Black 'not coming to 360'

Criterion's Alex Ward has shot down speculation that an Xbox 360 version of BLACK will be made, following the news that the EA-published title (out tomorrow in Europe, 28th February in North America) will not be compatible with the new Microsoft games console.

"I keep reading all over forums that we're going to make a 360 version of BLACK, and it's just not true," Ward told Eurogamer this week.

And he gave us the first confirmation that the Guildford-based team is planning a next gen sequel when he said: "The only time you'll see [the BLACK franchise] on the Xbox 360 is when we make BLACK 2 on it in a few years."

Responding to the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding the lack of compatibility of Criterion's titles on Xbox, Ward insisted it has absolutely nothing to do with publishers or developers.

"We'd absolutely love it if our Burnout games worked on 360," said Ward, "but it's down to what Microsoft wants to do. It controls and decides what games its emulator works with. I've actually asked them four times myself for them to make it happen, but it's really not up to us.

"The fact that BLACK doesn't work on the 360 isn't us trying to make people wait for a 360 version... because that's not going to happen," he added.

For more on BLACK, check out our review.