Xbox boss Phil Spencer says that “it is a very small neighborhood,” and as such, the transfer to shut down the 360 shops will enable the staff to “focus our effort on the place gamers are and the place they’ll purchase,” which is on Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Phil Spencer says: “Sport preservation is important to us at Workforce Xbox”
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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 The Xbox 360 retailer might be 18 years outdated this November, nearly 19 years outdated when it closes subsequent yr, and whereas it is sensible that Microsoft is trying to spend these assets elsewhere, our ballot final week revealed that from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 neighborhood. The neighborhood of consumers may be very, very small. In order the again finish — which is tied to that {hardware}, roughly — begins to sort of convey down simply from a sustainability [point], and nearly all of the gamers have moved on, we’re like, ‘okay, we are able to focus our effort on the place the gamers are and the place they’ll 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 recreation preservation and the way Xbox is trying to deal with recreation preservation for the longer term. “One of many issues we do is ship all of our video games on PC, as a result of I truly suppose PC is the most effective ecosystem for recreation preservation as a result of it isn’t tied to at least one 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 gadget, the extra preserved it may be in the long term,” Spencer stated. “On the 360, I like our again compat and the work that we have performed. And perhaps it is a bit of little bit of grandiose to say, however I feel it is world-class, what the staff has performed round again compat, even on Gen 9. Not solely does it run, however the most effective place to go play these video games is thru the again compat layer on a Collection S or X. I like it, I feel it is superior.”
The backwards compatibility program was introduced in 2015 for the Xbox One, which might attempt to make earlier authentic Xbox and Xbox 360 video games suitable with new {hardware} — an analogous deal to what the Xbox 360 had. Since 2015, over 450 titles had been given the backwards compatibility therapy 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! Nevertheless, Spencer says that he hasn’t forgotten the non-backwards suitable video games.
“There is a listing of, what, 220 video games that aren’t again compat, and I’ve that listing and I’ve acquired it stapled on my brow, and like, how can we ensure [you can play them still?] What number of of these are on PC? That is one factor, as a result of it does not essentially imply you want to have the ability to play it on the prevailing {hardware} that you just purchased 15 years in the past, however preservation is entrance and middle when all these choices 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 will be {hardware} love as effectively — individuals who love and need this gadget to do that eternally — however mechanical issues will break over time. However that is why we gave individuals with this choice a yr. As an instance ‘hey, if you wish to go purchase issues within the 360 retailer, we’ll offer you a yr headstart, and you may 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 search out options for these video games to proceed to play.”
In the identical interview, Phil Spencer additionally stated that he does not “see a world” the place Microsoft drops the Xbox Collection S.