Backwards compatibility on a gaming console was first seen on the Atari 7800 in June 1986, allowing gamers to play titles that were released on the two year old console Atari 5200 which was not well received.
Since then there has been many debates between gamers and console hardware companies whether it is important for the latest system to host the platform. A recent study conducted by Ars Technica using a third-party API showed the backwards compatibility platform on the Xbox One was used 1.5 percent of the time on 1.65 billion minutes. (A mere +/- 412,5000 hours). Gleaning the data from the study,then why is it important to have backward compatibility platform?
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According to Executive Vice President of Gaming at Microsoft Phil Spencer it is being used as a way to preserve the games as art. In an article posted by Wired earlier this week titled “The Inside Story of the Xbox One X”, Mr. Spencer gives his opinion on the importance of backward compatibility stating “I see games as an art form. Console games can get lost when hardware generations go away. It can become more challenging to play the games of our past,” he continues “There’s something to be learned from experiencing what I played as a kid. There’s good business there for the content owners, but as players, it’s nice to be able to understand how our artform has progressed.”
Microsoft is the only company that has been consistent with backwards compatibility going back to the Xbox 360, while both Nintendo and Sony have flipped back and forth with both companies deciding the their latest platform would not be available on their latest consoles.
Let us know your thoughts on backward compatibility, Is it important to you? Do you use the platform on your current console, if not, why? Look forward to hearing your thoughts.