Home Gaming The PlayStation 4 will not be getting backwards compatibility

The PlayStation 4 will not be getting backwards compatibility

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Backwards

One of the biggest bombshells from the E3 conferences was the fact that Microsoft’s Xbox One is going to get native backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games. It’s a huge deal, even if it is rather limited at the moment. Unfortunately for PlayStation fans, the same won’t be happening with the PlayStation 4.

Sony has confirmed that there are no plans for anything resembling software-driven compatibility for PlayStation 3 games. Instead, Sony will continue to remaster older games like God of War 3 for new audiences. Speaking to MCV, Sony’s European boss Jim Ryan confirmed that PlayStation has no plans to add the feature.

“It is an entirely legitimate approach, and if you are seeking to upgrade 360 owners to Xbox One, it is a very logical approach to take,” Ryan said, adding “I suspect there might be a few twists in that particular tale. But we will see”.

“Unfortunately there are just not sufficient enough software engineers in the world for everyone to do everything. Each platform holder has to make their choices, we made one and they made another. Their choice is entirely legitimate, and I think our choice is legitimate, too. In some ways it is quite nice to have points of difference between the two platforms, and people will decide which approach suits them best.”

On the nature of adding software emulation, it’s something Sony’s done before – and is unlikely to dabble with again.

“We have experience of backwards compatibility. The earliest PS3 model was backwards compatible with PS2, and it is a much requested feature… but actually it’s not so greatly used. On balance, we are happy with our approach and we don’t wish to be defensive about it at all. But as I say, both approaches are legitimate.”

The Xbox One will soon get backwards compatibility, though it’s extremely limited at the moment, with the current list of titles that work incredibly threadbare. Microsoft have asserted that they’ll be adding hundreds of titles to the list over the coming months. Let’s hope they do it better than they did the backwards compatibility for the original Xbox on the Xbox 360. Xbox 360 games that used the old Kinect will not be getting support.

Sorry, to the 3 of you who bought and still play Kinect Star Wars.

Last Updated: June 17, 2015

84 Comments

  1. Corrie

    June 17, 2015 at 12:37

    Oh its okay I got Kinect star wars for free so hah!

    Still not understanding how it works, do you download the game with the 360 game in the disc tray or just insert and play?

    Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      June 17, 2015 at 12:53

      I am assuming you register the game on Xbox Live and download the game from that library. Kinda like steam.

      Reply

      • Corrie

        June 17, 2015 at 13:05

        The idea is there, just I’m not sure that all the developers will sign up for it

        Reply

        • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

          June 17, 2015 at 13:07

          Those who have experience in the PC space yes. Those who do not will have issues because of “lost remake” revenue.

          Reply

          • MakeItLegal

            June 17, 2015 at 14:51

            surely MS , should invest in a “master” converter program , where developers pay a small fee , use the program , take said results and do a Q & A on them , boom

            But the investment should come from microsoft side

            On that note , how cool would it be if game universities struck a deal with sony to let students have access to old ps1 games and codes , and allowing the students to do the “remakes” for free essentially plus said students gain valuable experience , and we see our old games get reborn 🙂

          • MakeItLegal

            June 17, 2015 at 14:51

            *THIS….

            Runs….lol….O.o

    • Pieter Kruger

      June 17, 2015 at 12:57

      If you own the disc you put it in and it will download the game to your Xbox One as I understand it. Digitally bought games will automatically appear in your “ready for download” queue.

      Reply

      • Mistake Not...

        June 17, 2015 at 12:59

        Kinda annoying that you have to download the game. I buy physical because I can’t afford digital.

        Reply

      • Corrie

        June 17, 2015 at 13:03

        Ahhh so some form of connection is required, don’t get what the download has that the disc can’t do?

        But I’m guessing it means people can lend disc’s to each other(obliviously disc needs to be in at all times)

        Reply

        • Johann

          June 17, 2015 at 13:39

          As far as I understand, the download is more of a VM that gets loaded into the Emulator. That’s why MS first need the go ahead from the developers of the games before they can add it to the list of games.

