[Seep]

I'll be pissed if they don't and I'll think twice before buying any XBLA/PSN games next gen.

[BattleMonkey]

Theres already been content taken off all these services, it's going to continue obviously but it's in their best interests to keep as much as possible up for as long as they can. I'm sure there will be compatibility issues though that will hurt some apps though. We are going to be losing stuff over the following gens.

All this will do is drive people to iPhone/iPad where DD apps are guaranteed to always work and always carry over.

Console gamers who want console games are not going to suddenly run to the iphone/ipad for their gaming fix

[Semblance]

I have serious doubts. I've already slowed down on my PSN / XBLA purchases quite a bit.

[Truth101]

Why do people think Wiiware/VC titles won't transfer over?

We already know Nintendo is open about transferring digital content to new generation systems.

[Derrick01]

Console gamers who want console games are not going to suddenly run to the iphone/ipad for their gaming fix

They're not going to keep buying DD games on a service that takes them away either. That would be insanely stupid to keep repeating that mistake.

[entrement]

No. I look at these DD games as rentals anyway.

[Backfoggen]

I'd like it but I don't expect it tbh.

[Famassu]

At the very least, I expect stuff like PS1 games & PSP Minis to be available on PS4. I'd like the rest to be, too, but there might be some problems with that, especially with the more impressive games (Journey & such).

[teeny]

Why do people think Wiiware/VC titles won't transfer over? We already know Nintendo is open about transferring digital content to new generation systems.

Im confident that they will, but it is worth noting that the DD setups for the Wii and DSi are very different.

Wii stuff seems very locked to the console in a way DS stuff isnt.

[yellowjacket25]

If they don't then it will delay my purchase of the next console and it will pretty much end my buying of digital games on consoles.

[Combichristoffersen]

XBLA? Yes.
Wiiware? Maybe.
PSN? No.

[Ranger X]

You guys are very enthusiastic but I doubt most of you will vote with your wallet next-gen.

[EXGN]

PSN and XBLA will still be the services on the next generation of consoles, no? Then I would fully expect the PSN and XBLA games I buy now to work on the PSN and XBLA of the next consoles as well.

[panama chief]

i want it, but look how bad sony is handling it on Vita.

these guys will implement something then only let you download half the games or some shit. dont want you buying that nextbox just to play old stuff.....

[SiegfriedFM]

If they aren't, or only partly, I'm gonna make a list of how much they've fucked me for and then consider how much less I want to spend on them in the future.

[larvi]

I'm pretty sure Wiiware won't transfer as they won't even transfer to a new Wii right now. For PSN and XBLA I'm not sure, if the new consoles have BC I would suspect they would. Personally I haven't invested heavily in DLC on any of my consoles this gen, most of the stuff I've bought has been from free points from various promotions primarily because of this unknown. If it turns out they do get supported on next gen systems I will definitely buy more DLC in the future.

[Carl]

I will buy a LOT less PSN games next gen if they don't

[brandonh83]

I hope so. I won't pretend as if it would be some kind of dealbreaker because I know I will buy the consoles regardless so I would be lying if I said otherwise, but it would be really fucking goofy of them not to.

[ponpo]

To not do it sounds like a terrible move, not only for the consumer but business wise as well. I can imagine lots of people with just one console contemplating another but saying "then again I have spent $xx on digital downloads so I don't want that all going to waste". If they don't bring over digital stuff from PSN or XBL there's a huge incentive gone to stick with who you went with last gen.

[IrishNinja]

No. I look at these DD games as rentals anyway.

i've a friend (he's also on GAF) who takes this stance with steam purchases due to the EULA. i don't see it this way at all, because it'd destroy the business model they worked so hard to build if it came to it, but i suppose it's quietly reassuring to know that if i wanted/needed to, i can likely find tools to strip out the DRM and continue playing my purchases at my leisure.

anyway, yours is a more pragmatic stance, but if i were to abide it personally, i'd likely buy far fewer games.

