Xbox Backwards Compatible Games are Basically New Releases

Jason Stettner of Gamerheadquarters writes; "Ever since its announcement there's been a ton of hype involved with the release of Xbox 360 titles on Xbox One through backwards compatibility"

[darthv72]

They are new in the sense that if you haven't played them then they would be new to that person. Like pretty much all the releases for the PS4 and XB1 would be new to me seeing as I don't have either system yet.

Now while many would say Ryse and KZ Shadowfall are old, they would be new to me. And when I do get the PS4 and XB1 then I will have quite a bit of titles to choose from to play.

The beauty of gaming on your own time is there is no rule that says you must play games when they come out. I may miss out on the new release in terms of released to the public but they will be new to me when i get to play them for the first time.

[gangsta_red]

I recently played Xcom for from 360 on X1 thanks to GwG and I have to say that is one fantastic game. So fantastic in fact that I tried to play Xcom 2 for my PC. If it wasn't for BC (and GwG) I would have never played Xcom and passed on it's sequel when it finally releases for Xbox One.

Same can be said for Red Dead, heard nothing but praise but never played it. With it cheap and my 360 officially retired this is a great way for me to try it out.

[Sparta07]

That's great but just cause you never played any of those games before doesn't make them new released games. That's like me saying I saw back to the future on Netflix last night and i never seen it before so its new release.

P.s you never played red dead!? What!? Awesome game. You are going to love it

[gangsta_red]

@Sparta

"...but just cause you never played any of those games before doesn't make them new released games."

I never said they should be considered newly released games. But they are new experiences for me.

As soon as I tear myself away from Overwatch I'm going to jump on some Red Dead

[rdgneoz3]

@gangsta_red And thanks to Netflix, I've been watching the original A Team (car flip!) and MacGuyver (80s cheesy good), as well as a bunch of old Japanese movies.

Also, if you have a good PC, look at the humble bundles that go on every so often. I got Xcom 1 a while back with like 4 or 5 other games for like $4.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Gangsta- DAMN! Get off N4G and go play Red Dead please!

One of the best games last gen! Was just a masterpiece! I actually personally like Red Dead more then GTAV in regards to its story.

Both are great games, but Red Dead just hit it out of the park. I was thinking about replaying it, but just have no time at the moment.

I agree with Sparta too, not playing a game doesn't make it a new release, that just makes zero sense.

[remixx116]

Damn homie it must have been a treat to play red dead for the first time, wish I could start over.

[UltraNova]

To be honest, with so many games coming out left and right and a huge back catalog (thanks From Soft for this) I can never see my self playing BC games. I mean never.

Hell i still havent finished Alien Isolation and Witcher 3 (thanks again From Soft!) While just barely finishing U4 twice!

In case I havent made my self clear: BC is useless to me.

Thanks From Software for taking 3 gaming years off my life and still going strong.

[yeahright2]

@ Sparta, not a child of the 90's I assume. "If you haven't seen it, it's new to you!" old NBC(?) slogan.

[rainslacker]

@Ultra

Don't let the fancy graphics or the fact it's brand new trick you into thinking they're more worth your time than some of the older games out there. There are quite a few games from last gen which are better than anything released this gen so far....including Bloodborne.

Not that the new games aren't also great, but your missing out on some great experiences just to experience the latest thing available.

RDR is one such game. If you've already played it though, fair enough. Maybe one day you'll be caught up in your backlog. Personally, despite a huge backlog, I play what strikes me when it's time to start a game, and my backlog will never go away...particularly if I only stick to the newest thing available.

[Kingthrash360]

Wait....so there are people who agree??? Lol....holy mother of god.
So does this confirm that the Xboxone is just a wanna be 360? How are we calling old 360 games new xbo games?
But the same people turn around and say remasters don't count as a this gen game. Lol wow the goal posts have been moved so much this generation.

[gangsta_red]

@kingthrash

"How are we calling old 360 games new xbo games?"

Absolutely no one is calling old 360 games new Xb1 games.

"But the same people turn around and say remasters don't count as a this gen game."

Lol...Exactly who are these same people?

