What if the PlayStation 4 Is Not Backward Compatible?

Push Square: "It’s ironic that Sony has had such a tumultuous time with backward compatibility of late. In the transition from the PSone to the PlayStation 2, the platform holder essentially set the expectation for the feature moving forwards – but it hasn’t always managed to uphold that standard in recent years. Initial models of the PlayStation 3 included support for previous generation titles, before the technology was whipped out in order to cut costs. With the PlayStation 4 looming, what happens if the company’s latest machine isn’t compatible with its current library?"

[Ezz2013]

i don't care about that
i have my ps3 to play ps3 games

so that won't stop me from buying ps4 the day it launch

[Nitrowolf2]

I think what people really want more now though is for their digital library to transfer over. Chances are they will, but if they don't I think we'll have some angry people

[iamnsuperman]

I think they will allow that but I mainly think backward compatibility will be done via Gaikai. Sony knows what games you have downloaded and to an extent the ones you have paid for in retail shops if they came with an online pass thing so a large majority of games could be readily available through Gaikai as Sony will definitly know you already have them. Now the remainder of the PS3 library could be sold to you through a standard subscription service or be only to those who have PSN Plus

The only method this would affect is the ones who didn't connect their PS3/have poor signal which I assume is a relatively small amount

[jujubee88]

Not a deal breaker if there is none.

If the price is around $350, than I will still buy a PS4 (regardless).

[decrypt]

@Ezz2013

So do you also have your PS2 plugged in to play PS2 games?

Will you be having PS2, PS3 & PS4 all plugged in at the same time on the same time just so you can retain BC?

Also what happens when any of them breaks down, you going to constantly be buying old Boxes? Hell the PS2 isnt even in production any more. You gonna pick up any old PS2 laying around, good luck with how long that will last.

BC is a joke on consoles, if BC is what people want then the PC is the ultimate answer.

[Ezz2013]

@decrypt

yes i still have my ps2
i even still have ps1

and still play them

[Arksine]

Some PSN games might be ported over, but I am almost sure that there will be no backward compatibility unless the PS3 hardware is included in the new console. Emulation isn't possible.

The options are either another $599 console or no backward compatibility. Sony is going to go with option number 2, and so will Microsoft.

[gaffyh]

I'm not too bothered as long as they don't release any major exclusives on the PS3 when the PS4 is already out.

[insomnium2]

@decrypt

You don't have older devices plugged in? What are you? Maniac? I have like EVRY single console plugged in at all times. Even my Atari Jaguar in case I want to have some AvP awesomeness.

[zebramocha]

@decrypt you wouldn't have your ps2 plug up but the wires are compatible so it's not that big of a deal.

[MikeMyers]

Are people this flexible when it comes to playing CD's and DVD's and bluray's or do they have a separate device for each of those as well?

If they allow my content I bought off the Playstation store to be carried over then that will be fine. I also think the acquisition of Gaikai will play a key role in the future.

[Sarcasm]

It's not going to be Backwards compatible of the hardware rumors end up being true.

[DOMination-]

Umm.. Digital content will definitely carry over providing you use the same account of course. Sony wouldn't be that stupid.. Not sure why anybody would think it wouldn't!

But they'd probably have to be streamed.. Even psn arcade games? As they are still designed for the cell. It'll suck if you have a large collection of discs though as you'll probably have to buy again... Interesting idea re: online passes though.. That could work.

[Heartnet]

@decrypt
"
Also what happens when any of them breaks down, you going to constantly be buying old Boxes?"

What happens when your one machine that plays all break? ur having to shell out 5 times the price to get it again... also have 3 seperate things is more assurance as if 1 breaks you can still play ps2/ps1/ps3 games so...

[TheOneEyedHound]

You are 100% right, I would also like my psn and trophys to transfer to the PS4.

[sikbeta]

It's not going to have PS3-BC and you gotta deal with it, so I hope it's more affordable than XBX3 whick I'm sure it's going to have X360-BC :P

[GribbleGrunger]

What if the Nextbox isn't backward compatible?

[Amplitude]

Havent even thought about PSN games not being backwards compatible.

Honestly i wouldn't buy a PS4 if the downloaded games weren't backward compatible. i have soooo many downloadable games. That would legit just be a big "f u" from sony in my opinion. I'd switch to PC, that would just be actually ridiculous

[TheGamerDood]

It's not really going to affect me since I'll still have my PS3 for those few games that I still play, but I wasn't really fan of many of the games from this gen so I'm ready to move on to bigger and better.

[sobekflakmonkey]

I'm concerned that a lot of you don't know how BC works...you have to think a lot of these games were designed for the cell, even the downloaded games on psn as of now, it's not up to sony to make those games work on next gen systems, its really up to the developers, quite frankly I don't care, but I would assume that your PSN account would carry over to the PS4, because its a PSN account, it would be cool if it showed you which systems you own (PS3, PSVita, PS4) and tracked your trophies through all systems.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

If discs aren't BC then neither will your digital games be. The problem isn't the drive, it's the PS4's archetecture. I predict nothing will be BC and that makes me very sad. I'll still buy a PS4 either way but I want BC. Honestly I'm surprised how many people don't care.

