but instead they try to sell you on these remasters of games you already own on PS3 but can't play because you probably traded your PS3 for a PS4. Then there's PlayStation Now which currently sucks because you need an extremely fast internet connection for it to even be stable. Yet they're charging $20 bucks a month or $100 bucks a year for it. Then there's the PS4 Pro which is the PS4 itself remasterd. Once again selling people on the idea of buying something you already own. They have it down to a science now, but as long as people gonna keep buying it all over again, I don't blame them for taking advantage.

[_-EDMIX-_]

If anything I would say it's one of the best things Microsoft has done in general for the majority of the generation because they are Paving the way for future companies to see how they might Implement such a method for future platforms.

But I'm not entirely sure I would go as far as to say it was a deal-breaker for the majority of consumers simply because the sales of both platforms show otherwise.

[KakashiHotake]

That's true and I agree with you. I was only thinking back to post launch of this generation and people were making a big deal out of BC as well as DRM policies. Obviously it didn't stop people from buying the consoles thankfully. I'm just happy Microsoft is getting back on track and looking forward to the Scorpio. It would be my first Xbox console ever.

[bamillington]

i wasnt in to the backwards compatible thing though ive been converted after trying some of the 360 games.

[Featuring_Dante]

as long as xbox doesn't go under!

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol

I think as long as Microsoft maintains a strong relationship with third parties creates a solid system , along with smart architecture, even without exclusives I believe they're going to be dominant in there going to exist in the industry for a long time.

I think even if the lifetime sales of Xbox One is something like 50 million that is still good.

[Featuring_Dante]

whatever you want to believe.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@feat- but the reality is even after Microsoft announced that they're bringing all of their titles forward to PC the system is still actually selling.

That is not simply what I want to believe, that is not subjective, that is actual fact.

I don't know how much the lifetime units of the Xbox one is going to be but if their sales continue I believe it is still going to be in the 40 to 50 million range.

I'm sorry but you can't really explain how a system could achieve 25 million units basically with no exclusives.

Nintendo Wii U had a ton of exclusives and it's sold 14 million units

Soooo yea.

I honestly believe Microsoft could do a reasonable job in every console generation if they continue to create respectable Hardware, a realistic and easy-to-use architecture as well as maintaining their relationships with third parties.

Sorry but you've provided no evidence in this company suddenly leaving the industry.

Consider Scorpio is even releasing at all.

If Microsoft had no plans to stay in the hardware Market they likely would have not even released the Scorpio....

I'm sorry but I don't see the Xbox going under because it is clear from Millions upon millions of Gamers it's still a reasonable option

[KakashiHotake]

So much hate in this comment lol

[Sniperwithacause]

So from only reading the headline. It will have a end date? For one to say as long as possible , means to me it must have a end date.

[ninsigma]

I would have just thought that he means they'll keep providing it while it makes sense to their plans. Right now BC works great and makes sense but if they were to change the architecture to something drastically different to x86 that it because impossible/not worth keeping BC alive then they'll axe it then. I highly doubt they have a specific end date in mind. I guess he's just making sure he doesn't commit to anything when he can't see the future. Xbox could be BC forever more or it might not.

[Sniperwithacause]

Thanks for the insight.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Good to hear if there's any company I believe could properly Implement something like this I believe it would be a software company like Microsoft.

Microsoft historically has always had a very smart architecture.

Even in the original Xbox days they had a very simple architecture that allowed for games like Half-Life 2 in Doom 3 to work on their platform.

I believe that they are the ones to look to for this to be implemented properly.

If proper backwards compatibility becomes an issue based on more advanced architectures in the future I think that Sony Microsoft and Nintendo should look for the possibility of creating some sort of Legacy platform similar to what you see with Pro or Scorpio that's simply plays all the previous platforms.

If we're going to have an option to play games at a higher resolution I don't really think it's that hard for them to create an option for those that want to play all their previous titles.

Whichever route they decide to go I think it will still be best for consumers to play it safe and keep your older platforms because a lot of this is not one hundred percent guaranteed

If anything I'm more interested in preserving the way we play games all anyone has to do is look at the digital Foundry reminiscing of shenmue 2 and you'll see that the 360 actually plays shenmue 2 differently. Which I actually never knew

[xX1NORM1Xx]

Phil spencer should have been head of xbox from the start hes actually pationate about games and gaming don was a joke he was what i imagine activision employees are like

[jokerisalive]

That's great and all but where the hell is Crackdown 1 and 2 already??? Get the interest going in the upcoming 3rd game NOW Phil!!!! Jeez.....

[Jayszen]

As soon as one starts talking about hoping to keep something going means that it is vulnerable. BC has been available less than a year.