That would require some level of backwards compatibility. The problem with closed architecture is that backwards compatibility is never assured. Sony dropped it completely to cut hardware costs and Microsoft half-assed it on the 360. This is why I hate digital content on console. It can be yanked away from you at any time. You can’t fall back on a cracked version like you can on the PC.
More people should be asking the question that is being asked in this thread because I guarantee there will be problems in the future. We’ve already seen Microsoft shut down multiplayers servers for Xbox games. That was a bad precedent and probably an omen of things to come. I think ‘forced obsolescence’ is what they call it.
Capcom Digital Collection $39.99, March 27th for North America, March 30 for Europe:
Eight games in the disc set:
1942: Joint Strike
Bionic Commando ReArmed 2
Final Fight/Magic Sword Double Impact
Flock!
Rocketmen Axis of Evil plus expansion…
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HDR
Wolf of the Battlefield Commando 3.
All MP and cheevos intact…but looks like only a 360 release.
Having a disk version is nice but doesn’t solve the problem of what happens after this generation of consoles. All signs point to the next generation of the 360 and PS3 coming next year. I know when I first got my 360 I still went back to my Xbox1 to play Street Fighter Anniversary Edition, but eventually I moved on to mostly just 360 (and Microsoft eventually shut down online for all Xbox1 games).
Even beyond HDR, I’ve spent quite a bit and have quite a collection of XBLA and PSN titles, I really don’t like the idea of all those going away with the next generation. I play them probably more than retail releases. Heck, I basically only use my PSP to play PS1 games I downloaded from PSN. I’m anxious to find out what Sony and Microsoft’s plans are for this problem later this year.
Good bet that all digital content will be transferable. Actual disk-based games? No clue. It bodes well for Microsoft’s next system that they are using the same brand GPU (avoiding what happened going from nvidia to ati from XB180 to 360) but we don’t know if going from a PPC to whatever they’re using for a processor will make backwards compatibility difficult.