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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Discussion Thread

 

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HOLY S*IT!!!!!!!!!!!! 145 72.14%
 
NO, NO!!! ITS NOT TRUE, P... 10 4.98%
 
YES, YES!!!!!!!! 45 22.39%
 
Total:200
HollyGamer on 16 June 2015
walsufnir said:

 

 

source: http://www.zdnet.com/article/emulation-is-key-to-microsofts-xbox-backward-compatibility-story/

Emulation is key to Microsoft's Xbox backward compatibility story

By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft | June 15, 2015 -- 19:35 GMT (20:35 BST) | Topic: Microsoft

One of Microsoft's biggest announcements at the E3 show (so far) is that the company will provide the ability to run Xbox 360 games on Xbox One -- theoretically making the Xbox One console more interesting to Xbox 360 holdouts who didn't want to abandon their existing game collections.

 In some ways, Microsoft's backward-compatibility strategy isn't a total surprise. Microsoft execs signaled at Build 2014 that Microsoft was investigating how to build an Xbox 360 emulator that would allow gamers to do just that. (Official later stepped back from that statement.)

It looks like that emulator work panned out. Starting today, June 15, Xbox Preview members can start testing the first wave of Xbox 360 games on their Xbox Ones. Microsoft officials said that the backward emulation capability would be available for everyone this holiday season (meaning fall 2015).

I'm not a gamer, but I am interested in anything Windows-related that powers Microsoft and third-party hardware, including gaming consoles, work.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's Xbox.com site does little to explain how the backwards compatibility works.

The site notes that digital titles users already own are part of the "Back Compat game catalog" and will automatically show up in the "Ready to Install" section of Xbox One. For disc-based games that are part of the Back Compat game catalog, gamers can insert the disc and the console "will begin downloading the game to your hard drive." (After the game downloads, users still need to keep the game disc in the drive in order to play.)

There was a bit more information on that Xbox.com site about backwards compatibility, which now seems to have been removed. In a now-absent "Trending Questions" section, Microsoft acknowledge it was a new emulator that makes this work.

From the Q&A:

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.

I asked Microsoft officials for more information about the emulator and was provided with this statement by a spokesperson:

"What we did was essentially built a virtual Xbox 360 console entirely in software. So when you launch a game via Xbox One Backward Compatibility, you'll see that the game first starts up a virtual Xbox 360 console, then launches the title. The work is ongoing as each title requires individual packaging and validation work to enable that virtual console capability, but we're committed to continually rolling out new titles each month."

I've asked for more specifics about the emulator, but so far, officials aren't providing information beyond that statement.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has built an emulator to enable backward compatibility for Xbox. A decade or so ago, a team inside the company built an emulator enabling original Xbox games to work on Xbox 360.

The Xbox One operating system -- really three operating systems in one -- is based on the Windows 8 core. Microsoft plans to update the console with the Windows 10 core some time in the coming months, and possibly this year.

" 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."

Then i guess that statement anwers my curiosity, that's how it worked, it's the same with how PS2 and PS1 emulation worked on PS3 PSNetwork. 



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walsufnir on 16 June 2015
HollyGamer said:
walsufnir said:

 

 

source: http://www.zdnet.com/article/emulation-is-key-to-microsofts-xbox-backward-compatibility-story/

Emulation is key to Microsoft's Xbox backward compatibility story

By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft | June 15, 2015 -- 19:35 GMT (20:35 BST) | Topic: Microsoft

One of Microsoft's biggest announcements at the E3 show (so far) is that the company will provide the ability to run Xbox 360 games on Xbox One -- theoretically making the Xbox One console more interesting to Xbox 360 holdouts who didn't want to abandon their existing game collections.

 In some ways, Microsoft's backward-compatibility strategy isn't a total surprise. Microsoft execs signaled at Build 2014 that Microsoft was investigating how to build an Xbox 360 emulator that would allow gamers to do just that. (Official later stepped back from that statement.)

It looks like that emulator work panned out. Starting today, June 15, Xbox Preview members can start testing the first wave of Xbox 360 games on their Xbox Ones. Microsoft officials said that the backward emulation capability would be available for everyone this holiday season (meaning fall 2015).

I'm not a gamer, but I am interested in anything Windows-related that powers Microsoft and third-party hardware, including gaming consoles, work.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's Xbox.com site does little to explain how the backwards compatibility works.

The site notes that digital titles users already own are part of the "Back Compat game catalog" and will automatically show up in the "Ready to Install" section of Xbox One. For disc-based games that are part of the Back Compat game catalog, gamers can insert the disc and the console "will begin downloading the game to your hard drive." (After the game downloads, users still need to keep the game disc in the drive in order to play.)

There was a bit more information on that Xbox.com site about backwards compatibility, which now seems to have been removed. In a now-absent "Trending Questions" section, Microsoft acknowledge it was a new emulator that makes this work.

From the Q&A:

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.

I asked Microsoft officials for more information about the emulator and was provided with this statement by a spokesperson:

"What we did was essentially built a virtual Xbox 360 console entirely in software. So when you launch a game via Xbox One Backward Compatibility, you'll see that the game first starts up a virtual Xbox 360 console, then launches the title. The work is ongoing as each title requires individual packaging and validation work to enable that virtual console capability, but we're committed to continually rolling out new titles each month."

I've asked for more specifics about the emulator, but so far, officials aren't providing information beyond that statement.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has built an emulator to enable backward compatibility for Xbox. A decade or so ago, a team inside the company built an emulator enabling original Xbox games to work on Xbox 360.

