Following their report which underlined the usage stats for Xbox backwards compatibility, Ars Technica have issued a correction after Microsoft stepped in to argue some of its data.
Citing issues with the publication’s collation of data, such as a small sample size, inaccurate API findings, and gamers who opted out of sharing their information, Microsoft have been quick to rebuke Ars Technica’s report.
As an example, while Kyle Orland of Ars Technica’s report claims only 6.3% of Xbox users are using “My Game and Apps”, Microsoft have it closer to 71%.
Despite this, Ars Technica still stand by some sections of their report, including its basic reliability.
When quizzed by Destructoid, a Microsoft rep issued the following statement:
“We’ve carefully reviewed Ars Technica’s article, and have completed our own analysis of the actual data using identical parameters. Based on our findings, Ars Technica’s analysis and conclusions are grossly inaccurate and misleading due to an incomplete set of data and drawing conclusions about actual usage from data that approximates usage.
“As an example, we specifically know, based on our complete view of Xbox Live usage data, players are highly engaged with backwards compatible game titles. It’s why we continue to support this well-loved feature and the games that use it. We appreciate the work and effort by Ars Technica to share more information about the Xbox community and we are continually looking for ways to do so that also protect the interests of gamers and our partners.”
However, both Ars Technica appear to have ended discussions on a positive note, according to this correspondence included in the publication’s correction:
“We acknowledge the work it took to put your story together. It’s quite a task to collate the stuff you can gather from the outside without having direct access to proprietary tools and data, and create a 10,000-plus word story from it. We salute that effort… We appreciate the work and effort by Ars Technica to share more information about the Xbox community and we are continually looking for ways to do so that also protect the interests of gamers and our partners.”
While the report has been corrected, the initial story has been spread by countless other publications. Let’s see if this correction is as widely reported as the original story, but with E3 currently underway, it may get lost in the shuffle.
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