You're right, backwards compatibility has been a hallmark of Windows. To paraphrase Gabe (and devs like Alen Ladavac) more precisely, I should have mentioned t

You're right, backwards compatibility has been a hallmark of Windows. To paraphrase Gabe (and devs like Alen Ladavac) more precisely, I should have mentioned that I think they're most concerned about the certification requirements on launchers in the main UI of the new OS, and flagging adoption of 8. The first concern is probably a little melodramatic. As to the second, I think if you run a giant content delivery empire that lives or dies based on Windows on the desktop in the home, then you have to get a little panicky when you read all those apocalyptic "X is killing the desktop" stories. Even if they're all overblown, even if there's only a 6% chance that we all drop our computers and start using smartphones exclusively, Gabe HAS to hedge for that. If Windows releases any OS without groundbreaking adoption numbers, it's got to give him minor palpitations. The best way to hedge is probably to push cross platform development and consider building a Steam box. Even though it seems a little kooky, it might be the best hedge of the alternatives. Meanwhile, Carmack's radically different approach (wait until the market shifts out from under us) isn't really irrational for him either. He could switch to developing smart phone games any day, but the best day for him to do so is after they're the dominant ecosystem, not before. Though Alen's in the same boat as Carmack, so he's probably overreacting. http://www.vg247.com/2012/11/06/serious-sam-developer-rails-against-walled-garden-of-windows-8/ http://www.vg247.com/2012/11/06/serious-sam-developer-rails-...