Xbox boss Phil Spencer says that “it is a very small group,” and as such, the transfer to shut down the 360 shops will permit the group to “focus our effort on the place gamers are and the place they will purchase,” which is on Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Phil Spencer says: “Recreation preservation is essential to us at Crew Xbox”
When chatting with Eurogamer, Spencer mentioned Microsoft’s plans to shut down the Xbox 360 retailer, which “was actually simply concerning the {hardware} and the lifespan of the {hardware}.” The Xbox 360 retailer might be 18 years outdated this November, virtually 19 years outdated when it closes subsequent 12 months, and whereas it is sensible that Microsoft is seeking to spend these sources elsewhere, our ballot final week revealed that from 6,131 responses, 53% of gamers do not agree that it is time to shut the Xbox 360 retailer.
“It is a fairly small group. The group of consumers could be very, very small. In order the again finish — which is tied to that {hardware}, roughly — begins to form of carry down simply from a sustainability [point], and virtually all of the gamers have moved on, we’re like, ‘okay, we will focus our effort on the place the gamers are and the place they will purchase.’ So, you’ll be able to nonetheless go purchase all of the again compat video games; all of the multiplayer stuff all works. I feel that is fairly cool.”
Spencer additionally spoke about Microsoft’s dedication to sport preservation and the way Xbox is trying to deal with sport preservation for the long run. “One of many issues we do is ship all of our video games on PC, as a result of I really suppose PC is one of the best ecosystem for sport preservation as a result of it isn’t tied to 1 piece of {hardware}. So, on the meta-level, if we take into consideration video video games as items of software program, the extra that software program is not depending on a bodily system, the extra preserved it may be in the long term,” Spencer mentioned. “On the 360, I really like our again compat and the work that we have accomplished. And possibly it is just a little little bit of grandiose to say, however I feel it is world-class, what the group has accomplished round again compat, even on Gen 9. Not solely does it run, however one of the best place to go play these video games is thru the again compat layer on a Collection S or X. I adore it, I feel it is superior.”
The backwards compatibility program was introduced in 2015 for the Xbox One, which might try to make earlier authentic Xbox and Xbox 360 video games appropriate with new {hardware} — an identical deal to what the Xbox 360 had. Since 2015, over 450 titles had been given the backwards compatibility remedy earlier than this system ended, leaving solely a small number of video games behind — I am nonetheless bitter over the truth that Lollipop Chainsaw and Hunted: Demon’s Forge did not make the reduce! Nonetheless, Spencer says that he hasn’t forgotten the non-backwards appropriate video games.
“There is a listing of, what, 220 video games that aren’t again compat, and I’ve that listing and I’ve obtained it stapled on my brow, and like, how can we make sure that [you can play them still?] What number of of these are on PC? That is one factor, as a result of it would not essentially imply you want to have the ability to play it on the present {hardware} that you just purchased 15 years in the past, however preservation is entrance and middle when all these selections are made,” Spencer says. “I’ll say for us that preservation that is linked to just one piece of {hardware} is a problem. As a result of there may be {hardware} love as effectively — individuals who love and wish this system to do that ceaselessly — however mechanical issues will break over time. However that is why we gave folks with this resolution a 12 months. To illustrate ‘hey, if you wish to go purchase issues within the 360 retailer, we’ll provide you with a 12 months headstart, and you’ll go get these issues.’ And simply know that the listing of the 220 video games is one thing that we see, and we might love to seek out options for these video games to proceed to play.”
In the identical interview, Phil Spencer additionally mentioned that he would not “see a world” the place Microsoft drops the Xbox Collection S.
