Unlike the transition from PlayStation 3 to PlayStation 4, Sony wants existing players to experience a "seamless" jump from this generation to the next. We already know that the PS5 will be backwards compatible with PS4 games, and the Japanese giant hopes that this will make things a lot easier for everyone who buys into the upcoming console.
As part of the company's investor relations report, Sony outlines why backwards compatibility is so important with regards to its next-gen strategy. It writes: "We will leverage Backwards Compatibility to transition our community to Next Gen faster and more seamlessly than ever before."
This essentially means that Sony wants to make use of the PlayStation Network's existing ecosystem in order to jump start the PS5, which makes total sense. If players know that all of their PS4 games will be playable on the PS5 from the beginning, then they're more likely to invest. It's basically like a software safety net, we suppose.
Indeed, we can't ignore just how profitable the PSN is for Sony these days. Not having that ecosystem carry forward into the next generation would be insane, and so backwards compatibility has always seemed a likely scenario.
How glad are you that the PS5 will be backwards compatible? Relive your favourite PS4 games in the comments section below.
[source sony.net]
Comments 26
I want BC for PS1-3 ideally.
But that will never happen.
And most people have a PS4 already...
No huge surprise there. It does make me want to get a PS5 sooner than I normally would, why not if I can still play my games anyway.
I'll still likely wait a year or so (if I can!!) to get it at a reduced price.
Super glad Sony made sure backwards compatibility is a priority with the PS5.
Seriously, I have so, so many PS4 games, it would've been a shame if the PS5 couldn't play them.
I hope Sony gets it’s studios to patch it’s biggest games for the PS5. Make them all true 4K and 60fps and any other little improvements they want to add.
I’d even be willing to pay a few quid for a significant upgrade patch but think it would make a great, extra incentive for people to get a PS5 sooner if all added free. Imagine the reveal if they showed a list of their biggest games will all be improved for free when you play on the PS5.
I wonder if some PS5 games will be playable on a PS4 via PS Now. That might push the transition to PS5 even quicker.
Was getting one regardless but a nice bonuse.
I feel cross gen play is the big news here
Makes perfect sense to me.
If Xbox One had BC from launch instead of a few years later, then I probably would have got one to continue using my 360 collection, however as MS head at the time famously said 'If you’re backwards compatible, you’re really backwards', I jumped back to SONY and started my PS4 love affair.
Soon to be continued by her lovely new sister, PS5.
@BearsEatBeets That's a good idea. As someone who doesn't own a PS4 Pro, if PS5 even just allows me access to Pro updates for my PS4 games, that's a selling point for me even if they don't push PS5 updates to existing PS4 games.
I have a Sony X800 4K UHD movie player.
Interesting that Sony hasn't said anything it.
The PS4 Pro famously shipped without a UHD optical drive.
Wonder when Sony will clarify the situation with the PS5 optical drive.
Perfect yes if PS4 games work on PS5 it will be an easy jump to the new console and gamers will have their back catalog to play.
I just hope it's disc's that work and all your downloaded games as well then the jump will be easy sell old PS4 invest in new PS5 works in the eco system simple.
I just hope they design the PS5 well like .. Lots of air holes and a big fan a lot like the Xbox one S and X as it's quite and designed well.
My Pro blows and over heats and is loud sometimes i have to put earphones in for bigger games as the loudness can be heard directly downstairs the vibration of the machine sounds like the Xbox 360 used to.
Make it work with PS4 disc's and Download's and design it well with a big fan and plenty of cooling and air holes and it will be a winner.
I hope is all ps4 games and not a selected few.
I am a huge Playstation fan, but if there was not backward compatibility, then I don't know when I would get a PS5 (maybe 3-4 years into the consoles life) where I will get it day one with BC.
The PS4 not having backwards compatibility with the PS3 (while understandable from a hardware perspective) just hurt too much, I won't repeat that, so I am very glad that the PS5 is BC.
Now if they just had an Elite version that also had BC for PS1/PS2/PS3, I would be in heaven.
I've never been bothered about backwards-compatibility before, but I think it's becoming more desirable.
Why?
When I got my PS2, I never made much use of b/c because PS2 games looked so much better; I found it tough to go back to the PS1 titles. I got rid of my PS1 and all the games about a month later.
