Examples of Damage Control in Gaming: The Next-Gen Backwards Compatibility Dream Faded

Details from the earliest points in the next-generation console hype cycle suggested that both Sony and Microsoft’s upcoming consoles would have good backwards-compatibility support. It was a serious frustration when the PlayStation 4 couldn’t play software from the PlayStation 3 or any previous Sony console, and less frustrating with the Xbox One, where new Xbox 360 games (and some original Xbox games) were made compatible on a weekly basis. Since the PS4 was created with off-the-shelf parts and the XB1 was even more of a PC than previous platforms, it appeared both companies were future proofing their software lineups. Recent info, however, suggests that dream has largely faded.

The long and slow-paced Road to PS5 presentation from Mark Cerny, which focused on the system’s capabilities without showing the actual console, included more backwards-compatibility info. The system is only based in part on the PS4, meaning most games will need adjustments to run on the system. This is being done on a case-by-case basis, and around the top 100 (best-selling, presumably) PS4 games are already playable on the system. Others will be playable at launch, though Sony isn’t promising that you’ll be able to insert any disc or download any PS4 game and expect to play it on PS5. This isn’t bad, and chances are most of your PS4 library will be playable if its robust enough, but it’s a letdown compared to the original promise.

Humorously enough, several readers initially interpreted Sony’s info as saying that only those top 100 games would be playable on PS5 when it launched. Others figured there was no chance that would be the case. It somehow took Sony around two days to clarify that “the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles will be playable on PS5.” It’s also neat that PS4 games will receive graphics and performance enhancements when played on PS5, perhaps beyond what the PS4 Pro can provide.

But note how “overwhelming majority” doesn’t mean “all,” and it doesn’t say that “overwhelming majority” will be playable when the system launches. The well-worded vague language means you should leave your expectations at a “reasonable” level.

Xbox is faring better here, to no surprise given their track record. Not every OG Xbox game played well on 360, if it was playable at all, but at least a fair amount of them were. The XB1 wasn’t backwards compatible with many 360 games early on, but Microsoft steadily made more of them playable over the generation’s course. Even better, many 360 games were enhanced on XB1 with increased resolutions and framerates. It was a respectable attempt.

Several older games will be playable on the Xbox Series X, titles from “four generations of gaming.” But the wording in the blog post from Xbox Head of Studios Phil Spencer never said every XB1 game will be playable. When a user asked whether that would be the case or not on Series X shortly after the Road to PS5 presentation, the Xbox Twitter account originally replied that they would be. That tweet was deleted, and a clarification was posted.

https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1241111301851615232

So, not every XB1 game will work on Series X, contrary to their earlier promises. (Boy do I wish I screen capped that earlier tweet.) Still, I trust Microsoft to have most of them working early in the Series X’s life, likely with visual and performance enhancements. Their track record has earned them that.

This shouldn’t be an issue for select upcoming games, those multiplatform and platform-exclusive titles that will soon be released as cross-generation titles. Microsoft, in particular, said they’ll release all their published titles on XB1 and Series X for at least the first year of the latter, while there will be as many cross-gen third-party titles as there were between the last console generation and the current one. Not all those cross-gen games will release simultaneously, which will inevitably and understandably lead to attitudes from those thinking that publishers will try to get consumers to buy the same games twice. There’s a fine anodyne for this: Cross-purchasing software.

In fact, Microsoft is already doing this, which announced that all their cross-gen games will be cross purchasable. The only third-party title confirmed to take advantage of this is Cyberpunk 2077, though other games will inevitably be part of the program. Don’t be surprised if some publishers want no part of this, as they did when the PS3/PS4/Vita cross-buy program was active. On that note: Sony really should have a similar program, if they don’t have it in the cards already. It will be a bad anti-consumer look of they don’t, but we’ll see if they care about that.

The attention paid to backwards compatibility shows how hardware manufacturers realize the gaming audience values it. The gaming audience wishes to preserve their software lineup, particularly when it’s a hassle to have more than one console hooked up at a time for those of us with smaller setups. Both companies will clarify details of their offerings, including providing lists of the first titles that will be playable, in the near future, assuming the coronavirus crisis hasn’t delayed console production too heavily.