I'm pretty sure Wiiware won't transfer as they won't even transfer to a new Wii right now.

never done it myself, but i want tho say this is incorrect based on posts ive read around here.

[MRORANGE]

won't be surprised if you need to pay a fee to transfer your games.

[BadWolf]

I don't have many but yes, for sure.

[Zeouterlimits]

No XBLA cross-over, no sale.
Would be utter bull crap.

I can unfortunately see a transfer fee on the horizon if they do.

[ttocs]

The functionality should be something that is possible and I'd be a little upset if they didn't allow this. I'm sure not all will go over, but they need to make sure most (if not all) are able to.

[PaulLFC]

If either of the next Xbox/PS4 aren't BC with XBLA or PSN purchases respectively, I expect digital purchases on that platform will suffer, because people will be wary that they'll most likely lose access to their 720/PS4 content when/if the generation of consoles after that are released.

[IrishNinja]

lotta votes for a transfer fee...don't know why i didn't see that one coming, it seems pretty obvious upon second thought though.

[UraMallas]

I will absolutely stop buying consoles if I don't get my games to cross over to the next systems.

[Neuromancer]

It'd be nice but I don't expect them to.

[NinjaBoiX]

I have over 100 games on my Xbox 360, indie and XBLA. I have close to that on my PS3. I have a shit-ton on my Wii as well. There's gonna be issues for me if they don't.

This. 80odd XBLA/indie titles, like 6 OG Xbox titles, and another 4 GoD 360 games. A similar story on my Station. They can eat shit if they think I'm starting from scratch.

[larvi]

never done it myself, but i want tho say this is incorrect based on posts ive read around here.

I haven't done it either, but a quick Google of it shows many results saying your content is tied to the Wii you downloaded it on. I have heard instances where people have gotten their content transferred but it required intervention from Nintendo customer service. If I were to buy a 2nd Wii today for another room in my house, unless I'm mistaken I don't see any way I would be able to play my purchased digital content on that Wii.

[Fredrik]

I definitely hope they do, but I'm not expecting it. But I definitely expect Virtual Console and X360 Arcade Classics games etc to work, sooner or later, since they only run on an emulator for quite old hardware. XBLA/PSN games fully optimized for 360/PS3 hardware might be too much to ask for, but I hope they manage to get that to work too sooner or later.

Anyhow, it's their loss if they ignore this. I've bought at least 50 XBLA games, 20 PSN games, 10 WiiWare and 50 VC games. They can hardly expect me to buy this many games again next generation if all my current generation DD purchases are forever lost inside their old and possibly soon broken hardware. I'd say that the whole DD future rides on how they handle this. But I bet they know that already.

[Famassu]

XBLA? Yes. Wiiware? Maybe. PSN? No.

You can play some games on PSP, Vita and PS3. Why on earth do you think PSN would be the only one not doing it? If anything, XBLA is still a question mark since there's only Xbox 360 so we haven't seen how they'll handle XBLA stuff on other platforms.

i want it, but look how bad sony is handling it on Vita.

How is it badly handled? There are some compatibility issues with some PSP games (which they are constantly working on) and they still haven't added PS1 emulation (which is confirmed to be coming soon) but that's only an issue FOR NOW, in the long run you'll still be able to play PSP Minis, PSP games & PS1 games you've purchased (digitally).

[SeanR1221]

Apple already nailed this issue. Wish more companies would be like them.

[U2NUMB]

While they should .. I also do not plan on getting rid of my 360 so it would not be a big deal to me. I am however curious how they handle the transfer of my account to a new console.

[Zeouterlimits]

You can play some games on PSP, Vita and PS3. Why on earth do you think PSN would be the only one not doing it? If anything, XBLA is still a question mark since there's only Xbox 360 so we haven't seen how they'll handle XBLA stuff on other platforms.

Because the architecture is, from what we know, so different between PS3 & PS4.
Sony can't click their heels and make a super complicated emulator appear.

[Hellsing321]

I don't which is why I stopped buying them 2 years ago. All my digital purchases are done through Steam.