[Sparta07]

@darth, no matter how you spin it they are not new games , period.
Don't care if it's ryse or shadow fall.

[TheHorseTamer]

What about for people that never owned, played Red Dead Redemption last Gen and owned a XB1? That sounds new to me. Just like PS4 owners claiming Remasters of God of war 3 and TLOU are new games to them because they never played those games before.

Red Dead Redemption sold 14 million on a combined 170 millions of last gen consoles. Seems like there are many that haven't played it yet. If this game was on PS4, no doubt fans of that system will say it is new too. Why so salty over people claiming RDR is a new release?

[uptownsoul]

@TheHorseTamer

I know its fashionable now-a-days for people to redefine things to suit their purpose, but "new release" has a specific definition. It means something new for the general public at one time. Just because people haven't played [fill in the old game here] doesnt make it a "new release". It makes it a game that person (or those people) never played. And its great that they can now experience the game, but that doesn't make it a "new release"

Example: I just showed my 7 year old twins "The Wizard" for the 1st time. It was new to them, but it was not a "new release" since it came out in 1989.

[TheHorseTamer]

Uptownsoul

When Rise of the Tomb Raider is released on PS4 later on this year, that is not a new release on PS4?

When Rocket League was released on XB1 earlier this year, that wasn't a new release on that platform?

Red Dead Redemption is no different as it is the first time it is playable on Xbox One.

[P_Bomb]

I don't see salt, just questionable semantics.

The very fact it's marketed as a BACKWARDS compatible game implies it's not new. This isn't a remaster or feature enhanced like HaloMCC or GearsUltimate. It's just backwards compatibility.

BC is cool but lets not lose our heads here, although looking at some of these articles I'd say it's probably too late.

@horsetamer
Rise of TombRaider has never been on Playstation before. Rocket League was never on Xbox before. You're comparing apples to oranges. RDR is a Xbox 360 game from 6 years ago that you can slip into your XBox One and keep playing, then slip it back into your 360. Its still Xbox. You're not buying it again. It's backwards compatible. Even if I were to buy the PS1 Spyro on my PS3 for the first time, that wouldnt make it a new game. No one's gonna review it again on metacritic

[uptownsoul]

@TheHorseTamer

"When Rise of the Tomb Raider is released on PS4 later on this year, that is not a new release on PS4? " -- No

"When Rocket League was released on XB1 earlier this year, that wasn't a new release on that platform?" -- No

Rise of the Tomb Raider on PS4 & Rocket League on XB1 will have new places to play those games but they won't be NEW releases (since they were already available). And if you didn't play them at their original release its because you CHOSE not to.

Same with Red Dead Redemption...The people who didn't play it on PS3/360 could have, they just didn't. That doesn't make the game a "new release" again.

[Good-Smurf]

I bought Earthbound on Wii U and
I never played it before,I bought PC Geijin for my PC Engine Never played it before does that make them new games? Nope.
Both released in 1989 1995 it's technically and factually old games.
Only my experience are new.
Some people just don't know which year they're living lol.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@TheHorseTamer- what about them?

They are merely playing an old game.

New release, means it newly released.

Are you people literally disregarding the EXACT definition of the words? LMFAO!

No, just no. That isn't how that works and it seriously makes zero sense.

[andrewsquall]

@TheHorseTamer There is nobody out there with an Xbone that didn't have a 360. Well maybe there are like 2 people. For people like us the Xbone and its BC are useless. I have zero 360 games I can make use of on an Xbone console.
And this "new to me" thing you have all just made up right now with this article is hilarious. Nobody ever said a remaster on PS4 is a brand new release "because I didn't play it anyway".
Again, its not a big deal as you all make out. It is pretty obvious when this "must have, definitely a big deal, game changer, feature" didn't even help the Xbone sell more PS4s in the US during Xmas 2015.

[rainslacker]

@TheHorseTamer

"When Rise of the Tomb Raider is released on PS4 later on this year, that is not a new release on PS4?"

It's a new release on the PS4, but I haven't seen any PS4 gamer willing to admit that it's a new release, and most of the contention surrounds the possible pricing as a new release game when it does release.

"When Rocket League was released on XB1 earlier this year, that wasn't a new release on that platform?

