Will backward compatibility be the savior to save Xbox One sales?

The release of WIN10 can be said to be one of Microsoft's top happy events this year, but Microsoft did not stop its pace of progress. At this year's E3 conference, it brought a surprise to many gamers - the Xbox One backward compatibility function.

Xbox One is compatible with games on Xbox360, which not only allows many Xbox One players to experience many classic masterpieces, but also makes old Xbox 360 users more interested in upgrading their consoles to Xbox One.

Xbox One backward compatibility drives short-term sales boost

The competition between Sony and Microsoft in consoles has always been the focus of players, and the sales of PS4 and Xbox One have also become an important part of the competition.

Since the release of PS4, its sales have been far ahead. Whether in terms of machine performance or the number of games, Sony has become the big winner in the console war. According to data from foreign media websites, until June this year, when PS4 broke through the sales mark of 24 million units, Xbox One sales only reached 13 million units.

The sales volume of Xbox One is only half of that of PS4, which has greatly stimulated Microsoft's fragile nerves. After the release of WIN10 in January this year, in order to compete with its old rival Sony, Microsoft released a powerful weapon at this year's E3 conference, revealing to all players the function and demonstration video of Xbox One's backward compatibility with Xbox 360 games. It can be compatible with both digital and DVD versions of Xbox 360 games. Thanks to this function, the sales volume of Xbox One has also increased rapidly in the short term.

According to NPD's July data, after the addition of the backward compatible game function, Xbox One's sales in North America in June increased by 51% year-on-year compared with 2014. In the opening week of E3 2015, sales soared by 79%. Even Phil Spencer, the head of the Xbox One department, said after seeing the sales data that this was thanks to the Xbox One's backward compatible function.

The short-term increase in Xbox One sales has shown good results for Microsoft, but can Xbox One's backward compatibility with games really encourage players to buy game consoles and become the savior to save Xbox One sales?

Why do players buy game consoles?

Since the birth of the PS series of game consoles, Sony has always been in the leading position in the competition among the three major consoles with its excellent machine performance, and performance seems to have become the standard basis for players to purchase consoles.

But is performance really the truth for gamers to choose consoles? The answer is no. No matter how powerful the performance of a console is, it cannot compare with that of a PC. The sales of game consoles do not rely solely on the performance of the console. Take Huang's Shield game console as an example. NV's Tegra series chips are powerful, but the sales of the Shield game console using this chip are mediocre.

So what do players value most when buying a console?

game.

In this generation of game consoles that has just started, the number of exclusive masterpieces is not comparable to that of the previous generation that has long been formed. Microsoft Xbox One's backward compatibility with 360 games has undoubtedly hit the soft spot of players. Many classic 360 exclusive games can be run on Xbox One, which also provides players with more opportunities to experience classic games.

Although the Xbox 360 can only reach 720P at most in terms of picture performance, players can accept such a resolution and it does not affect their enthusiasm for buying games. Recently, the Xbox One exclusive masterpiece "Gears of War: Ultimate Edition" was launched, and Microsoft also gave away the previous works of the series. This seems to be a benefit in the eyes of many players, but it is the most beautiful move made by Microsoft.

This benefit of Microsoft is not a loss-making move. With the backward compatibility function, games that were originally only sold to Xbox 360 users can also be brought to Xbox One players. Obviously, Sony's PS4 cannot bundle PS3 games among the games sold, and masterpieces like "Red Dead Redemption" on PS3 will not be playable on PS4 consoles without a remastered version.

Just like what Sony said, "Everything is for the players", Microsoft is also constantly considering the players. Although the Xbox One's backward compatibility with games may not be perfect yet, this is definitely the right step for Microsoft.

In addition to the Xbox One's backward compatibility with games, the current DX12 and future improved WIN10 streaming of the Xbox One are undoubtedly very attractive to players. Maybe in the near future, the situation of "the boss has two PS4s" will change.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.