One of the top complaints with Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One was that the console would not support backwards compatibility, and that if people wanted to play Xbox 360-based games, they would need to buy the console as those games wouldn't be supported on the One. While this was a massive disappointment to most of us, a recent report states that not all is lost and that the One could eventually offer backwards compatibility.
According a report from DailyGame, an Xbox One sales lead said the console could actually arrive as a backwards-compatible device. The report is also the latest on the matter after then-Microsoft-executive Don Mattrick at the recently concluded E3 stated that Xbox One backwards compatibility wasn't possible, and even, if people wanted to play Xbox 360 games they should buy that console.
"I know some parts of the E3 presentation got a lot of flak, but I don't think everything's set in stone. I've heard the backwards compatibility thing is still being ironed out and might happen. So don't count on the answer being a firm 'no' just yet. They've really been listening to feedback, and that includes backwards compatibility for Xbox One," the sales lead stated, wanting to remain unnamed.
But don't get your hopes up just yet; we're still waiting on an official confirmation or denial from Microsoft. The last word from the company on the matter was that the Xbox One would not be backwards compatible with either with the Xbox 360 or the original Xbox.
Xbox Live Vice President Marc Whitten detailed on the situation, as reported by The Verge, saying, "The system is based on a different core architecture, so back-compat doesn't really work from that perspective."
"This is a similar situation to what the PS4 is running into, where it is unable to play PS3 games due to the switch to an x86 CPU rather than relying on the last generation's PowerPC architecture," the report added at that time.
"The Xbox One has an 'HDMI In' port in addition to the normal 'HDMI Out' port. The HDMI In port is designed for set-top boxes such as one for cable TV to be plugged directly into the Xbox One, thus enabling all that voice-controlled channel surfing Microsoft touted at the Xbox One reveal event. However, anything with an HDMI cable could technically be plugged into that port and run through the Xbox One," the recent DaliyGame report further states.
The Xbox One is currently scheduled to arrive in time for the holiday season.