PlayStation 5 News: Possible backwards compatibility with PS4, PS3, PS2 and PSX systems hinted by Sony filing a patent about a method for more accurate backwards compatibility – Could the PS5 be the ultimate console that replaces almost every other home console out there?
PlayStation 5 news is quite scarce and the rumours that have surfaced didn’t shed much light on Sony’s plans for this hypothetical upcoming home console. However, something substantial about a potential PS5 has now surfaced and that is possible backwards compatibility with all previous PlayStation models!
What do we know?
From what could be discerned by flicking through various websites, the news about the PS5 being potentially backwards compatible with previous PlayStation models comes from an article on a Japanese website (Hokanko-alt) who reported about Sony registering a patent having to do with backwards compatibility. Apparently, this patent discuses a more accurate method for achieving backwards compatibility by deceiving software written for older systems that it’s running on the original CPU. According to Sony’s patent, this method can eliminate synchronisation errors which may lead to data being written over prematurely and other side effects while emulating an older system on newer hardware. Other than this, it’s also been revealed that the PlayStation 5 could have helper CPUs like the PS2’s Emotion Engine as they might be too difficult to emulate through software.
When looking at the above information, it seems that Sony is patenting common emulation techniques but some individuals online have pointed out that the current description of the patent is somewhat vague. As a result, the patent in question could be referring to some type of hardware-assisted emulation, a more accurate way of switching between multiple CPUs of different architecture and/or more accurate CPU clock governing to provide the most accurate emulation experience possible. On the other hand, Ars Technica says that the PlayStation 5 might be a PS4 Pro-esque update and the patent might not be referring to backwards compatibility with PS1-PS3 consoles.
What would this mean for the normal user?
If the PS5 were to have backwards compatibility with all previous PlayStation models, it would be quite huge for many console gamers. This is because:
- With one console, you’d be able to play through the library of a 5 different home consoles which would let you play thousands of games without having to switch consoles
- To complement the PS5’s hypothetical backwards compatibility features, the PlayStation Store could get many more older games added to it which would make acquiring older console games much less of a pain especially if they’re priced decently
- Such a PS5 console could have a great deal of hacking potential as the PS3/PS2 emulation software could be more prone to hacking than the native software similar to the PSP emulator on the PSVita
- Technology using Artificial Intelligence to upscale lower resolution images to a higher resolution is currently being developed which means that the PS5 could potentially have upscaling capabilities that make older games look better!
- If the PS5 gets native hacks, more emulators could be installed on it which would allow you to emulate almost every console released before it with the exception of 8th generation consoles.
Conclusion
As usual, such rumours should be taken with a grain of salt since Sony hasn’t mentioned anything about the backwards compatibility features potentially being hinted by the patent application they filed.
However, Sony does seem to be taking interesting in retro gaming with their PlayStation Classic micro-console (which isn’t all too good) and Digital Foundry writer John Linneman has stated on Twitter that there’s “zero question” about the PlayStation 5 being backwards compatible with the PlayStation 4 which seems that at least some of what the internet is concluding about the patent may be true.
The point is, what would be the price of that? And I´m realy talking about money, if isn’t like the case of early days of ps3 that it was to expensive due the fact of “hardware emulation”, it would be great.
If the PS5 is comparable to contemporary gaming PCs in terms of power yet has a similar enough architecture to the PS4 then PS3 emulation through software would definitely be achievable and PS4 games should run semi-natively. That just leaves PS1 and PS2 which have been trivial to emulate in software for a while.
Keyword here would be compatibility. PS2 classics on PS3 or PS4 have different compatibility lists (not 100% on either), same for OPL on PS2 (network, usb), same for discs on PS2, same for PCSX2 emulator.
I’d be quite interested on a console that could have 100% compatibility but that’s too much to dream of, they’d most likely only care about backwards compat with a few games.
Well, RPCS3 has made a lot of progress.
Indeed, I tried it out with the new psxitarch v2 linux distro on my PS4 last night and some games ran at almost half speed – my desktop runs them a lot better but it was also a lot more expensive.
If they go with the rumoured cpus emulation will be very achievable considering the devs have low level access. We can already emulate PS3 in pc using direct x with software from a small team working in their spare tjme, ps5 won’t have a problem with Sony’s resources.
And you get to keep in mind that sony has the actual documentation on how the hardware works. While emulator developers have to test and find out on their own how the PS3 functions.
Maybe…but I don’t think ps4 games would work…ps4 is still in it’s times…
Why wouldn’t PS4 games work if it’s likely a similar architecture?
Because SONY still wants to sell PS4. Why would you buy PS4 if you could play PS4 games on much more advance console?
Either if you want a game console but don’t have the budget for a PS5, waiting for the kinks to be worked out in PS5, etc.
It’s also rather shortsighted to have the PS5 not play PS4 games just because they want people to buy PS4’s. Especially since Sony isn’t exactly new to BC consoles (PS4 being an exception).
They don’t make much of anything from hardware, it’s the software fees and ps plus that being in money.
