Microsoft Built An Xbox 360 Emulator Into Xbox One To Bring Backward Compatibility

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Xbox 360 Xbox One

At E3, Microsoft announced that Xbox One will be the only console to support backward compatibility natively for select Xbox 360 games, for free, and all with Xbox One features including screenshots, broadcasting and GameDVR. Backward compatibility is one of the most-requested fan features, and more than 100 classic Xbox 360 games will be available at launch, with more to come. Microsoft has revealed that Xbox One Backward Compatibility is an Xbox 360 emulator that runs on Xbox One and is used to play Xbox 360 games. When you start a Xbox 360 game on Xbox One, a virtual Xbox 360 loads inside Xbox One to run the game.

Users should use the Xbox 360 game disc for validation and download the game from Microsoft for installing it on Xbox One. If you have bought Xbox 360 digital version of the game, it will automatically show up in your library to install. For now, Microsoft’s plan is to have 100 titles this holiday, with hundreds more added in the months to come. After a publisher allows it, Microsoft have to do packaging and validation work on each title to make it available through Xbox One backward compatibility.

What is Xbox One Backward Compatibility and how does it work?

Xbox One Backward Compatibility is an Xbox 360 emulator that runs on Xbox One and is used to play Xbox 360 games.

If it’s actually emulation, why are you calling it backward compatibility?

We call it backward compatibility because gamers can play select Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One. However, referring to this functionality as an emulator is more accurate from a technology perspective since the Xbox One is not technically reading and playing the 360 game off of a disc.

When will it be available?

The Xbox One Backward Compatibility Beta is available starting June 15 for Xbox preview members. The program will launch broadly for fall 2015.

Previously, you said back compat wasn’t possible on Xbox One. How is it possible now?

We didn’t know if we could do it, but we were inspired by our fans, and thanks to the dedication and determination of a group of brilliant engineers in our platform team who developed Xbox One Backward Compatibility, we made the impossible, possible.

Source: The Verge

More about the topics: Backward Compatibility, games, microsoft, xbox 360, xbox one

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