The Xbox One operating system -- really three operating systems in one -- is based on the Windows 8 core. Microsoft plans to update the console with the Windows 10 core some time in the coming months, and possibly this year.

" 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."

Then i guess that statement anwers my curiosity, that's how it worked, it's the same with how PS2 and PS1 emulation worked on PS3 PSNetwork. 

 


And how did they work? To my knowledge Sony made emulators for PS1 and PS2 for PS3. Hackers ripped them even out so you could try to use these emulators with games which weren't allowed to be played/bought.



HollyGamer on 16 June 2015
walsufnir said:
HollyGamer said:

" 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."

Then i guess that statement anwers my curiosity, that's how it worked, it's the same with how PS2 and PS1 emulation worked on PS3 PSNetwork. 

 


And how did they work? To my knowledge Sony made emulators for PS1 and PS2 for PS3. Hackers ripped them even out so you could try to use these emulators with games which weren't allowed to be played/bought.

that's will be on another question tho, but it's not pure emulator like PCSX on PC  it's more like PS3 software emulation on PS Network, but for sure the game it self is recreated with the same aset and worked with XBox one API, I am not calling port but they just re use the game  VM under Xbox One API. 



walsufnir on 16 June 2015
HollyGamer said:
walsufnir said:


And how did they work? To my knowledge Sony made emulators for PS1 and PS2 for PS3. Hackers ripped them even out so you could try to use these emulators with games which weren't allowed to be played/bought.

that's will be on another question tho, but it's not pure emulator like PCSX on PC  it's more like PS3 software emulation on PS Network, but for sure the game it self is recreated with the same aset and worked with XBox one API, I am not calling port but they just re use the game  VM under Xbox One API. 

I don't think it is a question - Sony implemented more than one PS2 emulator, for example, and many games worked only with a special emulator. I found this on GAF: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=526722

And I can't read what you said about the recreation? I didn't understand. I think it is still the same game that thinks it's running on a 360, it's a "real" vm. The magic is done by the hypervisor making it run on the Xbone.



walsufnir on 16 June 2015

Oh, another theory of mine: I guess there is a limitation to what the VM is allowed to do. For example, I think it could be so tight sitting in a sandbox that only if they are "installed" the VM can see it and thus is able to launch the game.



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d21lewis on 16 June 2015
2008ProchargedGT said:
Really no need to downplay this at all. This was great of MS and very pro consumer, sure the selection NOW sucks but the way they have changed there attitude lately I'm sure it will have great support and tons of titles will be added. On a side note how sick would it be to counter if Sony goes "starting today PSNow will be included with all Plus subscriptions"!!!?

And THAT is why I always say competition is good!  With the PS4 being so dominant, there's no reason for Sony to go above and beyond.  If the Xbox One does something that gets attention, Sony will counter and gamers will (as usual) win!



d21lewis on 16 June 2015

I bought a PSP and halfway through the experience, I went full digital. I even went back and bought almost all of my physical PSP games again as digital games (Those UMDs were a bitch to travel with!). I LOST MY SHIT when I found out that my PSP games and PS1 games would work on my Vita for free! This situation isn't different, for me. Even if they don't all work, I'm excited for the games that will work.

Another thing that I keep reading is "It's not REAL backwards compatibility". Maybe it's not. But if I can take my old games that I already own, put them in a new console, and play my game (with additional features, no less!), I'm a happy camper. It's like those people that say "The N64 didn't have a REAL analog stick". Screw those people! Whatever it was, it did everything an analog stick did so, in the end, it delivered!

I hope XBL has is back to normal. I'm gonna give Mass Effect a go, now! Been wanting to replay the entire series for a while, now. Hopefully my save data (on a memory stick since I have two 360s and I jump between them depending on where I want to play) will work on the Xbox One.



Azuren on 16 June 2015

That game list isn't very impressive. And did I hear correctly when I heard there wouldn't be more added until the holidays?



Watch me stream games and hunt trophies on my Twitch channel!

Check out my Twitch Channel!:

www.twitch.tv/AzurenGames

walsufnir on 16 June 2015
d21lewis said:
I bought a PSP and halfway through the experience, I went full digital. I even went back and bought almost all of my physical PSP games again as digital games (Those UMDs were a bitch to travel with!). I LOST MY SHIT when I found out that my PSP games and PS1 games would work on my Vita for free! This situation isn't different, for me. Even if they don't all work, I'm excited for the games that will work.

Another thing that I keep reading is "It's not REAL backwards compatibility". Maybe it's not. But if I can take my old games that I already own, put them in a new console, and play my game (with additional features, no less!), I'm a happy camper. It's like those people that say "The N64 didn't have a REAL analog stick". Screw those people! Whatever it was, it did everything an analog stick did so, in the end, it delivered!

I hope XBL has is back to normal. I'm gonna give Mass Effect a go, now! Been wanting to replay the entire series for a while, now. Hopefully my save data (on a memory stick since I have two 360s and I jump between them depending on where I want to play) will work on the Xbox One.


Who says that? And according to first user experiences, the games run even better than on 360. Amazing what MS achieved here. Absolutely amazing.

To saves: Just upload them to the cloud and they will be automatically detected.



walsufnir on 16 June 2015
Azuren said:
That game list isn't very impressive. And did I hear correctly when I heard there wouldn't be more added until the holidays?


Huh? It didn't even launch. It is part of the preview program for Xbox One, this hasn't launched officially. It launches at holidays and they said then there will be more than hundred titles.