What was the consensus on the importance of backwards compatibility again?
We're saying it won't help Xbox One and that Sony isn't doing it because they know it doesn't drive hardware sales and they're just rolling with PS Now instead?
Is that the general takeaway?
On GAF? Was there a consensus?
Working in retail (the industry not one specific retailer) I'd say the market evidence makes it pretty clear that it's a minor feature in terms of driving demand overall.
It mostly appeals to a small core who replay their favorite old games and want to decommission their old console to switch fully to the new. In the grand scheme of things it's pretty clear that's a small demographic.
Most gamers (general market) clearly don't go back to old games that much and clearly prefer the shiny new versions with more bells and whistles.
Not that it's bad to have, and in fact over time it may become more expected again as a generation used to switching their phones/tablets really starts to become the purchasing norm, but right now it's hardly that important vs new games, new features, etc.
Nice to have but not worth diverting previous funds over.
MS I believe added it because they're in the mode of "anything that helps" in terms of trying to close gap with PS4 and differentiate.
As the market leader with strong focus on new games I don't see Sony rushing to add it (and I suspect it might be a tall order to emulate BC for the PS3 architecture anyway rendering BC on PS4 unlikely - for PS3 games that is).
They're clearly more interested is PS Now anyway for the moment as you note.