Don Mattrick: 'If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards

4.5

The Xbox One won't play Xbox 360 discs or XBLA games, and that doesn't really bother Microsoft Head of Interactive Entertainment Business Don Mattrick.

"If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards," he told the Wall Street Journal.

Mattrick said only 5 percent of customers play games from previous generations on new consoles, so spending time to make that possible isn't worth it. Sony's PlayStation 4 isn't backward compatible from a hardware standpoint, but with cloud service Gaikai, it should offer a way to play games from the PS3 and older consoles.

It's been eight years since the previous generation transition, meaning players have had longer than ever to build up their libraries. That's a lot to lose – and even more so with the onset of downloadable games in the middle of this generation.

Posted: May 22, 2013 2:50 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/don-mattrick-if-youre-backwards-compatible-youre-really-bac/

Comments

MPAAPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

SCO
Frank
MPAA More stupid remarks from a stupid company. If they had ANY sense, they would emulate the previous generation in hardware like the 360 does for the original xbox, it isn't hard, but i fear that Microsoft Game Studios has grown too lazy and just want to rake it in.

It isn't hard?

MPAA If it isnt hard then why dont you buy the xbox one then open it up and do it yourself...

More stupid remarks, why would I need to open a XBox One? software emulation is done in the same way as its predecessor, the only barrier? Money, No not that it costs them much, but they'd rather charge you extra on the marketplace, think Xbox originals at 1200Msp instead of simply using your old disc.

Some people just do not think.

SnagPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

I don't see what the big deal is really.. Yeah you may have spent a lot of money on 360 games and items (I know I have) but you are buying a NEW console which means it requires NEW things for it. If they want you to use all their 360 things they would've just updated to a newer model of the 360, like they did with the Slim. Microsoft wants this to be the next-gen gaming console so you can't expect them to want to bring old-gen things into it

iTOKEnCHOKEPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

Well my stack of 50+ games will useless...

LostPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

I wish microsoft would give back for all the items people have bought over the years. At least that way it would not be a complete waste.

PetrichorPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

This is pretty ridiculous, people have spent hundreds of dollars on 360 games, hell, even thousands, and you won't be able to play on the xbox one. That's a shame.

WavelengthPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

Yin
GRAPHlCS
Heatwave Kind of a shame because i wanted to be able to play 360 games on the xbox one, looks like i'll be keeping one of my 360's.

Why? why would you buy a new console to play old games, it doesn't make sense to be honest, you buy it for a new experience and too play new games.

Because not all of your friends can afford it right away and maybe my 360 is broke at the time. Plus, some people love to go back to the older games. People still go back to the N64 even today. I have one in the other room. I'm sure other people can find other reasons for it.

Yeah for sure. Your Xbox 360 broke as soon as you got the Xbox One. Not likely to happen. If you want to go back to old games use your Xbox 360 that's all.

Znie19Posted: Wed. May 22, 2013

By saying this they are throwing away all the old games with the old console. This is ridiculous.

Snowfl4k3zPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

That quote sounded more like an ad than a real reason.

J-E-T-SPosted: Wed. May 22, 2013

The reason so little people do not play previous console games (ex. xbox on xbox 360) is because Microsoft is to lazy to just innovate it when the new consoles come out. I would gladly play Halo 2 and Halo CE on 360 its just yea.. they didn't allow us to till what like a year after release and even then you can't chat with people on live. I basically discarded all of my original xbox games and console when 360 was released.