[Dragonzord]

As long as they still work on the original console after the servers go down, I don't care. If it means we don't have 600 dollar PS3s that's fine. BC really isn't that important to me.

[RedSwirl]

I actually expect WiiWare and VC games will, since Nintendo confirmed Wii BC in the Wii U, and they already let you transfer digital DSi content to the 3DS.

[BattleMonkey]

Apple already nailed this issue. Wish more companies would be like them.

Apple has also been doing incremental upgrades of the hardware making it easier for BC issues. Problems with consoles is they come years apart and often with big hardware differences making it harder to keep individual apps and such working. There have been issues with older apps not working right on newer Apple, and if the original publishers do not suppor the software, the more these issues will continue to happen.

Console makers are going to have major problems with BC with how they will be releasing such big jumps in hardware

[DimmuBurgerKing]

I think they will. The backlash will be worse than the PS3/PS2 BC fiasco if they don't. In regards to Nintendo and the VC, I only see that catalog expanding to include more third party games and probably Gamecube games instead of making customers pay to play the same games that were already released for Wii's VC. But hopefully, updates will happen with more frequency than what we came to expect this gen.

[larvi]

As long as they still work on the original console after the servers go down, I don't care. If it means we don't have 600 dollar PS3s that's fine. BC really isn't that important to me.

I hadn't really though of this aspect, I was just assuming it would be a given that I would still be able to use my XBLA content on a 360 as long as I had one running. But if my hardware dies and I replace it with a used system I pick up off of ebay, I'm still at the mercy of Microsoft having the servers available to transfer the content to the new console or to validate my live ID which definitely isn't a given.

[turnbuckle]

At the beginning of the generation I thought it would be a no-brainer. A way to keep customers locked into a platform for a long time.

Now, I'm not confident at all. If they aren't, I will take my sweet time joining the next gen. I would even accept facing a one-time license transfer fee (say, $.50 a game) to give incentive for Sony to make it happen.

[massoluk]

I think Wii VC and Wiiware will. Probably have to jump through some hoops with great difficulties, but there will be a way.

[Combichristoffersen]

You can play some games on PSP, Vita and PS3. Why on earth do you think PSN would be the only one not doing it? If anything, XBLA is still a question mark since there's only Xbox 360 so we haven't seen how they'll handle XBLA stuff on other platforms.

If the rumours about the PS4 architechture turn out to be true, it would be hard, if not impossible, to emulate the PS3. Minis and PS1 games shold run on the PS4 I guess, but since DD games have the same low-level access as retail games, I doubt it would be possible to get games coded specifically for the PS3 to run on the PS4, unless they rewrite the code.

[Christine]

I don't just expect it; I demand it. If Nintendo burns me on this it'll be the last time they ever have the opportunity to do so.

[Tain]

If the emulation is as bad as Xbox 1 emulation on 360 or PS2 emulation on PS3 (and I see no reason to assume it will be better), I don't even care if they carry over or not.

In Wii's case, Virtual Console's biggest strength is the ability to output in original game resolutions, which is something the Wii U will not be capable of doing. No big deal.

Keeping the 360 Live and PS3 PSN running for years and years is a pretty big deal, though. The original Xbox Live should still be running right now.

[Somnid]

If they can play BC retail games then yes. I'm not so confident this will happen for 360 and PS3 or if it does it might be closer to 360's BC which would really hurt XBLA stuff.

[pvpness]

If they'd like me to continue purchasing digital games on their services, then they'll transfer my existing stuff over.

It wouldn't prevent me from buying new systems or anything, but I would never buy a DD game (or DLC) again and I do have the fortitude to vote with my wallet. I think it would be a costly mistake to not transfer digital titles across.

[Haunted]

I expect them to be redownloadable on the new hardware, similar to how I can redownload Steam games when I get a new PC.


Anything else would cause a huge shitstorm.

[ShinUltramanJ]

They'd better. If not I'll never download another game again on a console.