Red Dead Redemption is no different as it is the first time it is playable on Xbox One."

Yes, on that platform. That doesn't make it a new release. It makes it an previously released game that is now available on another platform.

It can have the same effect as a newly released game for someone that hasn't played it before, but beyond that, it's can be more likened to a timed release or a remaster depending on the circumstances.

@Andrew

Guess I'm one of the two. I have an X1 and never got a 360. I don't find the feature useless, because I can either purchase a retail copy, or simply download it from the xbox store, and it will give me the chance to go back and play some games that peaked my interest on the 360.

I have yet to do so,because I have a tremendous backlog, and a lot of times I do have many of the games I would want to play in my PS3 library as well. But it's still there for when I'm ready to use it.

Other than that, yeah, Horse's reasoning doesn't actually line up with the actual definition of the term. Maybe from a retail outlets perspective, but certainly not by any gamers perspective that I've seen. Hopefully this doesn't become a new thing the Xbox fan boys start using for their arguments.

[KiwiViper85]

Its new to me.

I'm finding it very average so far, the early missions are very tedious but i'm guessing it picks up soon.

Its a great looking game but the controls are really showing their age, for a game with wide open spaces the horse is really awkward to ride.

I haven't noticed any skill tree yet, but hopefully there's a few that make horse riding better.

[ShawnardAgain]

If I remember correctly there are better horses however the horse is still a bit clunky.

[rdgneoz3]

If you have an emulator for Commodore 64 on your computer, those games are "new to me." Yet the system still came out over 30 years ago.

"I haven't noticed any skill tree yet"
No, not every game needs a skill tree...

[andrewsquall]

Add to that the incredibly bland character John Marston who shouts all his lines in the same monotone voice most of the time. Never shows fear, remorse, sadness, happiness even when it calls for it.
And wait until you reach Act 2 at the southern part of the map at Mexico. It will REALLY tests your patience. Its just constantly going east and west over a long narrow map for about 3 hours of the game's story, maybe even longer.
For me its a great game but the unanimous GOTY and overhype that people give it is just baffling.
And yes, you are correct. Yet another game where 10 seconds of using the horse you realise yet again "Shadow of the Colossus, still not beat in this dept", The Witcher 3 being one of the other recent games that comes to mind where I can't even use the horse its that terrible.

[Silly Mammo]

So all the remasters of last gen's games should be considered new games as well?

[TheHorseTamer]

Don't confused new games with new releases. Original Halo was a new game and new release on Xbox. Then when it was released later on on PC, it was a new release on that platform. New game or not, it is irrelevant as the article here is about it being used as a new release on the Xbox one platform. It was released and made BC on July 5th on XB1, so it is a new release on that platform.

[Silly Mammo]

The hoops some people on this website go through to try to elevate the status of BC and a last gen game is unbelievable. So because the PS3 originally had BC, Sony should have proclaimed all the old PS2 classics should be considered new releases on that platform?

[KiwiViper85]

There's far more downplaying in this thread.

How much money do you think Rockstar is making of of their 6 year old game? About 10,000% more than this time last year?

[jb227]

Hell those games would most definitely be considered "new games" before a BC release would be. Remasters add new elements & refine the game to make it fundamentally changed into a new version of an old game. RDR on BC is just an old game played on a new platform.

@kiwi

"How much money do you think Rockstar is making of of their 6 year old game? About 10,000% more than this time last year?"

That depends, is every XBO gamer buying RDR for the first time or are they just playing their old copies? If it's the latter then Rockstar is making zero money off of it. If it's the former then it's relative to whether gamers are buying used copies, hence no money for Rockstar, or buying it digitally at $7, hence little money for Rockstar.

There's not much "downplaying" going on here, it's just a reaction to an asinine headline, written for that sole purpose. Plainly put, BC games are not "basically new releases" because they are technically old releases. MS has been treating BC as a supplement for the lack of new games on their system, which is fine but let's not throw out common sense entirely.

