For video game console makers, like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, it’s very important to push forward to the future. However, it’s also just as important to look to the past and honor what’s come before. Therefore, a trait that many look for in the new consoles is backward compatibility. Or simply put, being able to last generations games on the current system. Yet, both Microsoft and Sony have struggled with this in recent console generations. However, this could change for the Xbox side of the equation.
The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, took to Twitter to talk about the recent additions to the backward compatibility of the Xbox One. He noted how he started a Red Dead Redemption run on his Xbox 360 last year, but now was able to finish it on his One. This got some gamers asking if the next console from Microsoft would feature 100% backward compatibility. Spencer replied:
“In a future where you have so many big games that have huge playing communities behind them a future where you fragment that community via hardware feels like a challenge.”
So it sounds like Spencer is up for the idea of full backward compatibility, something that they haven’t fully done since they started making consoles.
Of course, this raises the question of, “Is there a new Microsoft console coming?” It’s very possible, as the Xbox One X was meant to be and super enhanced console not a sequel to the One. This has caused issues though among gamers, and Spencer is aware of that:
“I’m always learning, it’s key for me. I’ve learned a ton from the response to X from gamers and studios, trust me that this learning is impacting our future plans.”
“Future plans” seems to indicate that something is indeed in the works. But when will it be shown off? It’s hard to say.
