Edit 5: Add: “PERMANENTLY.” After reflecting on the comments in response to my post and being reminded Nintendo has done BC in the past, I think it’s important to note: the digital era should bring about permanent BC. I put this edit at the top because it’s an important distinction and should address all comments reminding me Nintendo has done BC in the past, but not for the long haul. Those comments, though, which were helpful in thinking through the various nuances of this topic. Now, on to my original post:
I know. Nintendo does their own thing. That’s fine. But this is absolutely an area in which they should imitate their competitors.
I bought the NES through GameCube when they launched. I skipped the Wii and WiiU, came back to gaming via Xbox and PC in 2014, and I camped out for Switch Day 1.
I’ve spent thousands building my Nintendo collection, and I’ve spent quite a lot on my Switch library. When Nintendo releases its next console, I want my entire Switch library to seamlessly port over. Microsoft is doing it. Playstation is about to do it.
I just played the first few hours of Dishonored on Xbox (a 2012 game), and I did it not because I purchased it; I did it *because I am a PAYING subscriber to GamePass Ultimate*.
Just sayin’, Nintendo. Backward compatibility doesn’t mean you have to “lose money.” If you do it right, you'll MAKE money, and, like Microsoft, you'll have folks like me giving you money and thanking you for taking it. That's what any genius business does, right?
​
Edit: Thanks to everyone for the comments! Sorry if I don't reply to every single one. The general gamut of perspectives here is: VC is what Nintendo should do. Or... a subscription is what Nintendo should do. Or... Nintendo will never do BC. Or... Nintendo should copy GP but offer purchase options. Obviously, Nintendo has several routes it could go; no matter our opinions on the longterm solution, I think we can all agree that we as consumers want what's best for us: access to old Nintendo games we've purchases or subscribed to, and we want that until we die. How we pay for and acquire said games is up to Nintendo, of course, but we all agree it would be nice if it were a consumer-friendly option.
Edit 2: It is clear that this conversation is evolving into a subscription vs. VC debate, both of which have their merits. This is a great conversation, and I look forward to seeing how it plays out over the next several decades.
Edit 3: This is
... keep reading on reddit ➡Could mean nothing but it's interesting that PlayStation are patenting things related to backwards compatibility.
Credit goes to u/PolyShaun (original tweet: https://twitter.com/shaunmcilroy/status/1481360035506761729?s=20)
ESPN NFL 2K5
Chronicles of Riddick w/ Dark Athena
Condemned 2 Bloodshot
You are allowed one runner-up, mine is: Call of Juarez (first one, love that game)
Some of my picks
- GTA LCS, VCS, & CW
- Silent Hill 1, Origins, & Shattered Memories
- OG RE1, 2, & 3
- Metal Gear Solid
So many great games I come back to all the time on PS3.
https://majornelson.com/xbox-one-backward-compatibility/
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
Aces of the Galaxy
Advent Rising
Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth
Bankshot Billiards 2
BCFx
Beautiful Katamari
Binary Domain
Cloning Clyde
Conan
Darwinia+ Arcade
Dead or Alive 3
Dead or Alive 4
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Death by Cube
Disney Universe
Disney’s Chicken Little
Elements of Destruction
F.E.A.R.
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
F.E.A.R. 3
F.E.A.R. Files
Gladius
Gunvalkyrie
Islands of Wakfu
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Manhunt
Max Payne
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 3
MINI NINJAS
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
MX vs. ATV Alive
MX vs. ATV Untamed
NIER
Novadrome
Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee
Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad
Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
Otogi: Myth of Demons
Outpost Kaloki X
Quake Arena Arcade
RAW – Realms of Ancient War
Red Dead Revolver
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Ridge Racer 6
Rio
Risen
Risen 2: Dark Waters
Rock of Ages
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Scramble
Screwjumper!
Secret Weapons Over Normandy
Skate 2
SpongeBob SquarePants Underpants Slam!
SpongeBob’s Truth or Square
STAR WARS Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
STAR WARS Starfighter: Special Edition
STAR WARS: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
STAR WARS: The Clone Wars
Switchball
The First Templar
The Outfit
Thrillville
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Time Pilot
TimeSplitters 2
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Toy Story Mania!
Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
Viva Piñata: Party Animals
Warlords
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/11/15/70-new-backward-compatible-games/
> This latest and final addition of 70+ titles to the backwards compatibility program was only possible through the passion and feedback from the community. Your constant requests for specific titles and enhancements encouraged the Backwards Compatibility team to partner with the original creators to preserve thousands of games from over four generations of Xbox. While we continue to stay focused on preserving and enhancing the art form of games, we have reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Just got a Series X, and I'm blown away by its backwards compatibility. Nintendo and Sony (whom I both own and love) could really take a note.
I'm looking to re-acquire some of the best original Xbox and Xbox360 games on disc, so I wanted to pick your brains: what old games are the best ones to have a physical copy of?
I'm looking for:
A) Games that have not received a recent re-master or remake (such as Halo or Gears of War)
B) Games that aren't on GamePass
C) Games that hold up okay or are considered classics
D) Games that for some other reason make great discs to own
What would be your top pics?
Hey! I'm using via backwards and it really works well, but when people go below y 0, get bugged and can't play well. Can you think of any way to improve compatibility or fix that problem? Thx.
I know Microsoft said that they can no longer bring any more OG Xbox/360 games to backwards compatibility, but now that they own Activision, could this mean they can bring a few of those games over?
It's probably wishful thinking, but there's quite a few games like the Tony Hawk's series, the Crash and Spyro games, Blur, Singularity etc that I'd love to see playable on the newer Xbox consoles.
The First Templar has shown up on the Xbox Store and says that it has Compatibility with the Xbox One and Series X|S Consoles. It is not on any of the previous lists of games that are compatible.
Games from the previous rumor which were all had their entries removed from the store after being added:
- Dead or Alive Ultimate
- Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers
- Gladius
- Gunvalkyrie
- Advent Rising
- Chicken Little
One of the big reasons that Microsoft stopped the program is due to licensing issues. Could Microsoft potentially revamp the program to include game series, like MUA, Pro Skater, Crash, Spyro and Guitar Hero now? Personally, I think it's unlikely, but it is not impossible.
On the PS4, when you run out of space, you can delete a digital game and it saves to your library as long as you paid for it, so once you are done playing you can go back and re download said game later. I just want to make sure given the 512GB hard drive, when the time comes for me to shuffle games around, I wont delete a game permanently, I can just shuffle the space around.
think about what this would mean for the future of games.