[NoPeace_Walker]

I never owned a Xbox before and currently have a PS4. When I get my Xbox 1 Slim next month, all the games I had missed on the Xbox platform can be considered new releases for me. Halo Wars, Left 4 Dead, and Halo Reach, Gears 1-3 can all be considered new games and releases for me. Just like people that came over from the XB360 side to PS4 that have never played Uncharted 1-3 and The Last of Us, those are new games to them.

[rainslacker]

Sure, that can be applied to any number of games that you haven't played before, regardless of if you've owned a platform to play them on or not.

When it comes to RDR though, or other BC titles, those games were already released. It's not like they are re-releasing RDR for BC, so the game is a 6 year old release. You are purchasing the same product that was released 6 years ago.

If Rockstar decided to throw in some new visuals, extra story elements, or anything at all, it could be considered a new release. As it is though, the thing people will download, or buy from a retail store, is the same release it was back when it first came out....thus being an old release that you are just now getting around to.

Heck, if the game just recently went up on the digital store for the purposes of BC it could be considered a new release, because new release implies that it's new to the retail outlet. Something can be a new release for a specific platform, but not when it's the same package that was from the original release.

In this case, it's not even a release for the X1 itself. It's still the same original 360 game, which can now be emulated on the X1.

[starchild]

They aren't "new releases" because they have already come out before. It's silly to say otherwise.

They can, however, like all games, be new experiences to gamers that haven't played them before.

[Christopher]

Trying to spin this somehow to mean that old releases are new because you haven't played them doesn't make any sense.

These are old games you never got around to playing. Simple as that. Just because someone hasn't played them doesn't make them new.

[rainslacker]

Agree, and most people seem to be missing the obvious fact that the release they're buying is the same release they either brought, or have been able to buy since it was a new release six years ago. It's not like it's a reworked game. The download itself has been there for 6 years now, and the retail package you buy in store is the same one that came out 6 years ago....or maybe the GOTY edition which came out 5-1/2 years ago.

Only difference now is that it can be played on a different system through means provided by MS.

Some of the logic here is like saying a DS game is suddenly a new release because the 3DS comes out and can play it. It just never worked like that.

[blawren4]

I like your approach. Keep the backlog at the store, is what I always say. I've never experienced a gaming drought on any console.

[ScorpiusX]

They may not be new games but the feature is awesome and who doesn't like a second go around in a game to see how you would have played it differently.

Wow look at all the Petty individual who disagree , they must not have this feature on their machine , so instead of complain to the tools that decide what was best for them they take out on those who are positive about said feature . Sad bunch

[IamTylerDurden1]

RDR is 6 years old.

I got nearly every achievement in RDR on my 360, so why would i want to replay it if it's not even remastered?

In no way is it a free game or a new release.

[ScorpiusX]

The fact that I can play a 6 year old game without the old hardware is awesome and seeing how it was reasonably price. i had no trouble buying it again .

[Phunkydiabetic1]

Is this really how people are going to spin the lack of Xbox One games now? Backwards compatible games are now "basically new releases"?

[generic-user-name]

This is exactly it, there has been an absolute ton of goalpost moving since the start of this gen.

[Sayai jin]

Generic, there are a lot of goal post moved every gen on all sides....countless.

[leoms]

It's that time of the year. Let them be.

[trooper_]

Nah, let them spin it. Its just hilarious.

[spicelicka]

I don't know how you got PEOPLE from one guy's article. I have never ever heard this before.

I think it's more of a jab at all the HD re-releases that ARE being passed off as "basically new releases". Some of them are priced at $40-$60 for a simple HD upgrade.

[Kryptix]

If you look at the comments above, you'll see that there are people that truly believe that it's a new release because it's new to the Xbox One and some spinning it because it's a "new experience" so it's another game for the Xbox One catalog of games. So yea, PEOPLE and that's what he's implying.

The title, "Xbox Backwards Compatible Games are Basically New Releases" contradicts your 2 sentence summary as HD remasters is not equal to, "New Release" and just a re-release. Also quote, "Crazy in that these old games are being treated as brand new titles all these years later," so even the author is talking about how these "PEOPLE" are treating them as they were new. And with the topic brought up, those people that he mentions are showing up so he's not wrong. Treating an old game from 2010 like it's new from 2016 doesn't make any sense because it's old.

