Recently I have been hearing an incredible amount of “rumors” float my way about the two unannounced 8^th generation gaming systems, or in laymen’s terms, the next Xbox, and the PlayStation 4. These rumors infuriate me, not only because they refuse to just die in peace, but even after we shoot them multiple times in the chest, they keep standing back up undamaged. Today, I am going to tell you how everything you know about the next Xbox and Playstation is not possible.

Rumor 1: The next Xbox will not have backwards compatibility.

This is not true simply because there is no evidence to prove otherwise. There is evidence such as Microsoft’s leaked future plans to suggest that Microsoft will go the Sony route and continue to manufacture the 360 after its successor is released as an entertainment box. In order for this to be accomplished, the 360 must shed its fat, such as its hard drive, and its disc drive. If these two things are accomplished, then there is no reason for Microsoft to not have backwards compatibility. Sony used to have backwards compatibility on the PS3, but when the sales of the system flustered, Sony removed this compatibility to push the now outdated PS2 (which was selling well at the time). Then Sony decided to release HD recompilations and downloadable versions of PS2 games on the PS3, for increased profit. Microsoft has no financial gain from not including backwards compatibility with 360 games. Sony, however, has a large reason to not include backwards compatibility with PS3 games in the PS4.

Rumor 2: The next Xbox will require a constant internet connection

This will be a quick response, due to the fact that there is not much to respond to here. If this rumor is true, it degrades the next Xbox as an option compared to the PlayStation 4. Simply by rumors alone, Sony knows to not contemplate a constant online DRM, as if Microsoft does, it instantly makes the PlayStation better by default. Therefore, if Microsoft knows that Sony might not do this, then Microsoft wont do this. It is much more viable that the next Xbox will not have a disc drive at all. Speaking of discs and DRM…

Rumor 3: The next Xbox can’t play used games

I will say this from the get go, if the next Xbox has a disc drive, this rumor will not be true. Where did you purchase your Xbox from? Chances are that you might have said GameStop, or Best Buy, Target, or even Walmart. What do all these retailers have in common? They all sell used games. Going out of inquisitive mode, try to think about the ecosystem that the used game market is for them, and why they carry gaming systems. They carry these systems not for a single sale, but because they know that people purchasing new and used accessories and games will provide them with a steady stream of revenue. If a company like Microsoft denied them of this ecosystem, their baseline response would be to not carry the product. Think of the massive consequences for Microsoft if the next Xbox wasn’t in GameStop, Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, and most online game retailers. It would be the last Xbox generation that Microsoft would ever make, and therefore, this entire rumor is false. If it happens to be true, I challenge the Xbox to make it through a year.