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Microsoft has recently been vague about what kind of backwards compatibility the Xbox 360 has. GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that they've now clarified their earlier statements into something that makes more sense.
It seems, according to GI.biz, that existing software for the Xbox will have to be recompiled for the Xbox 360. Obviously, the Xbox 360 is more powerful than the Xbox and can "handle" the games, but the problem comes down to hardware issues. The Xbox uses an Intel processor while the Xbox 360 will use IBM's PowerPC architecture. The graphics card in the Xbox is from NVIDIA but the 360 will use an ATI card.
Engadget.com's interview with Steve Ballmer implies something entirely different:
Sony and Nintendo, however, have already announced both their systems will have backwards compability for all prior consoles. In Sony's case, all PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games will function properly. In Nintendo's case, GameCube games are playable out of the box and games on all prior consoles will be downloadable in some way.
Source: gamesindustry.biz
It seems, according to GI.biz, that existing software for the Xbox will have to be recompiled for the Xbox 360. Obviously, the Xbox 360 is more powerful than the Xbox and can "handle" the games, but the problem comes down to hardware issues. The Xbox uses an Intel processor while the Xbox 360 will use IBM's PowerPC architecture. The graphics card in the Xbox is from NVIDIA but the 360 will use an ATI card.
Engadget.com's interview with Steve Ballmer implies something entirely different:
Engadget: Regarding backwards compatibility, it seems like that’s going to be on a kind of a selective basis from what we gather—is that correct?
Ballmer: We are working very hard to get compatibility. Of course the prioritization in our technical work is in the leading selling games from the first generation, just like the PS2 didn’t run all PS1 games, it is unlikely we’ll ever be able to say the 360 will run all Xbox 1 games. I think there are some games if we get them to run that means many, many other games will run, and I think rather than give some statement that is either too conservative (because the engineers can do better), or a bold statement we can’t live up to, we thought we’d make our strategy clear that as we get further down the road and as our engineers do more work, the execution will speak for itself.
So, what's it going to be? Can our current Xbox games be played on Xbox 360 or not? We at GAF simply do not know. Going by GI.biz, it doesn't sound likely. But Steve Ballmer makes it sound likely. And the Pre-E3 Microsoft Conference said that hit titles like Halo will be the top priority. So however it works, we'll likely get the best selling Xbox games, but it doesn't seem that the Xbox 360 will have backwards compatibility in the traditional sense. Ballmer: We are working very hard to get compatibility. Of course the prioritization in our technical work is in the leading selling games from the first generation, just like the PS2 didn’t run all PS1 games, it is unlikely we’ll ever be able to say the 360 will run all Xbox 1 games. I think there are some games if we get them to run that means many, many other games will run, and I think rather than give some statement that is either too conservative (because the engineers can do better), or a bold statement we can’t live up to, we thought we’d make our strategy clear that as we get further down the road and as our engineers do more work, the execution will speak for itself.
Sony and Nintendo, however, have already announced both their systems will have backwards compability for all prior consoles. In Sony's case, all PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games will function properly. In Nintendo's case, GameCube games are playable out of the box and games on all prior consoles will be downloadable in some way.
Source: gamesindustry.biz