Microsoft does the 'impossible,' adds backward compatibility for multi-disc 360 games to Xbox One

[Shawn Knight]

One of the key advantages of the Xbox One over Sony’s PlayStation 4 is the ability to play select games from Microsoft’s previous generation console, the Xbox 360.

Microsoft announced at E3 2015 that backward compatibility was coming to the Xbox One later in the year. In November, it delivered on that promise with more than 100 titles when the feature launched. Since that time, Microsoft has slowly been adding to its backward compatible library but one type of game has been sorely missing: multi-disc games. Fortunately, that's no longer the case.

Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, Microsoft's director of programming for Xbox Live, confirmed the news in a recent thread on Reddit.

The first multi-disc game added to the backward compatibility library is Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut. As Polygon highlights, the standard version of the game became backward compatible on the Xbox One back in December.

The bigger story here isn’t about Deus Ex but the fact that Microsoft was able to get multi-disc games to run on the Xbox One. In previous interviews, Microsoft said it was technically impossible to pull off the feat but in November, a spokesperson told EuroGamer that they were actively working on making it a reality.

No word yet on which other titles may soon join the fray although I hear Mass Effect 2 & 3 would be greatly appreciated.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/64827-microsoft-does-impossible-adds-backward-compatibility-multi-disc.html

 

[Uncle Al]

Just goes to show that every once in a very great while, they actually listen ... even if but for just a moment or two!

 

[Heavy Man Crush]

But do the BC games still have an enormous amount of input lag?

 

[Heavy Man Crush]

And how about fixing black levels in some games? It's a real bummer for me.

 

[Gopal Bhat]

Why would it be technically impossible?
They can emulate the 360. Jtag/RGH systems have been auto disc swapping since forever.
Add them both together. Should be simple for Microsoft to achieve.

Now bring me some Mass Effect 2 & 3 goodness

 

[Darth Shiv]

You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

 

[veLa]

So what exactly was so impossible?

 

[Adhmuz]

It was never "Impossible" in the first place, Microsoft just couldn't be bothered to implement it, or they completely overlooked multi disc games when they decided to finally implement backwards compatibility. So you decide, incompetence or laziness, both apply particularly well to Microsoft lately. But remember, who are WE the customer to say Microsoft is right or wrong in doing what they do, it's not like any of us matter.

 

[Evernessince]

Just goes to show that every once in a very great while, they actually listen ... even if but for just a moment or two!

And only when faced with competition. I'm sure they'd turn a 360 in the desktop market if they had anywhere near a real threat.

 

[Gopal Bhat]

And only when faced with competition. I'm sure they'd turn a 360 in the desktop market if they had anywhere near a real threat.

Now that the 360 is end of life they may just do that.
Fingers crossed for an E3 reveal

 

[yukka]

But do the BC games still have an enormous amount of input lag?

And how about fixing black levels in some games? It's a real bummer for me.

I just finished finally completing Dark Souls after 4 years playing the backwards compatible version. No input lag for me and black levels were fine. If anything it looked better than the 360 because of the v-sync and better upscaling and video output. Not sure but my Xbox one looks a lot better than my 360. 360 looks washed out.

Anyway, no performance problems for me. Find a game and test it as they are all different (gears of war 1 was a bit sluggish for me when I first played it on bc) and they often release updates to individual games.

 

[ET3D]

Pity that Kinect games are not compatible. These are the only reason for me to own an Xbox.

 

[Heavy Man Crush]

I just finished finally completing Dark Souls after 4 years playing the backwards compatible version. No input lag for me and black levels were fine. If anything it looked better than the 360 because of the v-sync and better upscaling and video output. Not sure but my Xbox one looks a lot better than my 360. 360 looks washed out.

Anyway, no performance problems for me. Find a game and test it as they are all different (gears of war 1 was a bit sluggish for me when I first played it on bc) and they often release updates to individual games.

See that's the root of a problem. It might be just you not noticing it, or they might've patched it. This sort of thing should be measured with special equipment. Shame.

P.S. Totally gave up on BC after playing Gears 2. **** was insanely laggy.