[t0mmyb0y]

Although slooooow, the Wii U did it good. I don't see why Sony wouldn't do the same.

[1nsomniac]

lol if its not backwards compatible it doesnt matter whether it's digital or retail disks its not going to play them either way. Thats what backwards compatible means.

The way the Cell architecture works, I highly doubt it will be backwards compatible. Then again the fact that it's rumoured that the PS4 will use several separate dual core chips in the it may be possible to replicate. Supposed it'll be down to whether it will be cost effective to do so.

[SolidStoner]

Im sure if you read sony's licence and agreements, you would know alot about now and the future! There might.. and must be hints about this..

[The_Con-Sept]

######################
It won't affect me this time. Although I didn't make the mistake of selling my ps2 to get a ps3 I still see backwards compatibility to be too costly. I'd rather keep my ps3 now because I have a lot more than just games invested in it. It also holds my music and movies. I don't want to copy them to yet another system. That'd be another 17 hours of downtime.

[spacedelete]

If you don't care about backwards compatibility then why comment on a backwards compatibility article ? Are you that brain dead ?

If PS3 is only for PS3 games then explain why theres a PS1 and PS2 download section in the PS Store or the countless HD collections from the PS2.

Theres obviously a market for classic games so just because you want new, shiney and shallow games doesn't mean everyone does.

[InMyOpinion]

"If PS3 is only for PS3 games then explain why theres a PS1 and PS2 download section in the PS Store or the countless HD collections from the PS2."

To make money. It is more profitable for Sony to re-release their games than to add BC.

[Red_Orange_Juice]

so you're allowed to comment if you want something, if I think there's no need for something I'll come and comment

[Heartnet]

Cause simply put... we asked for it lol.

and you comment to bring ur side of the arguement

[sobekflakmonkey]

The comments section of this website is for discussion, meaning he can come in here and say whatever he wants as long as its pertaining to the topic at hand, he's letting people know his stance on it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

[BlueTemplar]

The article is "What if the ps4 isnt backwards compatible?"

People who dont care are just as entitled to their view as you are to yours.

[fullmetal297]

Because PS1 games are not hard to emulate because the hardware is very old and the PS2 games are ported to the PS3.

[LordHiggens]

Speak for yourself I want to trade mine in to pay for this beast...

[Scenarist]

thats that shit companies dont like

[NeXXXuS]

The PS4 is going to be incorporating Blu-Ray as well so there's no doubt that it will be backwards compatible with PS3 games.

@below - then can you explain to me why my PS3 can play PS1 games and not PS2 games?

[TheBrit]

Just because it has blu-ray doesn't have any bearing on backwards compatibility what so ever.

It's the cpu and graphics chips inside of the machine that dictate how they are coded. If you have an intel chip in one machine and an ibm power4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or cell etc in another, they are two different beasts all together and cannot run software compiled on the other chip set without either an emulator built in or extra hardware - both of which come at an additional cost.

[dktxx2]

Are people seriously disagreeing with theBrit? Really?

[Ju]

I'd think a PPC ISA can be emulated fairly quickly on modern day x86 CPUs; those emulations usually run JIT (just in time) compilers and translate the opcode when the binary is loaded, not when code is actually executed (well, kid of - but basically code isn't interpreted any more. This gives you quite some performance head room). A problem is hard realtime and latency in a highly parallel environment; in case of the PS3 if you depenend on timing if for example all 6 SPUs + PPU run highly efficient. This will be tough to emulate. I can't see how a JIT could help here - you'd need a highly parallel machine which can execute (at least) 6 or 7 HW threads in real time. I doubt this is possible with even todays multicores. But, the CPU could incorporate SPUs even if its an x86 core (see toshiba's SPURs engine - this in combination with a JIT might work) and there was talk about a "3rd execution unit" in the PS4. Might as well be a SPU "cluster" of some sort and would classify as "compute engine". I don't think the GPU is too much of a problem. Shader code can be translated, and nobody hits the HW directly these days. As long there is a SW layer in the PS3, this can be made compatible with next gen machines.

If it's financially viable, I can imagine, they'll but some SPU metal on the chip; but beyond that I am sure there will not be any additional HW to emulate the PS3. SPUs might makes sence because they can indeed run physics completely in parallel to CPU and GPU and would not only allow BC but also improve performance on new titles (and secure some investment from the CELL). But beyond that, I can't imagine there will be anything done. This is pure imagination though. If the SPUs can't be made "tiny" and cost efficient this won't happen.

BTW: Pure PS2 emu on the PS3 is also possible as seen with the release of PS2 classics on the PSN.

Well, while it would be nice to run PS3 games, I personally don't really care. I got my PS3 for that. It'll be cheap when the PS4 releases. And I rather want a new machine stretching the boundaries than being held back because of compatibility reasons. It's a console after all, not a PC. Compatibility was never the primary focus with such a machine.

[hellvaguy]

Disagreed with Brit because backward compatibility has little to do with Blu-ray and everything to do with what type of cpu is used. If they go away from the cell like a lot of speculation, its almost guaranteed there's no BC.

