Xbox 720 won’t have backwards compatibility, will have x86

Backwards compatibility was once a must-have feature in the console world. Though it only prominently lived for about two-and-a-half generations, it was one of the two main reasons (the other being the built-in DVD player) that gave the PlayStation 2 such a head start on its generation. The Wii accepted GameCube controllers as well as GameCube games, and that would’ve been a boon to the console if not for the GameCube having a tough time releasing a wealth of worthwhile games.

One of the most sought-after features during the middle of this current (rapidly ending) generation was the backwards compatible PS3, which was quickly abandoned due in large part to the financial cost of developing a backwards compatible system. The 3DS’ backwards compatibility with DS games is effectively unbearable, as stretching the DS game to fit the 3DS screen makes looking at the unit as difficult as looking at it with the 3D turned on. The PS Vita dropped backwards compatibility, and we’ve already heard that the PS4 and Xbox 720won’t have it either.

Now, a new report corroborates the claim that the next Xbox won’t have backwards compatibility. It also claims that the console will have an x86-like architecture, and will use some kind of AMD Jaguar tech.

Like the PS4, if the Xbox 720 sports x86 architecture, it means that porting and development will be much simpler, allowing a wider breadth of games to be developed for the console at a cheaper cost. As for the AMD Jaguar variant, well, that just means that the NeXtbox will be able to leverage the power of a newer chip.

The likely loss of backwards compatibility is the industry trend, and something that — when you think about it — is odd that we gamers feel so entitled to have. Throughout the history of gaming, the amount of time we had competent backwards compatibility is infinitesimal compared to the amount of time we didn’t. It’s frustrating to deal with — especially given the sheer sizes of the Xbox 360 and PS3 and how much closet space they’ll eat up — but be honest: how often do you really want to play a large portion of your PS2 library?

Microsoft is expected to announce its next console on May 21, which is speculated to land in the $500 price range