Despite PlayStation 5 being backwards compatible with a large portion of the PS4's library, its ability to play older games won't reach back to the PS3 or beyond. The PlayStation line of consoles has more than two decades of hits in its collective library, but in recent times, Sony has opted for remastering and remaking classic titles rather than porting or allowing backwards compatibility.
Yesterday, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan stated that the PS5 will be backwards compatible with 99% of the PlayStation 4's library. This put many Sony fans at ease, knowing they will be able to play games like Bloodborne and The Last of Us Part II on their next-gen consoles. The PS Plus Collection was also announced, which allows PS5 owners to access many of the PS4's greatest titles for $10 USD a month. However, these PS4 titles are the only older games Sony's next-gen console will be able to play.
Following the PS5 games showcase, Jim Ryan was interviewed by Japanese magazine Famitsu. As Game Rant reports, during the interview, Ryan was asked multiple questions regarding the PS5 and its capabilities, including whether the PS5 will be backwards compatible with PS1, PS2 and PS3 titles. Ryan stated, due to the team's efforts implementing high-speed SSDs and the new DualSense controllers, they were unable to implement backwards compatibility beyond the PS4.
This is nothing new for PlayStation, as the PS4 is not capable of playing previous-gen titles that aren't explicitly available through the PSN Store. That's not to say that the lack of backwards compatibility is always accepted, as fans were disappointed about it not being available on PS4 at the time of its launch. The first three PlayStation consoles have some amazing titles that have aged well over the past 25 years, and it's a shame that they won't be available on newer hardware. Maybe somewhere down the line, Sony will release the game libraries digitally, but that's probably a long shot.
At least PS4 games are still playable. Especially now, with titles like The Last of Us Part II only being a few months old, it would be unfortunate if players weren't able to play a relatively new current-gen game on their next-gen consoles. Luckily, players can sell their old PS4s and potentially their entire physical libraries to offset the cost of the PS5, seeing as most of the PS4's biggest hit titles will be available through the PS Plus Collection.
Source: Game Rant
