Game News Xbox Series: Backwards compatibility resumes thanks to the acquisition of Activision?
Published on 08/30/2022 at 12:18
We thought backwards compatibility was over…we could have been wrong! Indeed, Activision games released on Xbox 360 could soon be playable on Xbox Series.
In the XboxEra podcastl’insider Nick Backer announces the return of the backwards compatibility program on Xbox Series, for Activision games – Blizzard released on Xbox 360.
Backwards compatibility for some games?
Backward compatibility is a popular feature for gamers, as it allows them to continue playing old games in the best conditions on modern consoles. Unfortunately, due to licensing concerns, Xbox announced last year the end of the backward compatibility program on its consoles. Only, it seems that Microsoft is reconsidering its decision thanks to its future acquisition of the publisher Activision – Blizzard.
Forget the Marvel games, Transformers…
In the podcast, Nick Backer explains as well as to the following Microsoft’s expected takeover of Activision – Blizzardof the publisher’s Xbox 360 games will be available in backward compatibility on Xbox Series. Chatting with @SoulBlazerz and @DigitalScientist, Nick says he was informed by his sources of the arrival of games published by Activision – Blizzard in the Xbox Series Backward Compatibility Catalog.
– Quite a while back, I think it was January last year, I posted a tweet saying “Hey guys, good news, backwards compatibility isn’t over! There’s going to be one last batch”, which actually happened, it was released late last year. Now, a lot of us speculated, and thought, “Surely, once the ABK (Activision – Blizzard – King) takeover passes, there will be an opportunity for more backward compatible games. That’s sure !” Because at that point, some of those games that might have been related to licensing issues should theoretically no longer have those licensing issues. Since Microsoft would own ABK. Turns out it might be!
– Oh yeah ?
– That’s what I was told. I heard a rumor that we might have one last small group of backward compatible games. Once the ABK takeover passes. There will be games that maybe were just related to licensing issues, that may not be anymore. I can’t get into the details of the titles in question, at least not yet…
– Were you given titles?
– I’ve had a few. That’s why I’m a little excited.
– ABK titles…?
– Yes, there is a chance that we have another last batch of… Maybe “batch” is not the right word, because it makes it seem like there are a lot, “batch “sounds like there will be a ton, I don’t think there will be a ton! But there may still be a few games we can get as a result of the ABK takeover.
– It would be nice to have the Cybertron games, for example.
– Well, I mean… Transformers games are a bit like licenses on licenses. It’s also Hasbro’s Transformers license!
– (laughs) Oh yeah…
– Then listen. For those of you now whirling around in your own head looking for different options, I’d probably eliminate your Marvel Activision games. Because, trust me, no one would want X-Men Origins Wolverine more than me. But I wouldn’t hold out hope for Marvel games. (…) But there are a few games, two or three games that should be quite obvious and come immediately to mind. If you think hard enough. If you think of ABK and what Activision was editing back then.
Shortly after, Nick Backer responds to a podcast chat comment about Wolfenstein game released in 2009.
“Infuse me with Wolfenstein 09 finally back on sale on digital stores! It’s the only Wolfenstein game I’ve ever been able to play.”
– Was it Activision?
– Yes it was. (Developed by Raven Soft and published by Activision.) It was fantastic and is more or less the basis of the new trilogy.
– I was told about two games. Apparently the list is longer than that, but I was told about two games, which I won’t mention. But I will still say that Wolfenstein 2009 was not one of those games. But if it’s an ABK game, this could hopefully be one of them. It’s the right train of thought, anyway.
So of Wolfenstein 2009 at Quake 4Passing by Enemy Territory : Quake Wars, many Activision games from the 360 era have left their mark on players, on various scales. Whether Call of Duty games are already backward compatibleActivision’s flagship saga does not sum up all that the publisher has offered us on this generation.
Source : The XboxEra Podcast
It will therefore be necessary to wait for the validation of the takeover of Activision – Blizzard – King to be sure of the titles concerned. And you, which titles from the publisher released on Xbox 360 could interest you on your Xbox Series?