When PS3 launched, it was the same situation, but I got rid of my PS2 and all the games after about a week.
Visually, the jump from PS3 to PS4 wasn't that great. I kept my PS3 because I often re-play the Uncharted games and of course until the Nathan Drake Collection I needed it to play them. But the PS3 has seen very little use since the PS4 arrived.
With PS5, I suspect the visual improvements will be smaller still, so my "old" PS4 games will be easier to go back to... so b/c will see more use. Of course there will be higher resolutions and frame-rates etc, but I'm not particularly fussed about 4K, and as long as a game is generally smooth I really, really couldn't care less how many fps it's pushing.
"Sony outlines why backwards compatibility is so important with regards to its next-gen strategy."
BC is so important b/c w/ companies still working on PS4 games - TLoU2, Ghosts, Death Stranding - and w/ native 4k PS5 games presumably taking even longer to develop, if PS5 didn't play PS4 games it would be launching w/ very few games and people might be reluctant to buy 1.
I know that's a very glass half empty take, we all want BC and it shoudlnt' be looked down upon, but that's probably the reality for Sony. W/ all of the PS4 games out there and the ones still coming if PS5 didn't have BC selling it at launch could be a problem. And yes I know PS4 sold just fine w/o it, but $400 PS4 looked really good compared to the DRM screwed up $500 X1. Microsoft was the PS4s best selling point. Can't necessarily rely on that happening again.
So yes, I'm glad for BC, but I think my take on it - PS5 needs BC to sell at launch until more new PS5 games come - is more to the truth than Sony's corporate speak - "We will leverage Backwards Compatibility to transition our community to Next Gen faster and more seamlessly than ever before."
Cool because the best feature of the PS2 and original PS3 was I could just play my old discs without a problem(I miss those days) If only there was a way the PS5 could play my PS1/2&3 discs that would be the ultimate PlayStation Oh well.
I'm really up for this as a)I've still got a shed load of ps4 games I haven't played b) i cant wait to play something again like rd2 on a next gen system c) some games I fancy but performance is poor on this gen eg kingdom come deliverance might be more attractive! Hdr TV this year for black Friday, ps5 next year!!
It is a good move by Sony. I was burned by the Pro 4 so have yet to get one. I was going to upgrade this year but the BC on the PS5 means I get my Pro and if any of the 5 games are appealing to me I don't need to buy yet another system. Considering I was planning on exiting from MS and Sony after the 4 and one were retired it was a nice hook. I don't know how many 5 games I'll get as I'm buying this solely as a P4Pro+ but at least the option is there.
@Neolit
Well said, plus I believe in this form of PS5 compatibility, we should see upped or at least steady frame rates, high resolution (all PS4 games uprezzed to 4k?) and of course faster load times.
Brilliant move by Sony, and probably planned during the initial PS4 design stage too I would expect.
Ah PS5 instant upgrade for me on day one! Lovely jubbly! My PS4 is off until PS5 arrives so my sweet little Vita is keeping me engrossed. Thanks all the Vita sales of late!
I'm so glad this is the case, I have bought more digital games this gen, I would hate to lose my copies of Red Dead 2 and such if I sold my PS4.
I’ll say this once and only once. If it can’t play PS3 games. I have no reason to buy one. This is for those people who buy the new iPhone just because it’s new. There isnt a game ps4 that’s solid enough to hold the system. I’ll just install a bottle opener on my ps4 and it’ll be just as cool as the ps5, and has all the same games. I’m honestly considering selling my ps4 and switching to PC gaming so I can play a good Tony Hawk.
Heck yeah I’m glad that PS5 will be backwards compatible. Definitely a good move by Sony.
If it is only backwards compatible with PS4, it will be a long time before I get a PS5. Because I already have a PS4 and there aren't many, if any, PS5 expected launch titles that interest me (yet!) But if they make it compatible at least as far back as PS3, then I'd get one real quick. It would mean I could box up my PS3 and PS4 and play PS3-5 all on one machine. Heck yes!
But my dream would be PS5 supporting Sony's entire library, from PS1-PS5 on one system!
I find this a negative. Some of my favourite gaming times have been when there is a lack of software and everyone has to play the same stuff.
That's an unpopular opinion - but I will miss those times.
Hope the ssd is a petabyte or sumthin! Lol
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