[spicelicka]

^My comment was not a contradiction but a comparison. I was insinuating that many HD remasters are treated as new releases by the nature of their price structure. By new release I do not mean release of a new game, I mean a re-release that's treated like a new item. I'll get flamed for this but God of war 3 last year was a good example, it was a simple HD upgrade released for $40, which is quite a rip off.

[rainslacker]

I'm hoping not. I know fan boys can use some extreme stretches of logic to try and make their arguments, but I would hope that the more vocal ones around here who tend to repeat themselves can see just how illogical these statements are.

To me, it seems that they've been claiming they can go back and play their old games for so long now, that they already have the game, so the argument is moot for them. Also to me, the huge surge in RDR sales only proved that it's a great game, and that most people didn't hold onto it when they brought their X1....or never brought it in the first place.

It's such a easy argument to dismantle, and I hope they see that and accept it will be dismantled. If they want to try and use it, then that makes them more trolls than fan boys.

@spice

It's the common trend that when some new argument comes up, either from a website or from some forum goer who is actually intelligent enough to form their own arguments(regardless of if those arguments have merits), that the extreme fan boys make it into an ongoing argument that supports their side, and repeat it indefinitely, hoping it catches on, and incite people to argue over the meaning, all the while asserting how they are right, and everyone else is wrong.

It happens for all sides of the console fence, and while Phunky may be jumping the gun on calling out the fan boys, I think some people just expect this to become a trending argument in the console wars.

[leoms]

@TheHorseTamer

The answer is "NO". Hope that answers your question.

[zb1ftw777]

tl;dr for the article and every comment below and above -

"There is a market for old games that people never played the first time around".

[DialgaMarine]

Uuuumm... No. New releases are new releases. Claiming a 6 year old game is new, is no different than claiming a console that has real BC can count the last gen catalogue as exclusives. BC isn't some new thing. M$ are just the only ones who turned into one of the biggest BS marketing ploys in gaming history.

[TwoForce]

Yeah, I agree. What the heck people was thinking ?

[ninjazfistz]

It is better than a new game actually. Most the AAA games made this generation are huge middle fingers to the players. This is basically a remaster with 0 effort and thickens Rockstar/Microsofts wallet. If new games were actually good, remasters and backwards compatibility wouldn't be as important this gen.

The reason it is such a big deal is they aren't same performance ports like in the past or poor game performance territory of ps now. They are in remaster territory performance wise (some aren't).

[DialgaMarine]

There have been plenty of great games this gen, and many more to come. If old games are your cup of tea, then fine, but claim most games suck because you don't personally like them.

[ninjazfistz]

@DialgaMarine I didn't say they suck. Also, I can have my opinion too about quality

[rainslacker]

It's not even about how old the game is, or if someone played it before. The release people are buying or playing on their X1's through BC, is the same exact release that came out 6 years ago. Whether packaged or downloaded. It's not a new product.

Xbox store

https://store.xbox.com/en-U...

Release date: 5/18/2010

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Red-...

Release date: 5/18/2010

Same product....not a new release.

Product may be newly PURCHASED by an individual, but that isn't the same, and twisting the symantics around to suit an argument doesn't change the definition of a term that has been agreed upon by the community since the dawn of video games.

BTW: Not attacking you, just being assertive in general.:)

Edit @ Below

I think MS is selling it for what it is, and while promoting it, aren't overhyping it to the extent that some of the articles, and certainly not the fan boys are. I don't blame them for promoting it, because it is a feature that quite a few people want, and it brings value to the system, and it is something that isn't available to their closest competitor. The way it's being promoted isn't much different than the way Sony promoted it's anti-DRM/connection policies, and it's all mostly par for the course.

[DialgaMarine]

I gotcha lol. Thats why I said MS is using BC as a completely BS marketing ploy to make it seem like some revolutionary new thing that they're the first ones to ever do, and the idiotic fanboys, like the writer of this article, are eating it up.

[MachuchalBrotha316]

New rereleases.....

[Thomaticus]

This is so awesome! Love the fact that people can really ENJOY their previous gen games.

