Whether Used By 1.5% Or 50%, It's Worth Having Xbox One Backward Compatibility

TSA writes: "As the saying goes, there’s lies, damned lies, and statistics. It’s something that we’re facing up to right now with the somewhat heated debate and partisan commentary surrounding the worth of having backward compatibility on Xbox One. One thing’s for certain, that whether it’s 1.5% or 50%, for Microsoft it’s worth having backward compatibility on Xbox One."

[demonddel]

I love especially when I'm not playing my 2 favorite games Injustice 2 and Tekken 7 it's always good to go back and play Gears 2 and GTA 4

[4Sh0w]

Again just for clarity that 1.5% was not users anyway, it was 1.5% of 1.65 billion minutes, which on a next gen console is very healthy interest since its expected that current gen games will grab a dominant lions share of gamers time.

That said while BC is great, No matter how detractors try to downplay it, I will continue to applaud Microsofts efforts in that dept, but of course Im ready to see what new games Microsoft has up their sleeves....so hopefully we can move on and stop beating this horse.

[darthv72]

I, for one, hope MS takes bc one step further by adding in og xbox games.

[XanderZane]

@darthv72
If they announce that at the E3, I'll probably freak out. I'll be surprised though, as they said it was pretty tough adding the games to the XBox 360. The process was long. If anything, they would probably only be able to port over the OG XBox games that were playable on the XBox 360 and nothing else.

[christocolus]

BC is a great feature and I'm glad MS got it working on Xbox one.

[xHeavYx]

Of course it is worth it, the more features the better. I just don't buy a new console based on the idea of playing old games.

[Nu]

BC was an unexpected feature that I gladly embraced especially since I purchased several dozen digital titles for 360.

[optimus]

How did this even get approved? There's like 5 articles talking about the same thing. Bottom line is that of course it's worth it. No need to argue that.

[EatCrow]

Yes but most are against it for some reason. Honeslty cant believe how anyone would be against it or think its not a good thing.

[MatrixxGT]

Only people against it are people that don't have it. There a bunch of last gen games I never got to play. I can play older and newer games. Nice having the option.

[bjjcna]

Has to be butthurt fanboys, that's the only thing I can think of. If nobody cared about last gen, I don't think ps now would exist.
Ps is winning this race, but god forbid Microsoft do one thing right.

[deathtok]

Many against BC use the "focus efforts elsewhere" argument. They're under the assumption that BC is detracting from efforts of new games.

[optimus]

It doesn't matter if the articles were against it or for it. The argument will be the same. My point is that certain articles that don't get approved get attached to previous articles in relation to the story instead of adding to the slew of already approved articles talking about the same thing.

[JackBNimble]

It sounds like you guys are arguing with yourselves right now.
I am all for backwards compatibility and I am and always have been a playstation fan.

[JasonKCK]

Some just can't accept the data MS gave so they regurgitate the debunked data. They will go to any length to fit their agenda.

[SpaceRanger]

I don't understand how people can misinterpret those numbers.

50% HAVE used it since launch (whether once or every day)
1.5% ACTIVELY use it.

Good feature and option - Of Course
Utilized more than anything else - Not In The Slightest

[yarbie1000]

"Don't understand how people can misinterpret those numbers"....then proceeds to misinterpret the numbers.
Microsoft said Ars was using shady 3rd party data that wasn't complete.
You can go look at the most played games every week. Go right now, and you'll find multiple BC games on the list. Including the top 10.

[SpaceRanger]

Shady 3rd party data? It came directly from MS.

So you're saying now that Xbox players play BC games more than current Xbox one games because current games don't come around enough and aren't as fun. Am I understanding you correctly? Can't find the list.

[Razzer]

"Microsoft said Ars was using shady 3rd party data that wasn't complete."

No...MS didn't say that. Ybarra said:

"Scraping some data off servers gives an inaccurate view of what people do."

[Goldby]

"You can go look at the most played games every week. Go right now, and you'll find multiple BC games on the list. Including the top 10."

