EA: Next-Gen "Most Likely" Won't Have Backwards Compatibility
See Full ImageMost gamers say they want backwards compatibility when the next-generation consoles arrive. But maybe you shouldn't hold out hope.
It's unlikely that either the new PlayStation or Xbox will boast such a feature, at least according to publisher Electronic Arts. During a Q&A session for the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said- "An important thing to remember is that next-gen consoles will most likely not be backwards compatible."
He also said that those who want to play multiplayer will "most likely not be able to play with someone" using a different-generation machine. This isn't great news for consumers but then again, it may not have a huge impact on launch sales. The Xbox 360 was never fully backwards compatible, for instance, and PS3 sales have risen steeply since Sony removed the b/c feature that existed in earlier models. Sony is also on record saying that as a generation advances, backwards compatibility becomes a less and less important feature, and they're probably right.
As for when people will spring for the next-gen consoles, Jorgensen said he believes some customers will hold off on upgrading their hardware. But regardless, EA is in a good position:
"I think that works for us positively in both ways. It helps us continue to sell gen-three products, and it will help us sell gen-four product as that cycle finally gets into place."
So is backwards compatibility a necessary feature for you? And if the next-gen consoles don't have it, how long will you wait to buy one?
Tags: next gen, next gen consoles, next gen backwards compatibility, ea
2/13/2013 10:16:41 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (23 posts)
bigrailer19
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:04:02 PM
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I really just would have rather had my PS2 still around. This time I'm keeping the PS3 around, if for anything the awesome Blu Ray player.
1 up, 1 down
VampDeLeon
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:21:49 PM
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During the PS3's release it was difficult to find the time to save up the amount of money (had graduation and college, so gaming took a backseat) so by the time I was able to, the feature had already been removed. I was looking forward to replaying my PS2-online games (Killzone, Call of Duty 2, etc.) on the PS3 after a storm ruined the ethernet port of my slim PS2, making it unable to play online anymore..
But since it's been a while, I've had little choice but to deal with not enjoying those games as much anymore. Killzone's still fun to replay and all, but the memories online still remind me of it's abrupt fun ending.
Well, since I'm running out of shelf space, as long as the PS4 can run PS3 games, I can safely "replace" it. Otherwise, well.. I'll have to wait and see if the rumor's true.
Last edited by VampDeLeon on 2/13/2013 11:28:55 PM
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:28:58 PM
5 up, 0 down
VampDeLeon
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:39:05 PM
I could see an accessory offering backward compatabilty happening, since they already have an adaptor that allows PS1/PS2 Memory cards to be read, transferred, and saved on the PS3 via USB port.
0 up, 1 down
Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:46:06 PM
0 up, 1 down
Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:42:27 PM
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1 up, 2 down
Beamboom
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 2:00:06 AM
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With a backlog of hundreds of great titles for the PS3 to pick up from bargain bins everywhere, it would ram the software sales for many years, and weaken that platform (from a commercial point of view).
1 up, 1 down
Highlander
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 3:56:39 AM
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 7:29:56 AM
The new systems are subsided by the new software that are sold with them. There is a direct relation there.
And the industry has over and over complained about how hard it is to introduce new IPs late in a console cycle. So if they started off with a machine that *already* had a backlog of many hundred titles and well established franchises that today are sold for next to nothing, it sounds at least plausible that it could damage the sales of new titles, and hamper establishing new IPs.
By all means, I don't sit on their spreadsheets and know no answers, but my instinct tells me that there are more than pure technical reasons why BC is not more eagerly talked about by any of the console manufacturers.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/14/2013 7:48:34 AM
2 up, 0 down
Comic Shaman
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 11:17:22 AM
And as for damaging new IPs, I think the more systems you have out there, the better chance a new IP has. People always gravitate towards newer material when it's available. With a large backwards library, though, you have an antidote to the "my console is gathering dust" problem that happens during the inevitable delay between big new releases, especially at the beginning of the console cycle.