[Deadpool616]

@Ju
Your real name wouldn't happen to be Tony Stark, would it? You seem to have some impressive knowledge in tech.

[GuyThatPlaysGames]

It won't stop me but I will be disappointed. But then again it's Sony, so I expect disappointment anyways.

[jessupj]

Then you must expect utter betrayal from ms, if you expect disappointment from sony.

[Firebird360]

@jessupj
Microsoft never dropped backwards compatibility so why would we be utterly disappointed by them keeping a feature?

[a_squirrel]

@above
And yet they charged for online access. You can ignore the RROD, disk scratching and other issues. There's also ads flooding the home screen.

And you seem to have forgotten that Sony only dropped it after at least a year. And that it had bluray, which at the time, was in the thousands. The only issue I have with my ps3 is updates and install times.

[sobekflakmonkey]

Xbox 360 didn't really have Backwards compatibility for ages....and it still doesnt really have it...

[Persistantthug]

But rather, the downloaded games that people bought out of Sony's store.

Sony has to figure out a way to make those games work with the PS4.
I for one will be very angry if JOURNEY doesn't work with my PS4.

Of course, I think this may be part of the reason that Sony bought GAIKAI.

We'll have to wait to see.

[StraightPath]

You dont care but people do. You not going to have all your consoles hooked up stop rubbing sonys ass. How would u feel if they charged u again for ps3 games dubbed classics...like ps2 remakes..sony removed ps2.bc to charge ps2 games again. It always nice to have the option.

Xbox 360 has backwards compatibility on all major xbox games. When 360 came out people were still playing halo 2 mostly on their new 360s.

[Firebird360]

Well said

[a_squirrel]

I'd like it if the PS4 costed $50 more for b/c instead of playing $60/year for online access to ALL my games, ps3 or ps4.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

@a_squirrell

For real. I never thought of that before. Even if they do gaikai for BC they'll be charging for it.

[fermcr]

PlayStation 4 is not going to be Backward Compatible. Sony is going to port PS3 games to PS4 and resell the same games (with a few extras) to the same people that bought the PS3 version of the game. It happened with PS2 games on the PS3 and is going to happen with PS3 games on the PS4.

[Persistantthug]

all PS3s have backwards compatibility with PS1 disks.....yet, they still sell PS1 games in the store. Sony could have removed PS1 B/C long ago, but they didn't.

[vlonjati77]

Ezz2013- Did you read my mind? :) .on the ps2 backward case I had the ps3 that played ps2 games.I cant stand the cables.So in this case I have ps3 for ps3 games and ps4 for ps4 games.I might be sick but like order.even now I built my game/movie room with surround system and lot of other cables and nothing is showing :) I hid everything.Nothing can beat the article that said 'Sony is pumping too many exclusives,they should slow down or they will hurt themselves' hahahah.

[Abdou23]

I don't see it as a problem, i won't throw away my PS3 once i get PS4 you know.

[showtimefolks]

I think ps4 will be BC with ps3 games and not ps2 or ps1.

And I am fine with that. A lot of the great PS2 games have gotten HD collections or HD remakes and others are on DN under playstation classic

BC is not as big of a issue as some people make it out to be, we don't expect nintendo to be BC for N64 games now do we?

I would love to find out the percentage of people who actually play PS1 games on original PS3 which had BC.

Just make sure ps4 can play ps3 games and I am fine with that much BC, I personally don't need ps4 to be BC with ps1-2

[Shotcalm]

agreed

[aquamala]

this is what I don't like about console gaming. if I upgrade my PC, not only can it still play all my old games, they play and look BETTER! because the new rig is more powerful.

console gaming on the other hand, people are HOPING there's backward compatibility, even if PS4 can play PS3 games, they are still going to look like PS3 games, want to see The Last of Us in 1080P? buy it again next gen!

[BlmThug]

While it certainly won't stop me purchasing a PS4 day one, it'll be a nice bonus to have BC for PS1-3

[Aceman18]

won't bother me none the playstation line has the variety i look for in games, and that's all that usually matters to me so i'll still be buying PS4/Orbis even if there's no B/C

[majiebeast]

It would be a welcome addition but it would not make me not buy a ps4 because i keep all my old consoles.

[LOGICWINS]

"What if the PlayStation 4 Is Not Backward Compatible?"

Then the PS4 will sell less initially and people will wait to buy it later. Many people who buy new consoles at launch have the ability to do so because they have credit/money from trading in their old consoles.

[NastyLeftHook0]

People don't by ps4's to play ps3 games.

[LOGICWINS]

I will be. PS3 games will still be on the market for at least half a decade.

[MmaFan-Qc]

What if the PlayStation 4 Is Not Backward Compatible?

im gonna play ps3 games on my ps3.

its THAT simple.

[starchild]

It's actually a big feature for me. I don't want to keep all my old consoles hooked up to my tv, it's too cluttered.

I loved the fact that the PS2 was backwards compatible and I also really appreciate that my 80GB PS3 is backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games.