That isn't something to brag about, when previous gen games are being played more than current gen. just shows more that Ms is catering to a business plan that doesn't require as much attention on current gen 1st party games.

why release a brand new game once every 4-5 months when you can add previous gen AAA games once a week

[yarbie1000]

Yes, it was a 3rd party. Even Ars says that in their article. Sorry it doesn't fit what you WANT to believe https://gyazo.com/f4abc8c81...

[4Sh0w]

Goldby,
"That isn't something to brag about, when previous gen games are being played more than current gen."

-You see that's just simply not true, there are more current gen games being played alot more then old games, its just that the list of most played games on X1 definitely highlights BC is being used enough that some old games make it in the list from time to time as well.

[JackBNimble]

Goldby
Give it a rest, as a ps4 fan I would gladly accept backwards compatibility as a standard feature on my favourite console. I don't get why this is an issue for some of Sony fans but it's a feature that should be embraced.

[EatCrow]

Nobody is misinterpreting except you in this case.

Nobody said its utilized more then anything else except sony fans when making fun of xbox not having games.

1.5% dont actively use it. Where did you get that number. The previous chart was time spent not actively using.

[JasonKCK]

What was that term George Bush used? "Fuzzy math" That's what the 1.5 actually represents, and those trying so hard to convince people (themselves) that the false data is real.

Why? Because they all believed it and the real data has backed them into a corner. Now they spin, deny, lie, and try and confuse the situation because it makes a particular group of people, and who they follow look bad.

[Automatic79]

I agree having Back Compat is beautiful. There is nothing more greater than having options in gaming for each genre including Racers, Fighters, Sports, action games, shooters from the past, present and future. #pastpresentfuture

[Saranya]

Better support than nothing like PS4.

[ILostMyMind]

PS4 have something, not nothing, but i agree.

[Z501]

I keep my previous consoles. So BC is irrelevant FOR ME.
Why? Because these companies don't owe us BC. So rather than depend/expect them to do something that they might NOT do. I've got MYSELF covered.

TL;DR
KEEP YOUR PREVIOUS CONSOLE

[EatCrow]

Unless you want to save money.
Good for you.

TL;DR
GET A GOOD INTERNET CONNECTION

That couldve been said for always online.

[Paytaa]

I still have my fully functional 360 from 2006. Why should I whip that thing out and take up more desk space when I can just play Xbox One AND 360 games in the same place? It's way more convenient on one console and I like the XB1 UI a thousand times better.

If the plan for Xbox is to carry all of your Xbox library of games going forward with each iterative console, that is the best way to go about it. It's all about convenience and Xbox is providing that.

I wish PS4 had BC so I could play Demon's Souls on my PS4, but instead I have to clear off the PS4 off my desk and hook up my PS3 to play it and use a Dualshock 3 when that pad sucks compared to the DS4.

[4Sh0w]

No, no he still dusts off his old walkman and old CD's to listen to that 1 favorite song every couple years.

[Z501]

How much time would that honestly take up?

We've already bought the original game & console. They don't then owe us the ability to play the same game on a new console.

[trooper_]

Introducing logic is unheard of around here, didn't you know?

[Lon3wolf]

"We've already bought the original game & console. They don't then owe us the ability to play the same game on a new console."

No they don't but we do have it so it saves having 2 consoles out when one does it all.

[JackBNimble]

So what happens when your console dies? They no longer produce the ps3

[Z501]

The same thing that happens when other products get discontinued. You either bought a back-up or you're out-of-luck.

[darthv72]

Its a convenience and one that has become popular over the years. One could say... expected.

There have been two types of bc in gaming. Direct and indirect. Direct would be simply the ability to pop an older game into a newer system and it plays. No having to use plug in converters or adapters.

Examples of direct are: 7800 playing 2600 games. Gba playing gb / gbc games. PS2 playing ps1 games. Wii playing GCN games. 360 playing xbox games. PS3 playing ps2 and ps1 games (early models) and then later only playing ps1 games.

