In video gaming, you often hear the term backward-compatible thrown around. Well that's not enough for Microsoft. Rumor has it that the next Xbox will be forward-compatible.

No, that does not mean it will be compatible with games that haven't been made yet. Otherwise it'd just be your normal console waiting for games to be developed.

Xbox Evolved reports it this way: Imagine that Gears of War 3 is released on the Xbox 360 (pray that it does). When you play the disc on an Xbox 720 (or whatever its name will be), it will play even better - better graphics, better speed, framerate, maybe even new features.

Reading up on what forward compatibility is, it would mean that Microsoft will prep developers on what to expect with the Xbox 720 before it comes out, allowing them add extra code in their games specifically for that platform, which allows for new features, better graphics and all that. While this code can't be handled by the Xbox 360, it will be fully utilized in the 720.

Basically, forward compatibility in a game is like a built-in patch that allows it to utilize the features of next console even though it isn't out yet.

Further reports on the forward compatibility rumor suggest that Microsoft is still "testing the water" of the 720, so even if the rumor is true, it might be awhile before we can confirm the legitimacy of the rumor.

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