Xbox backwards compatibility has been an amazing benefit throughout the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S generations, but if the next Xbox console is to be a radically different device, it's going to result in new challenges for the program.
We've seen this week how the Nintendo Switch 2 will be using emulation to run Switch 1 games, and the result is a small, but notable list of titles that apparently still have issues running on the Switch 2 at the time of writing.
This is nothing new in the world of Xbox. You may recall that the Xbox 360 featured a form of backwards compatibility with original Xbox games, and it too used emulation to run them - with wildly varying results. Some games performed perfectly, but I can say from experience that the likes of WWE Raw and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban are full of slowdown and glitches!
Xbox has done a wonderful job getting so many original Xbox and Xbox 360 games to run flawlessly on modern consoles, but a lot of work went into that - every one of them had to be tested thoroughly to achieve such great results.
Now, it seems the work has begun again. Reports have stated that a new game preservation and forward compatibility team has been set up inside Xbox for the next generation, and if we're looking at a Windows-based console and handheld that are in the works, trying to emulate console games for those devices might be a harder task than ever.
I'm assuming all the Xbox One titles that work on Xbox Series X and S were mostly good to go without any major changes - but that may not be the case with the next Xbox console and handheld. We could be talking thousands of titles that need to be re-tested and re-jigged in order to make them ready for the next console generation.
The good news is that Team Xbox seems very committed to the cause - let's hope all that hard work pays off!
What are your thoughts around this? Let us know down in the comments section below.
Comments 16
Has to have it. I swapped from PS4 > Xbox/S because I could play so many past gen and even retro titles !!
It's a must !!
Definitely needs backwards compatibility I still play and the odd time buy xbone games without even thinking they are not this gen and I've loads of 360 games aswell with the money Microsoft have not to even mention AI they can easily sort it if they want to!
I mean, at the very least it needs to be back compat with xbone and series generations but I think beyond that it's a massive challenge. I think they will rise to it
Definitely highlights benefits of PC.
I can still play DOS games from the 90s on my Windows 11 PC. 🤣
Deal breaker for me.
If I'm not able to play my current backlog on the next console, I'll just stick with the Series X for a while.
I'm almost certain it will have it. MS have said countless times that they're all about game preservation. They'll work it out.
I bought Xbox Series S because of 5 games I really wanted to play and 4 of those were Retro Titles so yeah, its a HUGE deal for me.
It's not even a question if it's backwards compatible, it's expected
@InterceptorAlpha this is a good point, surely some games that already have WIN32 code won't need any work?
Without backwards compatibility, it throws out the entire argument that Xbox lost the most important generation.
Every game should be backwards compatible this generation and Xbox One's generation (aside from Kinect nonsense)
It has to have BWC. I've been playing so many classic 360 games recently on XSX and having a great time with them, from King Kong to Silent Hill Homecoming and Burnout Revenge. 🥹❤️
It's not just important, with all publishers and platforms pushing for digital games it's necessary. You can't make that push and not ensure our libraries are preserved and safe. And more importantly that push has to come with benefits (like Xbox Play Anywhere).
I don't expect consoles to ever not offer full backwards compatibility again, because they can't afford to as long as PC gaming is around. It's become the norm in how we expect our libraries to be handled. Another thing on the Xbox side, if Microsoft can manage some form of emulation that also works with windows 11 (or whatever iteration we're on), then that'd be an insane W. Xbox Play Anywhere I believe is also a licensing issue and requires publishers or indie devs to agree, but a compatibility layer of emulation for Xbox games built into windows would still massively increase the number of Play Anywhere games with how easy it'd be for publishers and devs to just say "sure that's fine" and Microsoft make that Xbox games available on PC.
I think we are at a point where any platform will have full BWT at least starting from ps4/xone/switch 1. Whatever was prior yeah will be trickier.
Its more of a question if PC-xbox hybrid will have full compatibility with current xbox console libraries.
It HAS to have backwards compatibility. But what type? X360 & OG Xbox "backwards compatibility" is great in theory, but for those in the know it's really emulation, not true backwards compatibility, and only covers a very small proportion of all the games on that system e.g.
While I am grateful for the games that do work, that simply isn't good enough going forward. They have to make sure almost all Xbox One and XSX games work.
Well Switch 2 is just a translation layer for Switch 1 then full power emulation, or some emulation of certain aspects right?
Either way, Xbox was internet connection required and an account with Xbox Live or some form of things to the Xbox network, for the games and yeah emulating it I guess so really for the percentage of Xbox games then the PS/Nintendo approach of full or near besides odd special code or other hardware aspects used type games not surprised.
Having like mightyant says of 63 for Xbox OG and 632 of 360.
When we got 461 or so OG Xbox on 360, the licensing, the source code, the publishers not caring to offer them up even for the digital store sales compared to physical disks used or end up being the only way to play some of them as well and how they show up in the store/part of the list.
The companies gone over the years and more. It's just crazy. Compared to PS/Nintendo where it's usually around what 1% or 5% maybe of titles, just a handful or so depending for hardware based, and whatever the case of digital/physical games that have compatibility issues of note like AC Syndicate besides those like Robinson the Journey the PSVR Crytech game or others more Indie like and not as well know or work fine.
Or certain titles engines/special code is a bit awkward or utilising parts of the hardware that most others don't.
I can mostly think of the flight game on Master System that won't work on the Genesis Power Based Convertor (besides card based games I guess), or Voodoo Vince had special code so it needed a remaster for Xbox One. Cases like that.
There are a few reasons why Xbox has been my preferred console this gen. I don´t much care for the Playstation 5 controller. I´d much rather play on the big 4K screen than the Switches handheld. I have a huge backlog I want to chip away at in-between big new releases...
Ultimately, it was the backwards-compatibility of Xbox that paved the way for me to further entrench myself in that ecosystem So since I´m generally leaning towards the Xbox, I automatically buy most 3rd party games I want there as well. Xbox has plenty of flaws, but it caters to my preferences more than the competition - at least for now.
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