And recently, xb1 playing 360 gmes. Although its not exactly direct because you dont actually play the data from the source. It is used as a key to then download a version of the game that was reprogrammed for xb1. This boarders on indirect though.

Indirect would be more akin to using something else to bridge the old with the new. Like genesis playing master system games via the pbc or even how a colecovision can play 2600 using a converter.

Sony made a cost cutting move in taking away (ps2) bc from the ps3 so they really cant say yes or no in terms of do people use it. I use it and its a nice convenience. They can gauge interest by the amount of digital ps1 and ps2 games sold on the store.

I am thankful my ps3 is still solid and it supports the widest margin of games by default. Its a shame more did not get that feature but i understand its not for everyone.

[ILostMyMind]

Of course it's worth it. Nobody said otherwise. It is better have than not have. It's just not a big deal.

[Goldby]

yea but when Ms is pumping money into getting licenses to allow previous gen games on their current system, i would much rather have that money go towards new ips

[EatCrow]

How much money are they pumping exactly?
You seem to know so much.

[Goldby]

i have no clue because i dont work for Ms or the xbox division.

but i do know that the BC games aren't free for MS, that it costs money to make these things happen. becuase ther eis no way in hell anyone would side with Ms if their pitch for this was

"we want to give our gmers the opportuntiy to go into local gaming stores, abd buy used copies of games that will have no money coming back to you guys, and in the process let them play it on their new systems. in return for allowing this, we plan to give you nothing."

doesn't actually work. but if they approach it as "we understand that used games dont generate any income for you guys, what we are going to do is give you a lump sum now to allow us to BC you game, it will make up[ for the lost revenue form used sales but you'll still get some money and we will look good in the eyes of the gamer for it being free

[meka2611]

They don't spend money for it, it's just a switch they need to flip, they need permission from the publisher to put it on xbox one BC. There is no money cost involved with adding games, unless the publisher wants money.

[_LarZen_]

We should give credit to Xbox for giving gamers the option to play older games. Not try to make it out as a negative thing as the PlayStation lobby is so hard at work trying to do.

[Goldby]

playstation fans have BC, its called a ps3. we just know that current systems should be focusing on current gen games, not previous ones

[EatCrow]

BC in this topic is when a current system can play previous gen games. So no it doesnt. Unless you pay.

[_LarZen_]

You are not speaking for me. I am a PlayStation fan. I have the PS1,PS2,PS3,PS4 and the PS4Pro. Would I like to have the option to play older games on my Pro? Hell yeah! I'm lucky as I have a dedicated gaming room. But still...these consoles takes up a heck of allot of space.

And I would just rather booth up my PS4Pro and play everything there instead of messing around it a bunch of old consoles.

I think it's really important to preserve and have available old games. Not just on PC. But on consoles as well. Maybe more so on consoles as it's the entry model for many who start out playing games.

[Condemnedman]

give up trolling it's really boring and just a little bit childish

[JasonKCK]

"playstation fans have BC, its called a ps3."

HAHAHAHA!

[XbladeTeddy]

I love BC because of convenience. Like my Wii Woo letting me play Wii games as well meaning no having to keep a Wii around too. Not neccessary, but a nice bonus nonetheless

[Abnor_Mal]

How many of these articles are we going to have, each saying the same thing. BC is a nice feature and of course people are using it. Everyone keep rehashing the same subject over and over for a week. You're happy with your console having BC then what should it matter what others that don't have or use the feature say about it.

[4Sh0w]

I agree with you mostly. I dont go around screaming BC is the best thing since sliced bread and I dont care if some ps or Xbox folks even.dont care about it....but if I'm gonna take the time to participate in a online gaming forum then I'm gonna take the time to point out mis-information concerning something I use myself.

