Next Xbox 'probably backwards compatible' says 2K
Spec Ops dev not worried about launching at the end of the current console cycle.
The successor to the Xbox 360 will probably be backwards compatible, believes Spec Ops: The Line executive producer Denby Grace.
Grace was chatting to VideoGamer.com about the possible pitfalls of launching a big-budget game - Spec Ops: The Line - at the tail end of a console generation.
"The next generation, the way we're looking at it and thinking about it, we're not going to see such a reinvention of the wheel," said Grace. "High Def was a big change, for sure, and I don't think we perceive the jump to the next generation to be big in that respect - in terms of visual fidelity.
"I think there's going to be a lot more opportunity to make worlds much, much richer, because we'll have more memory and things like that. And obviously there'll be more integration with cloud, with Kinect - with all these periphery things. I think that's where the big innovation is going to come from. Obviously we're going to need to make the leap, like everyone is going to need to make the leap. But I don't think it concerns us, you know?
"A good game can come out whenever. A great example is God of War, which came out at the end of the PS2 lifecycle."
He added: "The other argument is that the install-base is at its largest, as well. People don't stop buying games because there's a new console on the horizon. And as well as that, the Next Box - or whatever you want to call it - is probably going to be backwards compatible. So I don't think we're afraid of that. A good game will always be successful, no matter when you release it. But there are things to consider."
Spec Ops: The Line is scheduled for release in 2012. Read about our latest impressions of the game by heading over to the hot off the press Spec Ops: The Line preview.
VideoGamer.com Analysis
Backwards compatibility seems like a must for the next Xbox, a feature which could be made simpler to implement assuming the console utilises an AMD graphics part just as the Xbox 360 does - a hardware solution as seen in early PS3 models, would provide the best experience.
Whilst gamers are sure to carry on buying games for the old hardware once new consoles are out, much of the shooter fanbase is made of core gamers, the very same group which tends to adopt new technology first.
User Comments
draytone
Knuckles316@ guyderman
Also, now that people have accounts on their systems that store game played history and achievements or trophies, there is more of a reason to carry over not only your games but your account to any future consoles. If the people who made these features can't see the value in carrying these things over and doing this service for their customers, I can see it angering a lot of gamers and I think sales will be affected for any company not willing to make their new systems backward compatible.
munkee
joe7
IF MS wants too, they can deliver a backward compatible console for sure. (Cheap) Hardware is _already_ available to make the new gen 3-5x (or more) the speed of current one, so even if they gotta 'emulate' the old one, they shall be able to do it easily.
Also there is not much out there in terms of media other than blue-ray, so supporting current gen with regards to media is not an issue either.
So they will, unless they want folks to flush their warehouse entirely of the last currentgen consoles at some greatly reduced price when newgen gets introduced ;)
pblive
Bloodstorm@ Clockpunk
*funny eyes*
87Sarah
BC never used to exist but the consoles weren't necessarily extensions of each other were they? Nowadays it's basically the same console with a few tweaks here and there.
draytone
FantasyMeister@ Clockpunk
I'd like a 3 year warranty too.
guyderman
Clockpunk@ FantasyMeister
FantasyMeister
It'll take me 40 years to work through the collection I've got now anyway, and the current plan is when my 360 eventually gives up the ghost I'll switch to cloud gaming which by then should have all my existing titles already on it. Hopefully. In a perfect world.