That's what I'd be arguing if I were in Sony's boardroom, anyway. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much momentum behind backwards compatibility, at least not that we've seen in the press releases.
2 up, 0 down
___________
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 5:50:37 AM
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and offer some sort of accessory to add to the system for those who dont want to pony up upfront.
its just not worth keeping systems, retailers always offer really good deals when new systems come out so keeping them is just not logical.
i remember trading in my ps2 towards my ps3 and i almost got what they were charging new for it!
give us your old system and we will give you the price of a new one, how could you say no?
always a catch though, its only towards the new system so you cant use it for a replacement old system or games or anything, always has to be towards the price of the new system.
but your getting new retail price for your old machine, how could you say no to that?
plus, i hope they do have a BC version because they will sell out VERY quickly!
ill preorder 2 of them, and sell the other one at twice the price of retail on ebay like i did my ps3.
gotta love ebay, people are so desperate they will pay so much more than things are worth!
i remember paying 2K for 2 vitas on launch, than a month later sold 1 of them and because they were sold out and so hard to find i ended up selling my spare one, even though it was used, for 1400!
not bad, hold onto the thing for 4 months and sell it for 400 bucks more than you paid for it!
100 bucks a month for playing games, yup its a hard life but hey someones gotta do it.
Last edited by ___________ on 2/14/2013 5:53:13 AM
2 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 6:43:30 AM
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I'll buy a PS4 sooner if it has backwards compatability, since I can still play all my PS3 backlog on it.
If not, I'll get through my PS3 backlog, wait for a PS4 price drop or slight hardware revision, then get it.
2 up, 0 down
Shatterday
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 6:51:35 AM
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Personally, I don't care that much. I think that Sony does a lot for us by providing downloadable copies of older games. I was really surprised to see that a lot of my favorites were on the PSN for download, and that the prices weren't that bad either. Plus, they have sales all the time. Legend of Dragoon, Chrono Cross, Harvest Moon... oh yeah.
I think that their stance on backwards compatability may very well play in to their strategy on combating used games sales. This would be a good way to draw the line in the sand with a system and say "If the game doesn't include our new way of tracking whether this is YOUR game or not, then you can't play it on this system."
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IronFace2
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 7:35:50 AM
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0 up, 1 down
frostface
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 9:34:52 AM
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0 up, 1 down
cadpig
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 10:12:17 AM
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2 up, 0 down
slugga_status
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 10:38:16 AM
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Last edited by slugga_status on 2/14/2013 10:39:01 AM
1 up, 1 down
Comic Shaman
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 11:09:04 AM
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MS and Sony have been plugging the hell out of all the extra features on their consoles. Online features, social features, trophies/achievements, music collections, photo albums... on and on. Some people have presumably made use of those features, and thus have a ton of content on their console.
I would think they would want you to be able to migrate your entire library of all your stuff to a new system, much like you do when you pick up a new computer or smartphone. That library should include games, saves, trophies, etc. Shouldn't it?
I hope EA is wrong on this (it wouldn't be the first time). It would seem very foolish of the console manufacturers not to give their customers the chance to port over to the new system without having to sacrifice the investment of time and money they've put into the old.
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DrRockso87
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 11:36:50 AM
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Plus, I sold my PS2 last year since I only have a handful of games left on it that aren't HD collections (only ones left are Dark Cloud 1 & 2, GTA Trilogy, and Shadow Hearts Trilogy). Granted if someday those games were all remastered as HD collections, THEN I wouldn't really care anymore.
1 up, 2 down
ethird1
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 1:54:10 PM
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I will play Final fantasy 14 on my ps3 and Phantasy Star 2 Online on my Vita for a few years then.
2 up, 0 down
Ather
Sunday, February 17, 2013 @ 5:25:08 PM
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1 up, 0 down
mynx
Sunday, February 17, 2013 @ 9:10:40 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Hoagie324
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Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 11:01:30 PM