No backward compatibility in Xbox 2

Dom · Jun 21, 2004, 05:48 PM

Sources close to Microsoft's senior Xbox executives have confirmed that the company does not intend to make its next-generation console, which is set to be launched by late 2005, backwards compatible with existing Xbox software.

Speculation about the backwards compatibility functionality has been rife since it emerged that Xbox 2 - codenamed Xenon - will have radically different hardware to the original system, with a non-x86 processor, no hard drive and an ATI, rather than NVIDIA, graphics chipset, all of which would make running Xbox titles on the platform very difficult.

It was widely believed, however, that Microsoft had retained a team of hardware emulation experts to work on the problem - although concerns over the viability of such an endeavour were voiced by some experts, especially regarding the company's ability to emulate the functions of the graphics unit in the Xbox without violating NVIDIA's intellectual property rights.

GamesIndustry.biz has now learned that Microsoft does not plan to provide any backwards compatibility in the next-generation Xenon platform - and indeed, that senior executives at the company don't believe backwards compatibility to be an important feature for consoles.

Read More...

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Source: GameIndustry

tazdevl · Jun 21, 2004, 06:21 PM

Doubtful, might not have native backwards compatibility, but I'd bet it'll play them in some kind of emulation mode. Robbie Bach knows the business.

Software titles drive the industry, if you aren't backwards compatible, you[re cripped before even making it out of the gate.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Jun 21, 2004, 06:41 PM

who cares, their titles except halo havent made a huge hit on the gaming industry, or they are all ports of PC games (which are better) or stolen sony and nintendo licenced games.

Tipstaff · Jun 21, 2004, 09:17 PM

I wonder how much this might hurt them.

They've broken the "unwritten" console rule with releasing a new console 4 years later instead of the 5-6 years we've seen to date with Nintendo, Sony, and Sega. As soon as the Xbox 2 comes out Microsoft will be changing to support it more. That's a given, but it must piss off developers that are still in the middle of producing games for the "current" Xbox.

LOL.. I bet you Rare is sitting back with that very thought right now. "Shit. First we released Conkers right on the dying edge of the N64, and now we're going to release it again on the last leg of the Xbox! WTF?!? That's it... we're moving to Sony!"

Edit: I'll come up with something better later.. too tired, and this was the best I could do.

Judas · Jun 22, 2004, 06:15 AM

lol tipstaff..... true.... But i think that with killing off capability... it introduces fresh code..... a problem that Sony has right now....

Jun 21, 2004, 05:48 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	No backward compatibility in Xbox 2 Sources close to Microsoft's senior Xbox executives have confirmed that the company does not intend to make its next-generation console, which is set to be launched by late 2005, backwards compatible with existing Xbox software. Speculation about the backwards compatibility functionality has been rife since it emerged that Xbox 2 - codenamed Xenon - will have radically different hardware to the original system, with a non-x86 processor, no hard drive and an ATI, rather than NVIDIA, graphics chipset, all of which would make running Xbox titles on the platform very difficult. It was widely believed, however, that Microsoft had retained a team of hardware emulation experts to work on the problem - although concerns over the viability of such an endeavour were voiced by some experts, especially regarding the company's ability to emulate the functions of the graphics unit in the Xbox without violating NVIDIA's intellectual property rights. GamesIndustry.biz has now learned that Microsoft does not plan to provide any backwards compatibility in the next-generation Xenon platform - and indeed, that senior executives at the company don't believe backwards compatibility to be an important feature for consoles. Read More... _________________________ Source: GameIndustry

Jun 21, 2004, 06:21 PM	#2
tazdevl DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 310 Rep Power: 0	Doubtful, might not have native backwards compatibility, but I'd bet it'll play them in some kind of emulation mode. Robbie Bach knows the business. Software titles drive the industry, if you aren't backwards compatible, you[re cripped before even making it out of the gate. __________________ RIG: P4 2.6C, Thermalright SP94/Panaflo 92MM M1A, IC7 Max3, Swifty MCX159, 1GB Geil PC4000 Ultra Plat, Modded Radeon 8500, Audigy 2, 2X WD Raptor RAID 0, WD 250GB SE, Plex 708A, 166SDVD, LianLi PC75, WinXP Pro SP1, Z680's.

Jun 21, 2004, 06:41 PM	#3
BiGBrOwNPimpsta HH's #1 Hustla and Pimp Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Dirty Dot Posts: 7,706 Rep Power: 105 System Specs	who cares, their titles except halo havent made a huge hit on the gaming industry, or they are all ports of PC games (which are better) or stolen sony and nintendo licenced games. __________________ Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music \| Logitech Z-5500 THX 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers \| 2 Lite-On 20x S-ATA Burners \| Logitech G700 Mouse \| Logitech MX5500 Bluetooth Keyboard

Jun 21, 2004, 09:17 PM	#4
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,659 Rep Power: 187 System Specs	I wonder how much this might hurt them. They've broken the "unwritten" console rule with releasing a new console 4 years later instead of the 5-6 years we've seen to date with Nintendo, Sony, and Sega. As soon as the Xbox 2 comes out Microsoft will be changing to support it more. That's a given, but it must piss off developers that are still in the middle of producing games for the "current" Xbox. LOL.. I bet you Rare is sitting back with that very thought right now. "Shit. First we released Conkers right on the dying edge of the N64, and now we're going to release it again on the last leg of the Xbox! WTF?!? That's it... we're moving to Sony!" Edit: I'll come up with something better later.. too tired, and this was the best I could do. Last edited by Tipstaff; Jun 21, 2004 at 10:21 PM.