          Reply

  2. VampyreSquirrel

    June 17, 2015 at 12:39

    I think we all knew that the PS4 would never get backwards compatibility… there’s just too much money in remasters.

    Reply

    • Corrie

      June 17, 2015 at 12:41

      True, but the truth is sooner or later those remasters are going to dry up and what will Sony have to use as a quick cash grab?

      Reply

      • HairyEwok

        June 17, 2015 at 12:45

        They won’t remaster…. They “backward” compatibility they have is placing old games on the PS Network…. At a premium price.

        Reply

        • Corrie

          June 17, 2015 at 12:50

          Which is what put me off my Vita, Have a physical copy that I already bought yet have to pay a ridiculous price in order to play it on my vita

          Reply

          • WitWolfy

            June 17, 2015 at 14:40

            What game are you talking about? You do know that MANY games are cross buys, right? For example, Limbo, Abe’s New and Tasty and even Octo dad. Just to name a few. So which game are you talking about in specific?

          • Corrie

            June 17, 2015 at 18:05

            First party support and also my library of PSP games like GTA’s etc which I already bought way back but am force to repurchase to replay(my old PSP 1000 was dying), in terms of games you mentioned those are easily cheaper on PC and also the point of the vita being an indie console doesn’t fit it’s purpose,

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 14:38

      Not to mention all the money they sunk into PSNOW too. Even though countries like ours cant support it for obvious reasons.

      Reply

    • Mabenito

      June 17, 2015 at 14:59

      I think it’s because of the cell-processor in the PS3, which had an entirely different hardware architect design compared to PS4. Coding (PS3) games was done to take advantage of the unique cell-processor. But the PS4, XboxOne&360 has architect similar to a PC.

      Reply

      • The King Shopper

        June 17, 2015 at 19:03

        IN PAINS ? ,?ANnxiety?, have SLEEP issues? we got good ?PainsPILLS? n good?BUD n Mary. j ? n the ?Purple/leann? TXT us????) 464-60???. Low key delvry. Real shit. no bs. fgfgfg

        Reply

    • The King Shopper

      June 17, 2015 at 19:02

      IN PAINS ? ,?ANnxiety?, have SLEEP issues? we got good ?PainsPILLS? n good?BUD n Mary. j ? n the ?Purple/leann? TXT us????) 464-60???. Low key delvry. Real shit. no bs.v fghghhhg

      Reply

      • The King Shopper

        June 17, 2015 at 19:03

        IN PAINS ? ,?ANnxiety?, have SLEEP issues? we got good ?PainsPILLS? n good?BUD n Mary. j ? n the ?Purple/leann? TXT us????) 464-60???. Low key delvry. Real shit. no bs.bfbfbfbfh

        Reply

  3. HairyEwok

    June 17, 2015 at 12:45

    They will never go back to backward compatibility if there’s a PS Network that can be used to load up old games for download.

    Reply

    • Drake

      June 18, 2015 at 16:13

      Except that the selection of old games, and even new games, that are available on PSN is tiny. You can never find the games you want.

      Reply

  4. Kromas,powered by windows 10.

    June 17, 2015 at 12:50

    “Backwards compatibility you say?”

    *loads up ps1/xbox game on emulator on PC
    *loads up pretty much anything pc from the last 30 odd years on GoG galaxy
    *loads up everything slightly newer but still old on steam

    Daily troll post done and all productivity gone for the day. 😛

    Reply

    • Corrie

      June 17, 2015 at 12:50

      It’s not trolling, it’s the truth…….

      Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 14:44

      No offence dude… You must be retarded to think that there’s a xbox original emulator out there. Nothing aout there but a few fakes and a one or two out there that never even left ALPHA.

      Reply

      • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

        June 17, 2015 at 15:02

        None taken. I have not emulated anything in many many many years since I prefer legal options but my point still stands as I am sure at the very least you get nes emulator (mame … if that still exists).

