Xbox One not backwards compatible with 360 discs, Arcade games

Xbox 360 gamers, you knew it was coming but you’re still angry – prepare your fists of rage. Microsoft has confirmed to numerous news outlets that the new Xbox One console will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 discs or digitally downloaded Arcade titles.

Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten said “the system is based on a different core architecture, so back-compat doesn’t really work from that perspective.”

This is the same reasoning behind Sony’s similar move. Both the PS4 and the Xbox One are based on x86 architecture, which is different to the architecture employed in the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Whitten was not willing to commit that Microsoft was working on Xbox One compatibility for the existing library of Xbox 360 games. Sony on the other hand has said that they will be bringing popular PS3 titles to the PS4.

Microsoft told Wired that non-game content, such as movies and music, will transfer to the Xbox One.

There are two ways to look at this news for both PS3 and Xbox One gamers with large libraries of games.

On the positive side, choosing to migrate to one of the new platforms might now be easier as you aren’t tied to your old library of games.

The PS3 and Xbox 360 aren’t going anywhere, nor are their related online services, and the consoles are likely to continue dropping in price in the eventuality that you need to replace your ageing hardware.

With neither Sony nor Microsoft cramming in expensive emulation hardware, the launch pricing of the new consoles can be kept down, which makes sense as it would potentially only benefit a segment of the market looking to adopt the next-gen consoles.

On the negative side, it could all be a money-grubbing conspiracy to trick you into buying ageing console hardware and “Full HD remakes” of your favourite games from the existing generation.

You decide!