[AnubisG]

So these are new releases but remasters/remakes are unnecessary money grabs huh? Gaming journalists today man.....

[rigo8582]

For someone who has never played the title then its going to be "new" to them. I like the idea of backwards compatibility because for me when I got an Xbox One it went into my entertainment center where my Xbox 360 was. My xbox 360 no longer has a spot in my entertainment center. So this gives me the option to replay or go back and play those games I never got around to playing last generation on my current generation hardware. Red Dead Redemption is a good example I played it back in the 360 but never played the DLC. So this gives me the option to go back and play it on my XB1 without having redo my setup.

[Pancit_Canton]

LMAO. Now, that just sad.

[corroios]

Sad generation. Old stuff, zero inovation, playing last gen games and its amazing for some. Damn i think im going to power up my master system.

[Christopher]

I play games from the 90s a lot on my PC. Does that make my interest in those a sad line of generations since then? No, just that good games are always good games and people who can enjoy them now like it.

[Youngindy21]

They might as well be. Some of the backwards compatible games, I never got a chance to play in the many years I had a Xbox 360 because Xbox 360 had so many games. Thanks to BC, I was able to play Halo Reach and Gears Judgment for the first time.

[ziggurcat]

whether one has played the game last gen, the fact of the matter is that BC titles are not "basically new releases."

[ITPython]

I'm going to go play some new releases on my ps3 then, as I have tons of last gen games collecting dust. Heck with all my new release last gen games, I don't even have a reason to play all the new ps4 games coming out anymore. Yay!! New release old games are so cool!

[rainslacker]

But what about the actual true definition of the word "new releases" that are still being released on PS3?

What about Lego Star Wars that came out two weeks ago on PS3. Is a game that just released(say within the past month or two or today) now considered a future release? Are what we thought to be new releases on current gen consoles now a game that won't be released until next gen?

I'm so confused. Why do people have to change the definition of something that is clearly defined?

[iTechHeads]

Nope. Old.

[BlackTar187]

This is odd behavior.

[Petebloodyonion]

BC games aren't new game! The article is just saying that MS (and the media) is giving the same attention to some major BC as they would for new release.
This can not be denied!
Just have a look at the countless articles on Gamespot and IGN regarding Red Dead since the title inclusion on the BC list.
As for being a new release well PPL quickly forgot that MS sold the title this weekend for only 10$

[BlackTar187]

Which is odd. no matter how you look at it it's weird and seems a bit desperate that the company is trying so hard to convince you this is like a "NEW RELEASE"

[Ravenor]

Except they aren't... Gamespots or IGNs coverage might just be down to RDR being a great game? It's newly added to the BC List, which has been long awaited and that has been demonstrated with the amazon sales spike. This community gets real sad when it goes full tin foil hat mode.

[Petebloodyonion]

And what are the desperate measures that MS took?
Saying on Major Nelson Blog that the title was finally available?

[gangsta_red]

What company is trying to convince you this is like a new release? This was written by someone else that has no affiliation with MS or Rockstar. On top of that it's an opinion piece.

This game was also the top requested title from Xbox users to be added to the BC catalog and now it has and there is now news on this. How is that desperate?

[BlackTar187]

LOL Tinfoil hat? RDR is the first game to have major new coverage added to the BC list? If so then i would agree but it's not.

[rainslacker]

So one or two games well known BC release among hundreds is somehow the same media attention that a new release gets?

No, sorry, the reason these well known games get attention, is because they're well known, and well received games, that people enjoy and are still excited for. For 99% of these releases, at best we get a compilation list of what's being offered through BC, and maybe an article or two about which ones are worth picking up....and probably at least one about how MS is awesome and Sony is failing because of BC.

Nowhere is it anywhere near the same kind of media attention that other big name actual new releases get, or even quite a few of the smaller titles, which get hundreds of reviews, hundreds of opinion articles, and copious dev interviews leading up and after the release.

New releases will get articles several weeks after their release, while I've yet to see many BC games get any attention after the first week.

[discobastard]

What?!!

The same guy wrote an article on "Why I'm Sick of Clouds That Don't Move in Games"

*slow clap*

[GrimmyReaper]

I didn't know new releases mean games I already played
Look, I love Red Dead too, but BC can't really be labeled as new release.