This is a super important feature to me. I hope Sony can find a way to make the PS4 backwards compatible with PS1, PS2 and PS3 games. Or at the very least, PS3 games.

[Red_Orange_Juice]

I still have plenty of games to play, and I DO NOT want multiple gaming devices under my tv

[Ju]

Agree. At some point you gotta move on. Get a PS3 (if you don't have one) to play those games. It's not becoming obsolete because the PS4 releases. I think it'll have quite some time ahead. Sometimes you can't have everything.

[JoGam]

Dude im sorry but no one I mean NO One will even care except for some hardcore Gamers day one. No one is going to not buy cause its not backwards compatible. No one cared during Xbox 360 and that was the first system to launch this gen.

[LOGICWINS]

Never said that people we're not going to buy it because it doesn't have BC, but they just may not buy it INITIALLY.

[Canary]

That's because the original Xbox had a pitiful library.

http://red-shoulders.blogsp...

Educate yourself on why BC is important before shooting your mouth off next time.

[phantomexe]

Alot of people will be turned off to it if it's not. Its alot bigger then some of you guys think

[hellvaguy]

"No one is going to not buy cause its not backwards compatible. No one cared during Xbox 360"

The 360 was BC for about 95% of the games.

[BlueTemplar]

@Helluvaguy

It was more like 10% at launch, and even now its nowhere near as high as 95% - 50-60% tops.

[Ezz2013]

@LOGIC

you need to keep in mind that while ps4 on the market
ps3 will still get support from 1st/2nd/3rd party dev for atleast 3-4 years

[LOGICWINS]

Yeah, but I don't want the clutter of two consoles in my room. I'd rather have one that plays both PS3 and PS4 games.

[phantomexe]

@ LOGIC I second that

[MysticStrummer]

Thank you, Sweeping Statement Man.

I bought a PS2 and never played my PS1 games again, then I bought a PS3 and never played my PS2 games again. Both were backwards compatible and I still had my old console in both cases, yet I never looked back. PS4 will be no different for me. Looking back on older games in your memory is almost always better than replaying them and realizing they don't look or control as great as you remember. Gaming evolves. Move on.

[TheFirstClassic]

If you actually take the time to look back you might find that the actual gameplay of the last couple gens has something this gen doesn't. Despite the graphics I usually prefer older games to newer ones, I still play a lot of games on emulators, and there are plenty of old classics I'm aiming to play.

What you said is like saying you shouldn't watch old movies because the special effects aren't as good. You'd be missing some real classics.

[Gazondaily]

There are a multitude of games this generation to play and now, even more consoles to play games on. You guys are honestly telling me that you're content with having a 360, PS3, Wii, PS4, Xbox 720 and Wii U stacked up next to your tv?

Fair enough you might not own all of them but of the 720 and PS4 don't have backwards compatibility, I'll be annoyed. What about room for all the games we've had in this incredibly long generation plus those extra we'll buy for the next gen?

You guys are quick to pounce on Logic but the bloke makes sense. Backwards compatibility is an excellent incentive to buy a next gen console because you're essentially getting two consoles in one.

Also, don't forget the possibility of current gen games running better on next gen consoles.

[vlonjati77]

You right man,I had thought same till 5 months ago,cause I built custom gaming/movi room for my self.so i can hook up as many consoles as I want.this is my case though.who has space a little bit of money and knolegde can build it its awesome and comfortable.

[NastyLeftHook0]

@logic, Then people will have a choice to make...

Sell there ps3 and know the consequences of doing so (losing ps3 games)

or...

Keeping there ps3 and being able to play there precious ps3 games also.

[wishingW3L]

I hope it comes with BC so I can just sell my PS3 for money toward the PS4.

[jay2]

It won't be, why else do Sony have Gaigay or however its spelt? to bring full BC without an extra £200 prince tag.

[Qrphe]

I won't care.

[THC CELL]

Gunna keep my ps3 n games

[SkullBlade169]

If it doesn't support BC, then I guess we won't be playing PS3 games on it will we....

[estillz96]

If the ps4 isn't backwards compatible, I'll use this thing called a ps3.

[Belking]

Fanboys will lose their mind because it will be "xbox720 does and ps4 doesn't" and the console wars will continue.

[MysticStrummer]

720 fanboys will lose their minds if PS4 isn't BC, and the reverse is also true. If neither are BC, or both are, relatively few people will care. Either way the console wars will rage on. The pixel counters will go blind.

[KShinigami]

MS hasn't got a lot to lose if it implements BC in the next xbox but sony has because they have invested so much in the PS3 recently. BC will kill the PS3 and sony as a company wouldn't want that. Would you if you were in their position?

[ALLWRONG]

Sony are the only ones that don't do BC. Besides MS already said 360 accounts will continue to be supported for games, achievements or dlc beyond 360. Sony likes to re-sell people games they already own

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

I kept my PS2 for a reason keeping my PS3 as well.

[sdozzo]

What if we stopped posting what if articles...

[Gazondaily]

Then N4G will be taken over by tumbleweed.com

[vlonjati77]

sdozzo-I can only give you an agree :)they wont stop unfortunately.Internet remember?

