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Xbox Series X Backward Compatibility Details May Come In August Showcase
Microsoft may be preparing for another Xbox Series X showcase in August where it will share more information on the console’s backward compatibility. Xbox has committed to monthly events to show the new console and its games throughout the summer, but hasn’t yet confirmed a show for next month.
Backward compatibility has been a big topic for both Sony and Microsoft in the lead-up to their next-gen consoles. The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 both have substantial libraries of popular games that many players likely won’t want to leave behind as they make the switch to the Xbox Series X and PS5. Giving early adopters the ability to keep playing their old games on new devices is a big selling point, and both console makers are sweetening the deal by offering upgrades for current-gen games on their new consoles. A large number of current-gen games, including big upcoming releases like Cyberpunk 2077, will get updated versions for next-gen, while even more games are expected to be playable on the new consoles without any official updates. Microsoft says that even those games will run better on the Xbox Series X, thanks to the power of its hardware alone. Microsoft is encouraging free updates through its Smart Delivery program, and most developers seem willing to play ball.
Microsoft evidently has more to say on the backward compatibility issue, and it may be revealing it soon. Appearing on iJustine’s Same Brain podcast, Xbox chief Phil Spencer touched on Xbox Series X’s backward compatibility, saying that he expects to have more news on the feature coming in August. Spencer didn’t specifically tie that news to an upcoming event, nor has Microsoft set a date for one in August, but it’s expected to reveal new details about the Xbox Series X every month until its release.
The expected August showcase could have more to show than just backward compatibility. It’s been rumored that August is when Microsoft will finally reveal the existence of the Lockhart, a rumored lower-end next-gen Xbox model. The Lockhart is reported to be smaller and cheaper than the Xbox Series X while not packing as much power as the already revealed model.
The backward compatibility news Spencer mentioned could end up being smaller than expected, but there’s a chance it’s tied to the Lockhart. Microsoft may finally be ready to show the differences between the Xbox Series X and the Lockhart, and their respective ability to play current-gen games could be part of that. In any case, Microsoft is quickly running out of time before its next-gen console is expected to be on shelves by the end of this year.
