Backwards compatibility a backwards notion, Xbox head says

Investing in backwards compatibility for Xbox One is a "backwards" notion, according to Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business.

“If you’re backwards compatible, you’re really backwards,” Mattrick told the Wall Street Journal.

Only 5 percent of customers play games for previous systems on newer systems, Mattrick said, so the time and money required to get Xbox 360 games working on Xbox One is better spent elsewhere.

The Wall Street Journal noted a different survey, which indicated 12 percent of potential customers would be displeased by a lack of backwards compatibility in the new system.

We already knew Xbox One isn't backwards compatible, but Mattrick's comments may seem dismissive to customers with generous 360 libraries. They can always keep both systems plugged in, of course, but that's one less way Xbox One is actually an all-in-one entertainment solution.

Is backwards compatibility a big deal to you? Do you use any current-gen systems to play older games?