[sdozzo]

Ah yes. I agree.

[Summons75]

Then they better have the best launch line up ever because I would hold off on buying it at first. Next gen for ps360 is gonna really depend on backwards comparablility, not just physical software but all the digital too. Nintendo has it right with having all the wii physical and digital content backwards compatible. With the huge push that they did with digital content and the arcade libraries they better promise it all bc day one or people both dedicated and the casuals they made a hue push to obtain will not be happy.

[the worst]

i dont care
day one
this will be the first console
ill preorder

[Nelson M]

Who Care's
Its a Playstation

[Conzul]

I want hardware BC so I can have a unified gaming experience. I'm too lazy to deal with multiple consoles on my entertainment centre. I want everything in one place, and I'll pay anything to get it.

Anyone got a light?

[Godmars290]

BC with PS3 and all titles currently on PSN is all that's needed.

Though PS1 compatibility, since its software emulation, should be an easy throw-in but likely just as forgettable.

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

What if hypothetical questions didn't exist?

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

To the disagreers, did I blow your mind?

[Gazondaily]

Mind. Blown.

But wait.....I didn't disagree.....

Body. Splodes

[wishingW3L]

I just want PS2 BC. ;___;

[feels]

Then the PlayStation 4 would not be backwards compatible.

[Riderz1337]

Backwards compatibility is overrated. If you want to play PS3 games get a PS3, if you want to play PS2 games get a PS2 etc...

[DigitalRaptor]

Exactly. It's convenience more than anything.

I still have all my old consoles including Dreamcast, MegaDrive and PS2. Never had to sell any of them to free up space or raise money for a new console, because the games and the consoles that housed them are sentimental to me. I won't ever sell them, and enjoy booting them up once in a while to bring back the memories.

I've done just fine without PS2 backwards compatibility with my PS3. I don't expect that to change for PS4.

[DivineAssault]

i wouldnt care.. Im sure they can be streamed to it

[Ju]

Yes. Streamed! Because.... it's magic :)

[Conzul]

Get ready to pay for a fiber-optic connection then, because anything less and you'll st-st-st-stu-stu-stutter.

[stubbed_out]

Conspiracy - Cut costs my arse, funny how all those old games you used to own are back in the store...to be bought again!

Fact - PS4 will not be backwards compatible, you'll simply have to download them, they're already introducing big titles online so we know it works already.

[Hicken]

Well, now, let's count.

Disgaea
Disgaea 2
Persona 3 FES
GrimGrimoire
Odin Sphere

Five out of about 60 PS2 games. And I own only about 60 out of... thousands? Yeah, on the store, there are 48 PS2 games out of something like 2000.

And 164 out of a thousand or so PS1 games.

I guess if you add in the HD collects, you might get to about 60 games total that you can rebuy for your PS3. Yeah, that's REALLY putting a dent in that PS2 library...

[stubbed_out]

Agreed, didn't literally mean every single game. I'd assume they bring out the most popular games first, over time perhaps they will have thousands of games.

From a money-making perspective can you see why they wouldn't include backwards compatibility?

[creeping judas]

I really don't care, I plan on trading in one of my two PS3's in, and hopefully pay a little less for the new PS4. That way I still have the older PS3 to play my current retinue of games if I chose to.

[kmac2233]

why oh why would they not include backwards compatibility. Every gen there are a handful of games that I will never get rid of and I hate not having back compatibility. I don't want to have a bunch of dead consoles hanging around.

[BrianC6234]

Early on it was easy to include it. The Playstation wasn't that powerful of a console. The PS2 had a small chip in it that made the games run. The PS2 wasn't hard either but the chip was more expensive. Can you imagine what it would cost to make PS3 games run on the PS4? Supposedly the PS4 won't use the Cell processor. Does that mean the PS4 would need it included to run PS3 games?

[get2sammyb]

Yeah there are a lot of reasons why, as discussed in the article. If it was a simple as switching a switch, then the feature would be a no-brainer. But sadly, it's more complicated than that.

[Elda]

The PS3 is supposed to have a 10 yr life cycle,so Sony is probably not going to implement PS3 backwards compatibility in the PS4 especially if it's released this year,they want to keep selling the PS3 while selling the PS4 like they did the PS2 when the PS3 was released,PS3 backwards compatibility with PS2 was short lived because of cost & technical problems.

[Tokyo_reject]

OMG get over it....The N64 wasnt Backwards Compatible with Gamecube lol. The Gamecube was still great!!!

[arronax-1]

riiiight.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

But every Nintendo console since the GameCube has included it. And the handhelds were ALL BC with at least the previous generation. GB color could play GB games, GB Advance could play all GB games, DS could play GBA, 3DS could play DS, etc.

People say BC isn't important but it must be to someone. Sony, MS, and Nintendo seem to put a lot of effort into making sure their systems are. Maybe MS to a lesser extent but at least they went through the motions.

[TheFirstClassic]

It would have been much more difficult to have a system which supported cartridge and disc based format.

[brettyd]

I dont expect it to be...and i couldn't care less.

