4 ms·

No word on backwards compatibility or used games yet? Edit: No backwards compatibility[1]. Edit: Microsoft seems unsure about used games[1]: "We are designing

by ancarda 13y ago

No word on backwards compatibility or used games yet? Edit: No backwards compatibility[1]. Edit: Microsoft seems unsure about used games[1]: "We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later." Enable? [1]: http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa

knocknock 13y ago
Xbox One will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games. http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-backwards-compatibilty http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-ba...
corresation 13y ago
Seeing your question, my immediate thought was "that's an odd question, of course it has backwards compatibility". Turns out that it actually doesn't. http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-backwards-compatibilty http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-ba... That's incredible.
- smokinjoe 13y ago
  Not according to the article you linked: > Technologically speaking, it's not wholly a surprise that backwards compatibility is off the table. Today, the company confirmed months of rumors that the new Xbox would use an x86 CPU. Games designed for the Xbox 360's Xenon processor simply won't run natively on the new hardware, since the Xenon used a PowerPC architecture instead.
  - e1ven 13y ago
    The Original Xbox and Xbox 360 used different processors as well. IIRC, Microsoft allowed/encouraged publishers to re-compile, and release a patch via XBL which let people play the original games on the new system.
    - testbro 13y ago
      I think Xbox compatibility was achieved using an emulator; Wikipedia seems to suggest this is the case [1]. It seems like this would be an ideal opportunity for the QuickTransit [2] stuff Apple used in Rosetta to see some more use, assuming IBM would be willing to license it (and MS sees it as a worthwhile endeavour). [1] : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_games_compatible_with_Xbox_360#How_compatibility_is_achieved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_games_compatible_w... [2] : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickTransit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickTransit
  - corresation 13y ago
    It was known that it would have a different processor architecture, however historically backwards compatibility was a given if you had any entrenchment worth preserving. Usually it is achieved in whatever way is necessary: a secondary modern-process, lower-power PowerPC coprocessor chip for older games, or a real-time binary rewriting system, etc. I am surprised that Microsoft would throw the lead their 360 has amassed. I don't want to juggle multiple systems in the entertainment setup. If I switch to either a PS4 or a Xbox One, either leaves me out in the cold with my old "investment". So any advantage the One had in that regard is gone. It isn't a huge deal at all, but is factored in or not.
- obviouslygreen 13y ago
  As a Playstation guy (not really until PS2, but still having never purchased an XBox), it seems like a matter of course. Sony struggled with backwards compatibility, and my 60GB PS3 has lived to be a venerable old bastion of BC... but even in that ecosystem it's gone, with the PS4 being entirely non-old-people-friendly. At some point I stepped back and questioned where this expectation came from, and I have to guess it's based on those of us who started as PC gamers and then went to consoles: Who else would expect something from one system to magically work on another? As more and more people grow up without this preconception, I'd imagine fewer and fewer will balk at a lack of backwards compatibility.
  - VLM 13y ago
    "I have to guess it's based on those of us who started as PC gamers and then went to consoles" Seems to be a lot of marketing hoping my kid will stop watching youtube and playing minecraft on his android tablet and move to their console. This might be a problem as people are not so cool with rebuying everything if you upgrade from one iphone to the next or one android phone/tablet to the next. The problem with the xbox one is next (whatever) GOOG and APPL release the next generation of tablets with a HDMI out. Now what? Pay 99 cents at play.google.com or $70 for a xbox game? Pay $200 oh wait you already own a nexus 7 of course so its actually $0, or pay $400 for a new xbox?
    - Terretta 13y ago
      HDMI out on a tablet would be a regression when AirPlay gives you HD video without wires.
wmf 13y ago
On Ars and The Verge I see no backwards compatibility and a "fee" to play used games (sounds like you basically have to buy the game again).
deleted 13y ago
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by ancarda 13y ago

knocknock 13y ago

Xbox One will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games. http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-backwards-compatibilty http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-ba...

corresation 13y ago

Seeing your question, my immediate thought was "that's an odd question, of course it has backwards compatibility". Turns out that it actually doesn't. http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-backwards-compatibilty http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350662/new-xbox-has-no-ba... That's incredible.

smokinjoe 13y ago
Not according to the article you linked: > Technologically speaking, it's not wholly a surprise that backwards compatibility is off the table. Today, the company confirmed months of rumors that the new Xbox would use an x86 CPU. Games designed for the Xbox 360's Xenon processor simply won't run natively on the new hardware, since the Xenon used a PowerPC architecture instead.
- e1ven 13y ago
  The Original Xbox and Xbox 360 used different processors as well. IIRC, Microsoft allowed/encouraged publishers to re-compile, and release a patch via XBL which let people play the original games on the new system.
  - testbro 13y ago
    I think Xbox compatibility was achieved using an emulator; Wikipedia seems to suggest this is the case [1]. It seems like this would be an ideal opportunity for the QuickTransit [2] stuff Apple used in Rosetta to see some more use, assuming IBM would be willing to license it (and MS sees it as a worthwhile endeavour). [1] : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_games_compatible_with_Xbox_360#How_compatibility_is_achieved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_games_compatible_w... [2] : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickTransit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickTransit
- corresation 13y ago
  It was known that it would have a different processor architecture, however historically backwards compatibility was a given if you had any entrenchment worth preserving. Usually it is achieved in whatever way is necessary: a secondary modern-process, lower-power PowerPC coprocessor chip for older games, or a real-time binary rewriting system, etc. I am surprised that Microsoft would throw the lead their 360 has amassed. I don't want to juggle multiple systems in the entertainment setup. If I switch to either a PS4 or a Xbox One, either leaves me out in the cold with my old "investment". So any advantage the One had in that regard is gone. It isn't a huge deal at all, but is factored in or not.
obviouslygreen 13y ago
As a Playstation guy (not really until PS2, but still having never purchased an XBox), it seems like a matter of course. Sony struggled with backwards compatibility, and my 60GB PS3 has lived to be a venerable old bastion of BC... but even in that ecosystem it's gone, with the PS4 being entirely non-old-people-friendly. At some point I stepped back and questioned where this expectation came from, and I have to guess it's based on those of us who started as PC gamers and then went to consoles: Who else would expect something from one system to magically work on another? As more and more people grow up without this preconception, I'd imagine fewer and fewer will balk at a lack of backwards compatibility.
- VLM 13y ago
  "I have to guess it's based on those of us who started as PC gamers and then went to consoles" Seems to be a lot of marketing hoping my kid will stop watching youtube and playing minecraft on his android tablet and move to their console. This might be a problem as people are not so cool with rebuying everything if you upgrade from one iphone to the next or one android phone/tablet to the next. The problem with the xbox one is next (whatever) GOOG and APPL release the next generation of tablets with a HDMI out. Now what? Pay 99 cents at play.google.com or $70 for a xbox game? Pay $200 oh wait you already own a nexus 7 of course so its actually $0, or pay $400 for a new xbox?
  - Terretta 13y ago
    HDMI out on a tablet would be a regression when AirPlay gives you HD video without wires.

wmf 13y ago

On Ars and The Verge I see no backwards compatibility and a "fee" to play used games (sounds like you basically have to buy the game again).

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]