Xbox supports older games, while Sony and Nintendo are leaving them behind

Yesterday Microsoft made it possible instantly Stream a bunch of old Xbox 360 and original Xbox games on any device compatible with Game Pass. This is further proof that Microsoft is taking backward compatibility very seriously this time around, and that Sony and Nintendo are lagging far behind.

Sony, in particular, was a leader in this area. Right out of the box, you can play almost any original PlayStation game on a PlayStation 2. You can even use the same memory cards, letting you pass your old saves down to the next generation. The PlayStation 3 got off to a good start in 2006. Early PS3 models incorporated dedicated hardware to run PS1 and PS2 software. Later models unfortunately abandoned this hardware in favor of less precise software emulation. Later PS3 models removed even that, completely eliminating backward compatibility. Things have not improved since.

You cannot play your old PS1, PS2 or PS3 games on your new fancy PS5 or less fancy PS4. The elements closest to Sony emulation on modern consoles are PS2 Classics (digital versions of older games with trophy support) and PS Now, which lets you stream a small selection of PS3 games to your new one. equipment. All of this is a huge step backwards from the company’s previous full support for backward compatibility. And Sony appears to be heading in the wrong direction, after announcing the impending closure of the PS3, PS Vita, and PSP digital stores, making it considerably harder to play older games. even on their original material, and even less on the latest Sony consoles.

For a while Nintendo, like Sony, was pretty good at allowing older games to be played on new consoles. You may have played GameCube games on a Wii or Game Boy Advance baskets on your Nintendo DS. But the Wii Virtual Console marked a new era. While initially it seemed exciting, gamers over time became disenchanted with the net of VC versions, and when 3DS and Wii U appeared, Nintendo restarted the whole process, releasing only one. subset of classic games and requiring players to buy them again every time. Platform. Even with digital games locked onto the older platforms they were purchased on, Nintendo’s online services continued to feel a decade behind those of its competitors.

The situation on Nintendo Switch is also strange. Instead of offering the usual pay-per-view virtual console purchases, Nintendo has locked an even more limited selection of classic games behind its premium Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. It’s adding additional games slower than ever, making Nintendo Switch Online more of a nostalgic novelty than a serious way to maintain access to classic game libraries.

In contrast, Microsoft does an incredible job of keeping older games available, even though it didn’t start out that way. The Xbox One launched in 2013 without any backward compatibility functionality. But in 2015, Microsoft added the ability to play some Xbox 360 games. In 2017, the company also Added support for original Xbox games.

With the release of the Xbox Series X / S early last year, Microsoft continued to vigorously support backward compatibility. Newer Xbox consoles can play almost any Xbox One game just like the PS5 can play most PS4 games. But all original Xbox 360 and Xbox games previously supported on Xbox One are also playable. It all works seamlessly and with few problems. This intergenerational support allows players to start four different generations of Xbox consoles and play the same game through System Link without the need for deception or additional hardware. And as Sony closes its old PSN stores this summer, Microsoft continues to let me buy Xbox 360 games and DLC on his new machines from the same store system he launched with the Xbox 360 in 2005. Yes, everything is still live.

In addition, Microsoft not only supports older games and consoles better than Sony, but it improved them with features like Auto HDR and FPS Boost, give old games a new feel on new machines. Even with this remarkable level of support for older titles, Microsoft continues to add more features. Last night, I played Oversight on my phone. I didn’t have to buy it or download it. I just pressed play and it streamed to my mobile device within seconds.

Microsoft’s retro gaming support is so good that it makes Nintendo’s and Sony’s offerings terrible in comparison. Nintendo doesn’t support older Wii or Wii U games on the Switch, locks its meager classic offerings behind a paywall, and even removes newer games from sale after a limited time. Sony is closing its old digital stores and doesn’t seem to care about games released before the PlayStation 4. Both companies continue to do little and badly to do so, which is frustrating. They each have extensive libraries of content and none seem interested or willing to support this old content half as good as Microsoft.

Ten years ago, if you told me that Microsoft would be leading the pack when it comes to supporting older games, I would be surprised. Now in 2021, Xbox is leading the way and I really, really wish Nintendo and Sony would follow their lead instead of being left in the dust.

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