By Sagar V. Mankar Capcom and Xbox are reportedly teaming up to solve a big problem that’s been keeping some popular games off Xbox consoles.
This all started when Capcom announced MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection Arcade Classics during June 2024’s Nintendo Direct event for multiple platforms except Xbox.
Fans were confused and super upset by this decision. After all, Marvel vs. Capcom games have been on Xbox before. The original Xbox had Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and later Xbox 360 got Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Even the most recent game, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, came out on Xbox One. So why skip Xbox this time?
What is the MT Framework Issue?
It turns out the reason is pretty technical. Capcom uses an old mid-2000s era game engine called MT Framework for many of their older games and collections. This engine was great for making games on older consoles, but it doesn’t play nice with newer generations, especially with Xbox’s new ERA system.
This isn’t just a problem for the Marvel vs. Capcom collection. Other Capcom games like Monster Hunter Stories and the Mega Man Battle Network collection also skipped Xbox for the same reason. It’s frustrating for Xbox players who want to enjoy these classic games, especially considering the rich history these titles have on other platforms.
How Microsoft and Capcom Plan to Resolve the Issue?
But here’s the good news: Microsoft, the company behind Xbox, isn’t just sitting back and letting this happen. They’ve realized that missing out on Capcom’s great old games makes Xbox look bad. So, they’re rolling up their sleeves and working directly with Capcom to fix the MT Framework problem.
Jez Corden, a well-known Xbox insider from Window Central, shared this information on the latest episode of The Xbox Two podcast. He explained that Microsoft is actively trying to figure out how to make MT Framework games work on Xbox. This is a big deal because it could mean that not only the Marvel vs. Capcom collection, but lots of other Capcom classics might finally come to Xbox.
Some of these games, like Monster Hunter Stories, have been really popular on other systems. If Capcom can bring their back catalog to Xbox, it would be a win for everyone. Players get more games to choose from, Capcom gets to sell their games to more people, and Xbox gets a stronger library of titles.
There’s also talk about how these games could add value to Xbox Game Pass. By resolving these challenges, Microsoft is hoping to appeal to a diverse audience, ranging from fighting game fans to fans of classic Capcom franchises to its subscription service.
Of course, fixing this problem won’t happen overnight. It takes time and money especially when dealing with old game engines. Money is probably the main issue here, as lower-profile releases like Ace Attorney Investigations Collection not skipping Xbox, despite presumably running on MT Framework. But the fact that Microsoft and Capcom are working together for a bigger retro collection is a really good sign.
For now, Xbox fans will have to be patient. And remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more news!
First, for those unaware, Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is a bundle of seven games – six 2D fighters and one side-scrolling beat ’em up – which were all a collaborative effort between Marvel and Capcom.