BC wasn't getting nearly this much attention until a Sony exec publicly downplayed it. I for one am glad Xbox fans reacted strongly against his idea that nobody *really wants to play old games on a current gen console, we might not want to play them alot but we do like to every once in awhile be able to conveniently play an old favorite for free and I bet most ps fans would like the same option. Thats all no big deal.

[gangsta_red]

Well said, + bubbles. No one is saying that we would rather play old games on a new system but we are saying that it would be nice to do just that when we feel like it when it's available.

What's funny is even a Sony exec said it was a of the most requested feature from their gamers and it is definitely what makes PSNow so appealing.

[DialgaMarine]

Well yeah. When your console isn't getting new games, it's good to have that little convenience, especially if you were dumb enough to sell your last gen console, or never had one.

[vikingland1]

It gets all the multi platform games and some Microsoft exclusives so you can stop spreading misinformation. Of coarse Sony has way more exclusives there is no denying it.
But to say that Xbox One has no,Nada zero ziltch, games is a lie.

[DialgaMarine]

You can buy any future Xbox "exclusive", without ever buying a Xbox product.

[vikingland1]

@DialgaMarine

I don't have a windows pc capable of running old games let alone new games , so I play them on Xbox and I bet alot of others do as well.

[NeoGamer232]

BC is a long term strategy play and not a short term one. Everyone worries about immediate stats but the reality is that this feature is more about creating customer loyalty in the current base then it is about grabbing new customers.

If you don't have a console and buy one older games seem primitive and out-of-date mostly. But, to an existing owner that played games like the Red Dead, Halos, Gears, etc. The originals are nostalgic and revisiting them is fun.

Also, if you are an existing XBox gamer and have backlog from the previous gen (like I do), BC becomes an important feature on prioritizing what you need to play now vs. later. I find myself focusing on games that don't have BC yet. Just in case my old 360 dies.

Finally, the feature does not hurt at all. And is not a redirection of resources. Game developers do not develop BC features. The platform group does.

[EatCrow]

Exactly.

[LexHazard79]

Yes it is...I have about 15 digital games that came over to Xbox One via bc that not including the free ones they gave us.

Games I wouldve lost cause I moved onto Xbox One. I dont like cluttering consoles in my game setup area. If a console can play multiple gens thats a plus all the way around. You can't argue it!

[alb1899]

Is free......BC is free, if you don't use it won't matter and if you do then do it.
How can somebody say that something that is free and is an option that gamers ask for all the time....is bad or useless?
I prefer to have it than Don't.
SONY jus wants to keep milking old games with PSnow and remastering.....come on that is questionable! What SONY is doing with old games is bad and with ps5 they will keep doing it because you agree that you don't need BC.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

It's awesome to have. It's a feature, not a lifestyle. If your truck has 4 wheel drive, you don't engage it every day but it's nice to use it when you go camping. your smartphone might have a flashlight function that you only use once every 2 months but you're glad it's there when you lose your keys in a bush.

I don't use bc every day but when my buddies wanna play dirt 3 to get in the spirit of dirt 4 realeasing, it's a nonissue (true story). That's why bc is great. You don't have to have it but it's nice if you do. It's a perk. A feature. The more the more the better.

I really struggle in finding the controversy over making games you own easier to play other than the other system doesn't have it. That's a dumb mentality. Xbox users aren't hunting down shareplay stats to illustrate it's worthiness or discredit it because they don't have it. Also - if all you did was play mostly 360 games, why would you buy a new console? Most new games are for gen 8 so of course those games will get played more and by a lot. Just like new movies. But it's nice to go back and watch old movies on occasion isn't it. Same with games.

[ZombieKiller]

That's why i have an xbox. I wish they would bring Splinter Cell Blacklist to BC so I can play some stealth co-op with my buddy. I own one for the BC and the 4K blu-ray. All other gaming is done on my PS4 Pro.

[MetalProxy]

Jesus this BC crap is getting old. It's nice but it doesn't have all of the games. Just like with the x360 the BC was and is half-assed. Hopefully M$ shows some games so the Xbox crew has something better to talk about.