[BitbyDeath]

If the PS4 is not backwards compatible then i'd imagine PS3 games would not play on it.

/Thread

[BrianC6234]

Sony should forget about this feature. It's nice to have but adds to the cost of each console. What if it's $50 to have that feature in your PS4? Would you rather that $50 goes to backward compatibility or more RAM? That's what Sony has to look at really. It will help more to have lots of RAM.

[americanGTA]

It shouldnt cost that much if they use emulation

[punisher99]

I honestly dont care for BC all that much. If the PS4 doesnt have it. Its not gonna affect my decision at all in buying one. But to be honest, I dont understand why the PS4 wont just simply use software emulation to handle PS3 PS2 and PS1 games. Sony should just hire some software emulation developers specifically for the PS4, that way, they dont have to have any extra hardware in the console driving up the cost of the console. There are plenty of developers out there that specialize in emulation.

[Silly gameAr]

What is it with the Playstation and BC? Does anyone care that the Wii U doesn't have BC? Didn't think so.

[aquamala]

Wii U does have BC

[cleverusername]

Wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't so Sony could release a load of PS3 classic trilogy games! I'm buying it anyway!

[5eriously]

Have Faith. Sony never really dropped us. Look at PS3 there is many old favorite PS/PS2 titles available ported and improved for a better experience. Then I still own a PS2. So I have no fear in getting the PS4 BC or not. Also who needs backwards compatibility if you cannot even get enough free time for all the new titles? Then again SOONER than LATER I will have a PS2, PS3 and PS4 on one desk.

[R_aVe_N]

Why would I play PS3 games on a PS4? The whole point of a new console is to play new and exciting games. I never understood this when the PS3 came out either. I very rarely pick up a PS2 game to replay it because I really have no interest in replaying something I have already beaten.

[jdfoster]

I think it will have some sort of backwards capability... Like with the use of gakai if you have ps+ or something idk

[moodgamer]

PS3 games are meant to be played on a PS3.

[TotalHitman]

Then keep your PS3. I have over 50 PS3 games. There is no way I'll get rid of my PS3.

[hazardman]

Let me think real quick, am I buying a PS4 to play PS3 games or to enjoy the next gen expirience. If BC is so important to some of y'all then keep your PS3. The Gaika service will allow you to play old games, but I don't know if you will have to pay for ps+ to use it( which I'm pretty sure will be the case) either way I believe that the PS4 will be BC. I guess we'll find out soon enough. Its funny how there always an article of specs and launch windows but noone knows if the consoles will be BC..

[TheObserver]

I bought and still have the original 60 GB PS3 Phat that can do BC. The funny thing is people whine and complained about the high price. And when they gutted the extra features out and remove BC from PS3 slims, people whined and complained about it some more. No doubt, PS4 will have to deal with the same whiners all over again. Whines when BC causes extra costs, whines about BC being removed for reduced cost. Even those who never have and never will buy PS products is going to use this excuse as ammo to whine about PS products. What's up with that?

[inFAMOUS_KRATOS]

it won't be that crucial for me, i have ps3 that plays ps1 ps2, but guess what? i never use any of those older games the last i used ps2 game on ps3 was fifa 07.

don;t get me wrong it would be nice to have it but to what extend ?

ps1 ps2 ps3? i think it would be awesome but is going to be little harder then last time...if thers no cell processor.. then....

[InTheLab]

I'm sure it will be BC. Their still releasing huge games on the PS3 and probably will continue to release major PS3 games after the launch of PS4. They did the same with the PS3's launch with GoW 2 dropping a year after the PS3 hit the market...

[jacksheen0000]

If Sony allows PS3 game to be upscaled to 4k or anything above 1080p then yes add ps3 backwards compatible to the PS4.

[RevXM]

Well bc for ps3 could be left out... Id understand that , preferably Id like to have it
But if there isnt full software emulation for the other ps consoles than im goin to be quite let down.
Ps3 is goin to be available for a good few more years and at this time Im not even sure if any one knows exacrly how much it would take to software emulate ps3, but Id say its still quite a way out of reach.

[Enigma_2099]

Then either don't buy it until it has enough games out, or don't sell your PS3.

[Lucreto]

It would be disappointing but I hope they will. If its backwards with just PS3 I will be happy.

[TheRealHeisenberg]

I have a PS3 fat for backward compatibility so I would not care. I'm not buying any of the new consoles initially anyway.

[MeatAbstract]

When I was younger I'd sell my old console and put the cash towards the next one. I know people say "I have this thing to play those games" but I just think there's no excuse now. The next gen shouldn't be that much of a leap anyway and all the games are in HD, so non of this HD collection stuff. So really, let me play my PS3 games on the next console. There is no reason not to have this.

[gtr_loh]

Do not want. There's a reason I have a PS3 after purchasing a PS4. Remember when the 60GB first gen ps3 had BC? As much as we all demanded BC be included in the other literations of the Playstation 3 console, it's safe to say not very many of us will actually make use of it. As much as we love our PS2 games and how much nostalgia it brings to us, you still have the PS2. It could be a hassle to set the thing up but it's still there and BC would only take up more room.

