The new-generation of consoles have been around for almost a year now and we’ve seen many a great game release on them, but we’ve also see those same games release on the aging PS3 and Xbox 360 as publishers try to squeeze as much cash out of their latest products.
There’s a few new releases that will be calling both the previous and the current-generation consoles their home – Far Cry 4, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and The Crew, to name a few.
We reported yesterday that there was a possibility that the next Gears of War game will be releasing on the Xbox 360 as well as the Xbox One. This caused some debate amongst console enthusiasts with some in favour of a cross-gen release and others highly opposing such a move. Is it such a bad thing?
Personally, I’m all for cross-gen releases, as long as they’re done right.
When the PS4 and Xbox One first released we had a few big-hitters release across the old and new generations. The reasoning was clear; more people owned the older consoles than the newer ones. It makes sense to go where the money is and that’s why I reckon releasing the new Gears of War on the Xbox One and the Xbox 360 is a great idea.
For Microsoft it would make financial sense as they would stand to make a fair bit of money from customers who haven’t upgraded to the Xbox One.
The next Gears of War isn’t due out until sometime in 2016, so I know what you’re thinking – who will still be playing the Xbox 360 in 2016?! More than likely, millions of people.
Not everyone can afford to upgrade to the Xbox One just yet and may still not be able to in 2016. It’s an expensive purchase and during these times of economic uncertainty people will be prioritising when it comes to spreading their finances and anyone with a modicum of sense will put their gaming needs to the back of the queue. Xbox One’s don’t put food on the table…
Then there are those who may receive an Xbox 360 this Christmas or have recently opted to buy one of the many bundles that have been released over the last couple of years. These people will no doubt want to get some more use from their console, so they’re a prime target for cross-gen releases.
It’s all good and well saying that these people should just upgrade instead of being cheapskates, but that’s a rather selfish way to look at it, especially when you take a moment to think that not everyone can afford to splash out on the latest tech as it comes out.
So long as the developers don’t hold back on the current-gen versions of cross-gen releases then we really shouldn’t be complaining about seeing our favourite games being released across more platforms. Heck, isn’t it better to be able to share those moments with more people?! Yeah they may not be as graphically intense and may lack a few features here and there, but the core gameplay remains the same and the two kids on the playground with different backgrounds will still be able to discuss their favourite past-time, regardless of which console sits under the TV.
To me, it’s all arbitrary. If you intend to enjoy Gears of War on Xbox One then all the best to you, I hope you have a great time. If you’re hoping for an Xbox 360 release, I wish you the same.