[Software_Lover]

I use it everytime I play.

Astropop is my go to just chill out game. Between that and Mass Effect It gets plenty of use. I'm currently trying to go through the Assassins Creed games from last gen (when I get a chance). It's a great feature to have.

[corroios]

Nobody told it was bad thing, but its not a gamechanger, much less 3 or 4 years later. After the longest gen. this is only news because the ps4 doesnt have and it was overhype by some.

[Jaypi03]

I agree, we can complain about numbers all we wants, but when I want to play Red Dead Redemption it feels damn good to be able to just drop it into the newest console without having to pull out the old.

[XMarkstheSpot]

-

[MetroidFREAK21]

It's always nice to have the option to go back and play older games on your newer consoles.

[hiawa23]

I agree, I love BC..

[mark_parch]

nice to see somebody put a positive article out on this. I've been gobsmacked at the amount of people and articles downplaying a great free optional feature. I love back compat on my xbox and I will be gutted if ps5 isn't back compat with ps4

[trooper_]

There's nothing wrong with BC but like I said, average Joe wants to know what new games are on the system, not whether it can play BC games or not.

BC is a luxury!

[obidanshinobi]

I replayed Red Dead Redemption, Bioshock, GTA 4 and Forza Horizon 1 recently-ish.
But whose balls do I have to tickle at MS to get Crackdown and Forza 4 on BC ?
All games that MS published themselves for the 360 should be BC by now, no excuses.

[ApexWolf22]

It's only useful to those who take advantage of the feature, most people I know briefly tinker around with the BC games then go right back to their current gen titles...imo each new BC addition becomes a 2 minute fad. Except for Black Ops 2 which apparently people can't stop making montages for.

[brewin]

What is great about xbox ones backward compatibility is that the games are enhanced from their original versions. I much prefer this over remasters. I cannot fathom why anyone would argue against BC. The feature is pretty great, and they always seem to have BC games for super cheap digitally. It allows me to pull out my old games or get games that I missed out on for super cheap compared to "hd remasters" that sell for $20-30.

[gangsta_red]

It is worth it and is a great feature to have. For anyone to complain or worry about who is using it or how many people use it is absolutely insane to me. Seriously, how could you even complain about a feature that opens up more ways to play older titles or an existing library?

BC is pure convenience and there is definitely a demand for playing nostalgic games. It's the reason the NES mini is sold out, the reason people get excited for remasters, the reason people want their virtual console games to carry over to the new system.

It's amazing that we as gamers even have to have to debate about a feature that lets you play older games and it's value or if anyone is even using it.

[Battlestar23]

It's a nice feature to have but not very important to me as i still have my ps2,ps3,psp,xbox 360 and i recently just bought an original xbox so if i wanted to play any of my old games i can just get them and hook them up.

[Tankbusta40]

Its a nice feature for sure but its NOT a selling point for a system and sales have shown this. Microsoft continues to ignore that open market that has shouted loud and clear that they want exclusive games and put their eggs into odd baskets like backwards compat.

[UltraAtomic]

I don't care on this number thing, for starters. The consumers shouldnt care either. The fact that you can play your old games on your new system for free, should be awesome for the consumer. I have no idea why!? People would be cheering on paying for there games, rather than getting them for free.

[showtimefolks]

More power to you if you enjoy it I barely have time for games coming to ps4 so I personally don't have much interest in the feature

[Knightofelemia]

Just waiting for Namco to make Tales of Vesperia backwards compatible I wouldn't mind is Squareenix made Infinite Undiscovery backwards as well. I am glad the feature was added just need some two games and I am set.

[Ulf]

Sony can't add PS3 BC to the PS4, they can only add PS1 and PS2 (and PSP, probably, which would be AMAZING).

That said, they won't. They would rather milk the PS Now! cow, and pretend BC isn't important. Where are the PS Now! numbers, Jim Ryan? Why are you running that business, if so few gamers use it?