We’re in a new generation of console gaming, with both machines boasting solid performance upgrades and more of that social network integration that is all the buzz these days. One thing that neither console has though? Backwards compatibility for the previous generation. Sony has a streaming idea to bring some retro love to the PS4. But Microsoft has a better idea in the works.
According to Microsoft’s Frank Savage, the idea over at the house that Bill Gates built is to make the Xbox One capable of emulating Xbox 360 games. Old games on a new system then.
Speaking at the recent Microsoft Build developer conference (Via Kotaku), Savage was asked about the plans for an Xbox 360 emulator on their new console. “There are, but we’re not done thinking them through yet, unfortunately,” Savage said.
It turns out to be hard to emulate the PowerPC stuff on the X86 stuff. So there’s nothing to announce, but I would love to see it myself.
The plus side to an emulator program on the Xbox One, is that this would make disc-based Xbox 360 games viable. The current idea at Sony is to stream such games onto the PlayStation 4, a bandwidth-intensive idea that only those with a decent line and ISP can manage. Throw in the option to download games from the Xbox marketplace that would take advantage of this emulator, and you’ve got yourself a winner here.
Say what you like about the Xbox One, but there’s no denying that the Xbox 360 console made an impact locally. It was the preferred console of choice for many gamers, and if you’ve bought a new-gen device, chances are that you kept your current-gen machine and library because of that lack of backwards compatibility.
If Microsoft can provide a service such as this, without talking about that magical cloud as they head through to E3, then that will provide them with not only at least one edge over Sony, but finally, some goodwill from gamers.
Last Updated: April 7, 2014
Hammersteyn
April 7, 2014 at 13:35
Can only benefit them in the long run. Especially looking at the age of the games they give away monthly.
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 7, 2014 at 13:44
I hope that works. It would be a pretty cool feature.
Kromas
April 7, 2014 at 14:13
Also if it works someone will easily port it to pc since its gonna be X86 based. Master Race emulating peasant machines cause they can!
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 7, 2014 at 14:21
All you’re gamez R belong to usses!
Kromas
April 7, 2014 at 14:40
Sounds like the gaming department at Toys R Us. 😛
DrKiller
April 7, 2014 at 16:10
Pfff it already exists… Xbox One has that HDMI-in port!
Happy Hamster
April 7, 2014 at 16:32
well with most developers saying they will still be developing for Xbox 360 they would be idiots if they didnt implement this