        Reply

        • WitWolfy

          June 17, 2015 at 15:04

          Yea no doubt, there are MANY old school emulators out there.. Xbox original just isn’t one of them 🙂

          Reply

          • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

            June 17, 2015 at 15:05

            That being said most old school popular games have a pc version. I just bought the Sonic Collection just for Sonic 2. 😛

    • MakeItLegal

      June 17, 2015 at 14:52

      how much processing power , give or take , before said emulator for 360 ?

      Reply

      • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

        June 17, 2015 at 15:02

        Hell I have no idea and apparently there are no xbox emulators.

        Reply

      • WitWolfy

        June 17, 2015 at 15:06

        OVER 9000!

        Just joking.. depends… I give it another 8 years AT LEAST before one can even try to emulate the Xbox 360’s XENON CPU.

        Reply

      • coip

        June 17, 2015 at 16:25

        If Microsoft can make an Xbox 360 emulator for Xbox One, which they just did, couldn’t they easily bring that to PC too–especially Windows 10 since Xbox One is supposedly going to run Windows 10 soon? Seems like it would be incredibly easy money to bring that Xbox 360 emulator to Windows 10 in an official capacity and put the Xbox 360 games in the Windows 10 Store. That would be a win-win-win: everyone would benefit (Microsoft, developers/publishers, and PC gamers).

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 17, 2015 at 19:13

      Listen to this man!

      Reply

  5. Mistake Not...

    June 17, 2015 at 12:54

    I honestly hope not. I didn’t trade in my PS3 collection when I got a PS4 just so I could regret it later. And, really, even the best last-gen games are sometimes best left as memories. You wouldn’t get the same enjoyment as you did when you first played it.

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      June 17, 2015 at 12:56

      But some games are worth replaying.

      And in all honesty if my 360 bites it, I’d rather get a xbone that can play the old games.

      Reply

      • Mistake Not...

        June 17, 2015 at 12:58

        True. But no PS3 games jump to mind which I’d like to replay that aren’t available on PS4 as a remaster (ugh).

        Reply

        • Lord Chaos

          June 17, 2015 at 12:59

          And therein lies the problem. Too many remasters.
          Made the last two gaming years very boring.

          Reply

          • Mistake Not...

            June 17, 2015 at 13:01

            Yeap. But this year’s E3 was the best in recent memory for me, so 2015-2016 is looking exciting.

          • Lord Chaos

            June 17, 2015 at 13:01

            Very much so. Fallout 4, Doom, ME…. Going to be a very busy next 2 years.

        • coip

          June 17, 2015 at 16:21

          Really? You can’t think of a single game on PS3 that isn’t on PS4 that you may want to play? Not one? I’m not familiar with PS3’s library, but I’m pretty sure it’s nearly identical to Xbox 360’s library, which I never had a chance to play. Now that Xbox 360 games are coming to Xbox One, I can think of dozens of games from the seventh generation that are not on the eight generation that I will buy in a heartbeat.

          Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      June 17, 2015 at 13:00

      Tell that to my 33rd play-through of Mass Effect 1.

      Reply

      • Mistake Not...

        June 17, 2015 at 13:02

        I must have played Mass Effect 2 eight or more times on PC, and then I picked it up on PS3. That’s one exception XD.

        Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 14:46

      My backlog on my PS3 is INSANE!! Not to mention the PS+ games I havent even played it!

      Reply

      • Drake

        June 18, 2015 at 16:17

        Sony missed a PS4 sale last year. My PS3 got SA’d, but I had (and have) a backlog. Woulda got a ps4 if they were backwards compatible instead of replacing the 3.

        Reply

  6. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    June 17, 2015 at 13:21

    Translation: “We are making heaps of money from remasters, why the hell would we make our console backwards compatible? Muhahahaha!!!”

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 14:47

      I blame SE when they re-released that darn Tomb Raider “Remaster” on next gen consoles. They started this whole damn thing!

      Reply

  7. Ghost In The Rift

    June 17, 2015 at 13:37

    Remasters at full price is not gonna help PS4, keen on seeing how the xbox is gonna do from here on, still no 1080p though.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      June 17, 2015 at 13:51

      Gears Collection will be $39 at launch. That’s insane value whereas GoW3 remastered will cost the same or more as the complete Gears collection without any multiplayer goodness.