PS1 was still selling when PS2 came out, PS2 was still selling when PS3 came out…you’re still buying their hardware to play their games on…i’m sure once PS5 comes out and people are still buying PS4 games, Sony will be happy because they’re making their money on the games more than consoles
Both are x86 processors, and as such PS4 BC would be trivial.
The fact the PS4 will be cheaper means it will still sell, and the only reason the PS3 saw the removal of the BC hardware is because at the time the concept of a “premium” unit (which is what I would see this being sold as) would have been more than scoffed at (the announcement of the PS4 pro was at least scoffed at because consumers were a little more open to the idea thanks to 4k).
As such, when the PS2 was released, it sported BC. The PS3 sported PS1 BC as well. The PS4 is the first console they have released without native BC capabilities, relying on select software on the store.
It makes sense because the PS4 has had strong sales that they would want a stronger initiative to encourage an upgrade from current gen, especially if they end up asking $100 more.
If you can’t ever get a hacked PS4 to emulate PS1/2/3 games (that PS3 sadly hasn’t seen any love despite there being proof a while back when PS4 linux was the in thing that it is capable of such), would you rather hang on to your PS4 or trade it towards the PS5 which assuming this is indeed their plan, is genuinely backwards compatible with every iteration before it without hacking it?
Sony is greedy, but not stupid.
You mean they don’t want to resell us games we already own? Hahaha
You sure did hype up what it could potentially not be.
Patents don’t mean anything. PS5 is going to be another X86 PC with some DRM on top. It’s not going to be able to emulate a PS3, but it should be able to run PS4 games natively and might be able to emulate PS2/PSP well (of course it will emu PS1).
yea, remember when everyone freaked out over a “PSVtia 3000” when they filed a patent for a devkit ?
What makes more sense is that this is a patent for the BC ability of the computers that will run games in the backend for PS Now. Sony will bill BC just like before.
This!
There’s “Zero Question” about the PS5 having PS4 Backwards Compatibility because it’s just going to be another AMD APU in a KnightRider-esque box. It doesn’t take DF to conjure that news up.
If the hypotethically possible PS5 console comes to life and is backwards compatible by hardware means, that would make it highly overpriced to the end user. Because all that technology doesn’t come for free.
And taking into account the always overpriced products from that lame brand owner, well, things don’t look so good.
Wait for more of the same games with “improved” graphics, maybe with a 16K version. LOL
You’re attributing “game games with improved graphics” and “overpriced products” to Sony what could apply to Microsoft and Nintendo as well. Why single Sony out?
Look at how they handled BC with the PS4. It’s not an unfair statement to say they’ve been anti-consumer with how they’ve handled BC when compared to Xbox.
But can it play Crysis?
With Sony censoring games, it will not be worth buying. Just watch as the so called “emulation” will be streaming service.
Forget backwards compatiblility, Don’t u know how bad a** the next gen consoles games are going to look on a 4-8K tv. Imagine Doa’s *** dudes!
You’re all wrong, it’s not about emulator, it’s about virtual machine (VM) for their next powerful DRM, just like VMProtect and Denuvo.
People are insane if they think backwards compatibility will be a thing next gen. MAYBE Sony will let you buy back your games digitally and run them on a proprietary emulator, but that’s the best case scenario. See: Nintendo. The only reason Xbone has true BC is because they’re getting destroyed sales-wise.
BC on the PS5 better be on par with the 4k enhanced BC that the xbox already does. None of this half *** emulation like they did with the PS3 and PS1 Mini. Real emulation that takes advantage of the power of the PS5 and makes the games look even better like xbox did with OG Xbox games on the X1.
as long as it’ll play Switch games, i’m sold!
Patents are always “kind of vague”, especially patent applications. Also according to japanese patent laws a patent application as described above wouldn’t be granted because it would be considered obvious.
We all know how Sony works, we’re all here, quite aware about its greed.
Having a possible retrocompatibility with every game ever done is definitely possible but quite unlikely to happen.
Everyone here remembers how Sony made us pay our PS2 game in order to have them compatible with the PS3 until some hacker found out, it was just a “slightly” modified ISO and everybody could replay their game.
They lurk money, we’ll get new minis then several years later someone will pop the FW wide open and allow us to play with our discs (PS2/3/4), until then we’ll have some poor “remaster” accessible via ca$h.
My bet. Still I hope I’m wrong.
Hear me out: The PS5 will use 7 Emotion Engines emulating the SPEs of the PS3. This way, it’s 7 PS2s emulating a PS3, which is much easier than emulating a PS2 on a single PS3.
Sorry What About , Hatsune Miku Project F ,F2nd . Those games depends of external music content. u know . Add an mp3 to your Muisc library like we do on PS3 . Hope that they think about this on PS5
*** the hacking thing about ps3/ps2 emulation exploit and other.
There is no one to release newest exploit for ps4 than 5.05 so *** it soooooo much.
*** is everywhere on the scene, money rules and nothing else.