Sony isn’t concerned about Microsoft’s introduction of backwards compatibility for the Xbox One, Michael Goodman, an analyst with Strategy Analytics has said.
Speaking during an interview with Examiner (via GamingBolt), Goodman observed the differences in approach to b/c from both companies, admitting that Sony’s stance that people don’t use the feature may be accurate. However, Microsoft is at least giving consumers the option of using the feature if the see fit.
“The only way this matters to Sony is if sales numbers were to flip and I don’t see that happening,” commented Goodman. “Sony has got a different model. They have Backwards Compatibility, they’re just monetizing the Backwards Compatibility, whereas Microsoft is taking a different market approach with it. When you are #2 and playing catch-up you have to do thing differently.
“If Microsoft followed the Sony model, I could almost see the articles being written that it’s Microsoft being Microsoft again. I could just see those comments and their would almost certainly be push back from the gamer community. By following this path, Microsoft is creating a lot of goodwill with Backwards Compatibility."
Goodman added: “Backwards Compatibility is more about perceived value than necessary providing real value.’ Sony maybe right that people don’t use Backwards Compatibility, but Microsoft is giving gamers the ability to do so at no addition cost. Whether they actually use this capability is secondary to the fact that the capability is there at no additional cost.
“Microsoft has a number of titles from the Xbox 360 that we know people love to play, whether it’s Halo or Gears of War, a lot of people are still playing those older games. A video game today costs $60. If you have 10 Xbox One titles in your library, that’s $600, and frankly, it takes time to build up that library. Backwards Compatibility gives gamers more games to play early on while they build up a library of current-gen titles, I feel that makes the console more valuable."
Microsoft took a sneaky shot at Sony earlier this week when it introduced a ‘how to’ video for b/c mirroring Sony’s jab at Xbox One’s DRM back at E3 2015. Sony has maintained that it has no plans to introduce b/c to the PS4, and is instead focusing its efforts into the cloud-based streaming service, PlayStation Now. The format holder previously admitted it was ‘surprised’ by the introduction of b/c on Xbox One.
Would you like to see PS4 get backwards compatibility? Let us know in the comments section below.