[Ravenor]

No RDR is not a new release, but anyone deriding XB1's BC capability is very suspect.

[Animal Mutha 76]

Def not new release - I think that's a bit strong, but I would say that where a title runs better on X1 than it did on 360 then it can feel like a revitalised title, especially with the other features the X1 allows. I'm really happy to have BC on my X1. In some ways the feature and the fact that the game runs better almost gives me an excuse to revisit the game and play it through again. Its a bit like having a film on Blu-Ray. Its on your shelf but you hardly ever watch it but as soon as its shown on TV for some reason you feel the need to sit through it...

RDR now deserves another play.

[madmonkey01]

major spin going on here

[RDF]

>.>;

[andrewsquall]

Yep, this is the stage we are at now. BC games are now essentially new releases. Holy crap. No wonder the PS2 was such a success. The console launched with over 2000 brand new games on it (for PS1).

[rainslacker]

Yeah, and the launch PS3 had twice that many. Yet I recall a common argument being that it had no new games, and that all you could play on it were "old" games.

While this "BC is basically a new release" isn't a major go-to argument for the fan boys that I've seen yet(although it is still a new argument)....and hopefully it won't be...the entire premise of the article, both in principal, and his reasoning of "media attention" are spin at it's best.

Maybe he really believes this to be true, which is fine, he can purchase a game based on the premise it's new to him, but to go around stating it as fact with spurious reasons to back it up which completely defy the actual term as the entire community understands it, seems suspect at best.

Other than that, I'm really loving this comment section. So far, most people seem to think that it's a silly argument to even imply.

[game4funz]

I think people here are missing the point. It's not that they're new releases. The point is that they're new experiences to some who haven't played them before.
This actually brings up a good point as it debunks the perception many Sony fans have that Xbox gamers just love replaying old games. In many cases it's not replaying. In my case I didn't get the chance to play red dead redemption and now I am.
This also brings up another point. What's wrong with being excited about playing an older title? Something tells me if said title was called uncharted or last of us or God of War that there wouldn't be any negativity related to that by many here. And if that's the case then please just remember we're all gamers here.

[FoxyGotGame]

Much like Remasters, and regardless as to whether you have played them before or not is irrelevant, these 360 titles are OLD, not NEW...and should never be treated as such. It's an easy cop out for MS when dry months for game releases occur on XOne, such as July. I am very happy Red Dead Redemption is available, and am thoroughly enjoying it on XOne, but the reality is it's 6 years old ....the 360 has been discontinued for months now, so how any of these 360 games can be treated as NEW is beyond logical reason. Some of the more platform loyalist gamer's argue thge opposite, but are inevitably over reaching in this regard.

[feedthereaper]

It depends what you class as a release these days. If you are are old school, a new release was a new game or a sequel...... but nowadays anything that is old and got one slight improvement can be called a release. So to modern day gamers and media they are new releases, because they either include the DLC or some slight graphical improvements to it and so consider it a re-packaged edition rather than backwards compatible. Its a bit like these "remastered editions" are just the same game done slightly better. To me, a new release should be something NEW, not something old and already released but they throw in additional DLC or make it look more polished.
Anyone as old as me remember when Quake came out on PC and it looked good...... then a few months later they patched it with a Mod that made the graphics look 3,000% better? We never considered that patch a new release even though it literally transformed the game into an entirely new experience as if you had just gone from Quake 1 to Quake 5 and skipped 4 games out. We never considered those improvements back then as "new releases" and yet the step up in graphics difference is far beyond the step up of difference between a 360 title and a "re-mastered" X1 title.
Sadly, I fear I am probably the only person old enough to remember that experience *sniff, sniff - puts down game controller, picks up zimmer frame*

I think its time Gamers started to show some balls and start to demand more from game developers to be honest. I think for too long we sit amongst ourselves defending poor quality and regurgitated crap from developers as we want to defend our favourite consoles in some pointless fanboy war. And instead we need to be saying "Hang on a minute. It doesn't matter if its X1 or PS4 here, this is crap!" and start to demand BIGGER graphical leaps in gaming, NEW game experiences and brand new GAMES rather than remastered/relaunched back catalogues that we were playing and boring with 5-8 years ago! I mean come on...... 2016 is here, we are sending men to space stations and talking about self driving cars and artificial intelligence doing everything for us, with everything pushing new boundaries and N4G is cluttered with stories about Red Dead Redemption and Call Of Duty Modern Warfare......2 games that have been around for 5+ years! Even Star Wars could only get away with remastering and digitally enhancing the original movies for so long before we needed something new to watch!!!!

