May 19, 2005
Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility?
Xbox 360 backward compatibility feature is getting more and more confusing. We know it will be done through software emulation because the next gen Xbox uses a different CPU and graphics core architecture. What is confusing are these comments that the old games need to be recompiled? Does this mean current Xbox owners have to download a new recompiled version of the old game? Or do consumers have to wait a few hours for the Xbox 360 to recompile the game on the hard-drive? Inquiring minds want to know.The solution Microsoft has reached is apparently to recompiled current-gen Xbox games so that they can be played on the 360. First on the list, it says, are the best-selling Halo titles. The news has raised more questions than it answers, however, as it suggests that game titles may need to be modified somehow before players can use them on their new consoles - but Microsoft has denied that it will ask players to pay for new versions of the software. "At launch, Xbox 360 will be backward compatible with the top Xbox games," Xbox PR manager Michael Wolf told GamesIndustry.biz today. "Our goal is to have every Xbox game work on Xbox 360. You will NOT need to purchase a new 'version' - your original games will work on Xbox 360."