      Reply

      • K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)

        June 17, 2015 at 15:27

        Microsoft logic: announces backwards compatibility, then announces Gears of War remaster.

        Reply

        • FoxOneZA

          June 17, 2015 at 15:29

          1080p/60fps remastered textures + extra content never seen before.

          Reply

  8. Jonah Cash

    June 17, 2015 at 13:45

    I would love to play Kameo again. My daughter would like it… We will have to wait and see if the developers will allow their 360 games to come to the Xbox One though. And that can be a bit of a tricky decision. Don’t think it is just Sony who is remastering everything that moves, the other developers are getting in on the act as well. So will they allow you to play Sleeping Dogs on your Xbox One if they can rather try and sell the Definitive edition to you? I don’t think they would…

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 14:50

      Nobody wants Sleeping Dogs… I see PSN weekly special is R175 for its definite collection this week. Thats like the second time SE is trying to sell this POS in the last 3 months!

      Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      June 17, 2015 at 15:30

      I’ve still got my Kameo and I’ll definitely be picking up RARE Collection.

      Reply

    • coip

      June 17, 2015 at 16:17

      Why wouldn’t developers want this, though? It costs them nothing in resources (Microsoft did all the lifting) and it opens them up to a brand new market of consumers (e.g. Xbox One owners who didn’t own an Xbox 360 and can now buy those games).

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        June 17, 2015 at 20:23

        Lets hope they see it that way as well. I don’t mind either way to be honest with you. I want to play PS1 games, there aren’t a lot of PS3 games I would replay if it is the same game I have already played. Same goes for 360 games, accept Gears which is coming. I am what is wrong with this industry…. I want the remaster of Darksiders 2, Uncharted and Gears… Have the originals, now I want the shinier ones….

        Reply

        • coip

          June 17, 2015 at 22:25

          I’m most interested in the large collection of XBLA games, and Child of Eden (though I would’ve preferred playing it with Kinect controls, that won’t be possible, they said, which is disappointing).

          Reply

  9. Timmy_The_Good_Troll

    June 17, 2015 at 13:45

    Honestly I dont think the Microsoft backwards compatibility was Huge, I think it was desperate personally. I for one would much rather them concentrate on leveling the graphics playing field with sony and getting some decent exclusives.

    Having said all that the best option is just to stick with the Mater Race

    Reply

    • Timmy_The_Good_Troll

      June 17, 2015 at 13:46

      Master

      Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 15:10

      Funny yet true fact…

      Microsoft used to have the bigger first party studio ratio before they slowly but surely started closing them all down one, for one.

      Reply

  10. RinceTheElfRoot

    June 17, 2015 at 13:47

    Sho

    Reply

  11. Marc O Polo

    June 17, 2015 at 14:12

    I have had my PS4 for almost a year now. Still have my xbox360 and PS3 and all my games, to be honest I’ve probably spent less than 5hrs playing games on them since I got the PS4, really don’t see the need for backwards compatibility.

    Also introducing it so late means that most of the ppl would have sold there xbox360’s and I’m almost certain they sold the games with it so for most ppl its too late

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 14:53

      I dont mean to be a fanboy when I say this.. But maybe the reason MS implemented BC for the XBONE is because they know its gonna be a barren year for them, and needed something to make the attachment ratio higher for its console.

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        June 17, 2015 at 15:59

        Barren?? ROFL! They implemented this because it was the most requested feature fans asked for, simple as that!????

        Reply

      • coip

        June 17, 2015 at 16:15

        Sounds like you need an abacus. The AAA exclusive lineup on Xbox One has been better than on PS4 every year: 2013, 2014, and 2015. If the 7 or so AAA exclusives still coming to Xbox One in the 2nd half of this year is “barren”, what would you call PS4’s count of “zero”?

        Reply

        • WitWolfy

          June 18, 2015 at 12:38

          The only exclusive I know about is TR… What else is releasing this year?

