At this year’s E3, Microsoft revealed that it plans to bring original Xbox games to the Xbox One backward compatibility program before the end of 2017. Now, it appears the company may be walking back from that promised launch date somewhat.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer took the time to answer a few questions during this year’s Gamescom show, and one in particular asked whether original Xbox backward compatibility support would be made available this year—as originally promised. In his response, Spencer seemed to walk back from the earlier promised launch window.

“I hope to bring more on [original Xbox backward compatibility] this year, yes,” Spencer tweeted (via GameSpot). Note that this response is now phrased as a “hope,” and he’s not even expressing a hope that the service will launch this year, but that he’ll have more information to share.

For the sake of comparison, here’s exactly what Spencer said onstage at E3 2017: “We’ll have more to share about this program when it launches later this year.”

Perhaps getting Xbox games running smoothly on the Xbox One is taking a little longer than anticipated? Maybe Spencer is being overly cautious now, or he just misspoke? Either way, it’s odd to see a 2017 launch switch from a guarantee to a wish in Spencer’s public statements.

So far, we know of two original Xbox games that are planned to release as part of the program. Microsoft showed off Crimson Skies during the E3 2017 conference, and Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb announced Fuzion Frenzy shortly afterwards.

Be sure to stay tuned for more updates from Microsoft as Gamescom 2017 continues.

Posted: Aug 22, 2017 4:10 am
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/is-original-xbox-backward-compatibility-going-to-be-delayed/