Stop fighting between yourselves over consoles, and start demanding developers and hardware manufacturers get on with actually delivering the future they promise us!

[PressPlayBro]

No.

[cyber_daemonx]

Sorry but this article is complete b0ll0cks.

Think someone needs to read what the definition of new actually means.

Just because someone is playing a 3 year old game for the first time doesnt make the game new, its still an old game ffs.

[iR_phantasm]

No, no theyre not...

[Skankinruby]

Lol what the hell are you talking about? At best they're blu ray upgrades. Who approves of this garbage this has gotta be the stupidest crap I've ever seen on this site.

[iliimaster]

they have this game for 7 bucks i have the disc and everything but got it digitally for easy access

[JMyers]

How? This logic is completely ridiculous.

[Silly gameAr]

Wow.

[fullmetal297]

If the developers improved the game by included higher resolution textures and remastered the audio like Naughty Dog did with the Last of Us then I would categorize that as Remastering rather emulating the game.

[Exvalos]

How can something that's been out for years be new, there not adding new gameplay new dlc it's just the game you've already beaten.

[trooper_]

Funniest article on N4G by far.

[richyque]

LOL, this is what it's come to for the xbox owners since they dont have anymore exclusives, calling ancient 360 games new lolololol.

[XanderZane]

Not new releases, but new to some gamers who've never played those games. I'm sure Rockstar is pretty happy right now. They didn't have to do much, but tell Microsoft "Ok, do it" and watch sales of RDR rise 6000%. It's crazy. At just $7.50 for the game on XB1 store, it's a steal for a AAA.

[DillyDilly]

& if Sony had a real Backwards Compatible feature it would be celebrated on here

[Godz Kastro]

If people step out of their bubble once in a while you'll see that everyone hasn't played everything. I've had a great time with BC on numerous titles. Best part. I haven't paid a dime.

[Godz Kastro]

You guys take statements so literal. If a person is next to you and says they are so stressed their head is about to explode. Don't run, it's a figure of speech.

I understand what the writer is saying. Their is a new game feeling about these releases. I agree. When RDR dropped you couldn't decipher my glee between that and a new title

Bottom line, BC is awseome. I've played tons of games thus far. Add to the fact all GWG are BC. You get four free games a.month...... sheesh

[MagicBeanz]

Not even close. But your hyperbole is basically a joke.

[strickers]

More nonsense.

[CrimsonWing69]

I'm kinda hazy on how these are basically new releases... These are old last-gen games available on a current-gen consoles. I mean I haven't played a handful of NES games but just because I can play them on the Wii U Virtual Console I wouldn't consider them "new releases". Game journalism these days...

[TheNemesis501]

they got to play something.

[WickedLester]

I'm sure that's what "Xbots" tell themselves in light of the fact that they're not getting many true new games.

[Saito]

That's bad if you count that as a new release. A last gen game isn't a new release. Though, it's a new experience for those who haven't played it yet. But to count this as a new release in this day and age is just sad. Iove BC, but it shouldn't be the focus of gaming. Push forward and make new games. That's the anticipation for us games. To enjoy new experiences, not get happy to play a game from 7 or so years ago. Sony and Microsoft need to chill the fxck out with these remasters. NEW GAMES PEOPLE FXCK

[IamTylerDurden1]

Are you f****** kidding? A game that was released 6 years ago is NOT a new release just bc it is now backwards compatible. It isn't even a remaster, it's the same game. This isn't Tearaway Unfolded, it's the same game you bought and played 6 years ago. When i see things like RDR being considered a new release and Pokemon Go dominating the news, it scares me.

[nub_cakes101]

No they aren't