TL;DR: BC is unnecessary because we still have previous gen consoles.

[tubers]

As long as it's priced well for me I wouldn't mind. I can get my fix for new games on other platforms anyway.

[Tres21]

yea these articles r pointless i want Bc, but the same with the apps ppl complain about them sayin they want just a gaming system but havin it all under 1 system is great & if it does hav BC im sure every1 on here whose disagreein with it wouldnt be in a rush 2 hook up there old systems & would just enjoy & even brag on it if it does hav it.

cuz really u hav a machine that plays games u already hav, new games that r comin out, cds, dvds & blu-rays(or imagine if it didnt play dvds just blu-rays & u had 2 hav a seperate player its convenience) has extra apps for netflix & hulu...i mean do u really wanna get up unplug 1 thing turn it on & switch everytime or just hav it right there on 1 system? these things r made for many ppl & usually ppl hav different taste & u cant say well a core gamer just ants this cuz im sure there r alot of core gamers on this site & we all kno not every1 agrees on every aspect of what a system should or shouldnt hav.

[level 360]

Backwards compatibility has already been busted.

It's unanimous decision - 100% not important.

[PHOSADRA]

What if its not backwards compatible?

Well I have a PS3, and Ps2 so... whatever

[landog]

not only do i want backwards compatability, i want it to properly display games in true 1080p, i want it to apply anti aliasing so all my ps3 games are longer covered in jaggies, that alone right there would make me buy the system

we all know the launch games of console are usually trash, so being able to play uncharted 3 and killzone 3 without all the jaggies in real high definition (not ancient 720p) would be reason alone for me to grab one at launch, otherwise, i can wait....unless they have 2-3 absolute must have games at launch, which, no console ever has had for me

i always buy into the hype and buy the systems the day they come out, and have nothing to play on it....its my fault, i know, and this time i'm not doing it!

i spent over $800 on ps3 the day it came out;

$636 for console
$50 for extra controller
$130 for 2 crappy games, well resistance was ok, and the mp was kind of fun....but yeah......then it was a long time until somehing came out that i was blown away by, probably killzone 2

[TheOneEyedHound]

The Ps4 better not launch at 80gb, if planning to be able to transfer your digital games.

[Warhead7]

And thats why I'm keeping my Ps3!

[TruthbeTold]

It will have backwards compatibility. I doubt that it will cost in hardware at all. Provided that the new console is also using BluRay, then this will probably be more of an operating system/inherent coding feature than anything else.

[Daves]

Best to go do some research instead of guessing.

Bugger all to do with BlueRay. Need cell emulation or actual cells. Which after much digging by myself is not happening.

Read something about a potential extra bit of hardware... but not as standard.

[americanGTA]

emulation!!! emulation!!! emulation!!! emulation!!! They should use that to cut cost for BC

[MultiConsoleGamer]

The PlayStation will be compatible with all previous PlayStation consoles.

[Daves]

I clicked agree, meant disagree, no it wont't.

Not a chance in hell.

[Daves]

I really could not care less, I'm almost done with PS3.

Roll on PS4.

For those who are crying about BC... really?!

[Servbot41]

I will not buy a PS4 if it has no backwards compatibility. My PS3 has been broken for a while now, and I have a few games in my backlog I'd like to play. Sony is trying to charge me more to fix it than it would be to buy a new one, I'd rather get a Wii U or (lol) Vita than replace my twice broken PS3. I already dislike Sony because of the many issues I've had with them in the past, but no BC would be the straw that broke the camels back.

[IaussieGamer]

I dont give a shit if the Ps4 is not backwards compatible as I didnt give a shit about the same with the ps3. I have my ps3/2's for that

[PhillipSantanaMusic]

my ps3 works fine and plan on buying the superslim to accompliment my slm. :)

[Rhezin]

BETTER BE BC! Won't buy it if it isn't. I mean come on its f!cking 2013...find a way...

[PurpHerbison]

Honestly, it's not like the PS3 was anything close to the PS2. I could care less if I can't play games from the last awful (current) gen.

[Treian]

because my ps3 will magically vanish when the ps4 is out. No

[Adolph Fitler]

I hope it is b/c, but I understand if Sony don't include something that may potentially be too big a cost that consumers in North America are too big of Jews to pay for, just like with PS3, so Europe & us in Austrlia suffered because yanks were too much of tighta$$es & in turn Sony had to make concessions to our release.

I really hope PS4 is at least fully b/c with PS3 games, but it won't determine my purchase, as I will be getting a PS4 upon launch, no matter if b/c, or not.
The power is more important than b/c, as if we really want to play last gen games, let alone 3 past gens worth, then maybe we don't need a new machine.....just stick with a PS3 if you enjoy them.
But, I find I put them on, as kind of a nostalgia thing, & when I do this with an old PS1 classic, I am usually surprised at how horrible they look now, as at the time, they were the most amazing thing ever. I'm certain PS2 games will look shocking, once I've seen a few PS4 games, & it will become harder & harder to play PS3 games, when you have a PS4 & some games on that, as it will become harder & harder to accept what will become pretty crappy visuals & harder & harder to accept, when the new standard arrives & that is what we expect, & we keep getting & wanting better & better.

