With the next generation consoles coming out in the near future, hopefully, the big question about the Xbox 720 or PS4 is that will it have backwards compatibilityand will it allow second hand games to be played on it. The internet has exploded with forums and posts about this topic and there are mixed opinions about both.

Photo Source: gamezone.com

Backwards Compatibility

When the original PS3 was released it had the capability to play PS2 games mainly because there were so few PS3 titles it only seemed logical to allow gamers to play old games while waiting for new ones to come out. As time went on Sony started to make the PS3 lose its backwards playing abilities and now it can’t do it at all. Many surveys have been taken and a good majority of the gaming nation wants to see backwards compatibility implemented into their new console. The topic is still on the ropes with no certain answer from the devs making these new and improved consoles and one of the main arguments against backwards compatibility is that if you offer it then it’ll detract from the new games and decrease game sales over all. This theory makes since because Microsoft and Sony are all about money and if they make a console that takes revenue away from them then it’s a bad business model to go forward with. Even though they, Microsoft and Sony, make amazing gaming consoles and games it ultimately comes down to the profit they can turn on each product they sell which brings me to the next topic of used games.

Ability to play/ deny used games

Companies like Gamestop thrive off of used games sales and that’s what helps them keep their business afloat because people are always looking for ways to save money and sometimes the devs and game publishers won’t cut them any slack so they turn to places like Gamestop. A current game runs for about $60 which is a lot to some people so they go to places like Gamestop to find it cheaper and save a buck or two. Another way people can try a game without spending money on something they’re not sure about is by borrowing it from a friend who isn’t playing it anymore. Whichever way someone tries to save money or get a demo that’s better than the actual demo they’re still using a used game which hurts the devs and publishers because they’re not getting anything out of the sale of the used game. This is a big reason why many are saying that the next gen consoles won’t allow used games to be played by their console. To me it would be the beginning of the end if consoles took away the ability to play used games because people don’t want to always have to pay full price for a game they’re not sure about and they don’t want to get burned by the game if it was bad because once you buy the game its set in stone that you’re not getting your money back, it’s gone if they take away the used game markets.

Photo Source: hitechanalogy.com

If the gaming giants decide to take the plunge and take away our used games and backwards compatibility from our consoles then that right there will be the beginning of the end for whichever company decides to go that direction. Also if there is a company that decides to say no we want backwards compatibility and the ability to play used games on our console then that’s the company that’ll thrive when everyone else is sinking because of their choice to kill the secondhand game market. Again none of these rumors have been confirmed nor denied by Microsoft or Sony but it’s a possibility that they may decide to rid the world of used games and go digital but you never know what’s going to happen. Only time will tell which console will make the right choice and which wont.

If you have any topic or question, that’s gaming related, that you want to know more about leave it in the comment  box below and I’ll go out and find as much information on the topic as I can and bring the information to you.

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