          Reply

          • coip

            June 18, 2015 at 15:21

            1. Rare Replay
            2. Gears of War Ultimate Edition
            3. Fable Legends
            4. Gigantic
            5. Forza Motorsport 6
            6. Halo 5: Guardians
            7. Rise of the Tomb Raider.

          • WitWolfy

            June 18, 2015 at 20:57

            You’re counting remasters too? I see…

          • WitWolfy

            June 18, 2015 at 20:57

            You’re counting remasters too? I see…

          • coip

            June 18, 2015 at 23:00

            Gears of War Ultimate Edition includes new content and new modes of play not found in the original.

    • coip

      June 17, 2015 at 16:13

      Backwards compatibility is a great feature for those who didn’t own the previous generation console. For instance, if I own an Xbox One but never owned an Xbox 360, then suddenly I have access to hundreds of classic 7th-gen games I didn’t have access to before, and at rock-bottom prices. That is pretty sweet.

      What I don’t get is, if Microsoft was able to bring Xbox 360 games to Xbox One via emulation, and if Xbox One is soon to be running Windows 10, why can’t they bring all those Xbox 360 games to the Windows 10 Store? Seems like that would be a win for everyone–them, developers, and gamers. Is something like that possible?

      Reply

  12. WitWolfy

    June 17, 2015 at 14:34

    SONY better make it so that we can play digitally bought PSX and PS 2 games… AND SOON!

    You can’t tell me the PS4 isn’t physically capable of doing this. My freaking Samsung S2 from 3 years ago could run PSX games for Pete’s sake.

    Reply

  13. MakeItLegal

    June 17, 2015 at 14:47

    why doesnt the ps4 allow u to insert said ps3 game into ps4 , then download the ps4 compatible version ? assuming they can make a direct translator from ps3 architecture (cell) to ps4 (pc) in terms of programming

    then once u register the game(ps3 game in ps4 machine) , u cant resell it(the game) ? but have the “new” version on your ps4 ?

    what about just linking the ps3 directly to the ps4 , then u access the ps3 through the ps4 ? on one tv

    cheese , those are off the top of my head , surely , “IF” they wanted to , they would of , but I think Sony are comfortable making people repurchase games

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 15:00

      The funny thing is, they did something similar when the PS4 first released. Where you had to pay like additional R200 to upgrade from the PS3 version to the (downloaded) PS4 version of the game.. Didnt last long, and was only for a limited time with like a hand full of games nobody wanted. Like COD and AC 4… Was a cash grab back then, and still is now.

      Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      June 17, 2015 at 15:04

      Cause then they can’t sell The Last of Us twice to the same customer. 😛

      Reply

  14. Jacqueline

    June 17, 2015 at 15:00

    what about just linking the ps3 directly to the ps4 , then u access the ps3 through the ps4 ? http://bit.ly/1B8U5yi

    Reply

  15. David

    June 17, 2015 at 15:09

    That’s okay – PS4 is moving forward. 🙂

    It’s probably easier for the XBox since the XBox One is closer to the Xbox 360 then a PS4 is to a PS3. 😉

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      June 17, 2015 at 15:19

      Not Really.. Both the XBONE and PS4 more or less the same CPU.. It’s just the RAM thats separating the two at the moment, that and a few other components of course.

      Reply

  16. house_hero

    June 17, 2015 at 15:41

    I was all about backward compatibility when i got the release version of PS3… I played 1 game… and that was it never used the functionality again.

    Reply

  17. chimera_85

    June 17, 2015 at 16:28

    Well with the cell architecture of the PS3’s CPU would it not be difficult or virtually impossible to have backwards compatibility natively on the PS4?

    Reply

  18. Irene E. Zimmerman

    June 17, 2015 at 22:12

    <-+++ My best friend's step-aunt makes $70 hourly on the laptop. She has been out of work for 7 months but last month her pay was $18355 just working on the laptop for a few hours. She actually started four months ago and pretty much immediately began to make more than $542… Every week.

    Reply

  19. PrinceAshitaka

    June 18, 2015 at 01:27

    of course not. You got to Download the old versions if you want to play it. then buy the remaster. It’s how scams work.

    Reply

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