On April 7, the latest report released by Windows Central shows that Microsoft will continue to support historical games and the current Xbox Series X | S-platform games, ensuring they run on next-generation hardware. To this end, Microsoft has formed a dedicated team with the goal of adapting the existing library of Xbox games to future hardware changes, guaranteeing that these games will be accessible for a long time in the future.
(Source: Xbox official website)
In fact, Microsoft has made significant efforts to ensure the compatibility of Xbox games across generations of hardware, and this is evident to all. However, the compatibility of games between different hardware generations is not as simple as it seems on the surface. Strictly speaking, Xbox's compatibility with the original game is not actually a direct compatibility, but is achieved by modifying the game's ROM. That's why Microsoft needs to get permission from the original copyright owner before releasing a backward compatible game.
(Source: Xbox official website)
This modification of the game ROM is actually an "emulation" technology through which the old version of the game can run on the new hardware. It is precisely because of the application of this technology that Microsoft is able to ensure that players can also play classic games on the latest Xbox consoles. In addition, Microsoft has adopted High Dynamic Range (HDR) auto-boost and frame rate upscaling technology to further improve the image quality and smoothness of backward compatible games.
In an email, Sarah Bond mentioned that Microsoft's goals for the next generation of Xbox consoles are not limited to improving resolution and frame rates, but more importantly, to push the game to a new level of playability and compatibility. Microsoft recognizes that in the ever-evolving gaming industry, technological advancements are not only about improving visuals, but also about ensuring that the gaming experience can continue to evolve with hardware updates.
(Source: Xbox official website)
As of July 2023, according to the official data released by Microsoft, the Xbox Series S|The total sales of the X reached 21 million units, while the total sales of the Xbox One series exceeded 58 million units. During the same period, Sony's PS5 sales reached 38.5 million units, and Nintendo's Switch sales reached 126.51 million units. From these data, it can be seen that among the three major console platforms, Microsoft's Xbox sales have been at a low level.
But that doesn't mean Xbox doesn't have its unique strengths and appeal. Microsoft's continuous investment and innovation in the game ecosystem, cross-platform compatibility, and cloud gaming services are part of its differentiation strategy. In particular, the launch and expansion of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, through which users can access and play a large number of games, including newly released games, for a lower monthly fee, a model that has also changed the way players buy and experience games to some extent.
(Source: Xbox official website)
Although it may not have an advantage in hardware sales, Microsoft is expected to attract a larger player base and find its own unique foothold in the competitive gaming market in the future as further technological advancements and market strategy adjustments are made by continuously expanding and deepening its gaming services and ecosystem.
In addition, Microsoft has also done a lot of work to advance the integration of Xbox and Windows PCs, further strengthening its gaming ecosystem. A great example of this is the Xbox Play Anywhere program, which allows players to purchase a game once and continue playing it on both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, with progress, achievements, and DLC synced seamlessly.