[bunfighterii]

Then I guess I'll be keeping my PS3... Really BC is not required. If you have a large PS3 library you want to play on you'll have a PS3 anyway.

[USMC_POLICE]

Then the world will end! Or I'll just hang on to my ps3. Just like I have the PS2 now with HD hookups.

[DangerousDAN]

I doubt it will be backwards compatible. Sony has seen what it can do with selling the old games digitally.
To be honest, and a little selfish, I would hate for my PS3 to be rendered completely obsolete like the Nintendo Wii probably has been (I say probably because I don't know much about the system).

[Unztayble]

I want it to be backwards compatible.

[SKUD]

Agree, I don't mind paying extra for it knowing my old PS library (PS1,2 and 3) will still be playable from one device. Guess no one really cares for classic games. Sony should bring back this tradition.

Its bad enough my original xbox library is useless on X360. Once the next xbox comes out that game library will suffer the same fate also.

[strigoi814]

Then i wont buy a ps4 yet until i finished my ps3 games

[kingPoS]

On one hand backwards compatibility would place a huge burden on Sony. interoperability, logistics, licensing ect.

One the other hand those slot loading PS3's aren't going to be any easier to come by as time goes on.

Looks likes it either a top loader or the possibility of the ps4 looking only forward with help of Gaikai.

[Divine]

There is no need to worry about backwards compatibility . its called next-gen for a reason why cling to the past. ? not saying that ps3 isn't pretty freaking amazing i love my ps3 and thats why i have it. to play ps3 games. no matter wat i will be doing my best to have ps4 at launch. and i expect the price to be around $500 or $600 . i would actually want that(not saying that as if i have a lot of money, because i dont lol) but that way you kno the console will not be a disappointment .and sony always spits out quality i have faith. cant wait for ps4. but yea no need for backwards compatibility

[ajax17]

A "what if" article. I tried so hard to ignore this, but I couldn't.

[Kidmyst]

Would rather Trophies and digital purchases carry over than have backwards compatibility. Unless it can also play PS2 games, then I'd like it. My fat 60 gb PS3 died months ago so I don't have it to up convert PS2 games anymore. But not a big deal.

[hot4play]

If ever the PS4 comes out w/out BC, I hope Sony releases the rumored Cell chip dongle as an optional add-on for those who want to play their old PS3 games. ( I wonder how feasible this is.) I just want an affordable PS4 when it comes out along with a a number of good launch titles.

I'd much rather have a beefed-up PS2 Classics section on PSN for both the PS4 and Vita.

[Quorxo]

The point of a NEW Playstation is to be able to give NEW/BETTER games to players, not give them a new machine to play the same games on.

[cliffyboy21]

im not worried about that, ps4 has more of a chance to be backward compatible rather than the 720 knowing that the have to ditch the dvd drive and swicth to the blu ray cuz they cant come out with better looking games on dvd no more

[isyourhouseonfire]

The PS4 doesn't need to be backward compatible. The only good thing about failing this generation is that now they can completely forget about the PS3 with the PS4's arrival.

[tweet75]

psychologically backwards compatibility helps me want to buy a system. The thought of my old system breaking down and not being produced anyomore its a good peace of mind I can play its games on the new console. However it is a bonus not a necessity. But it would be awesome for ps4 to be backward compatible ps1-3

[Bladesfist]

Meanwhile I am playing through Kotor and Splinter Cell 1 on my PC. I believe that backwards compatibility is very important. I cant imagine having to keep my old PC whenever I upgrade, people would say that is ridiculous.

[Mr_Luke]

Well, to be honest i'd like BC since i like the idea of playing my old games, if i want to. But, if the console is around €300 i would get it anyway, maybe keeping my PS3. But if the amount of money grows, like €400+... i want all the possible chips, extras, features and so on, BC included =P

[hazelamy]

the way sony see BC right now, if they push that through to the PS4, the software will be compatible, but only if you rebuy it off the store.

they found out they can get away with forcing people to rebuy games to be able to play them on ps3, even though the disc versions they may already own would work fine.
so they'll follow the same pattern next gen.

i don't think they'll get away with making people rebuy downloadable games, unless of course they see nintendo get away with it on the wii u.

[nilamo]

I don't know how many HDMI ports you guys have but I sure as hell don't have any more left to keep all my HD consoles and DVR connected. So backwards compatibility is ESSENTIAL for me, especially with the insane backlog I have.

[saiga0312]

The recent rumors about ps4 specs suggest that aside from the main cpu and gpu it'll include a "gpu-like compute module". Why? Aren't the cpu&gpu next-gen ready by themselves? Aren't they making a cost-efficient system to keep the retail price down? So the logical answer is that chip (probably a modified CELl) will enable a 100% bc and provide some computational assistance when not playing a ps3 game.

[Adityac]

Well then it's peak for you init

[EZMickey]

I'm sorry, the Backwards Compatibility standard was set, maintained and is still RULED by Nintendo. Not a single other manufacturer has bested them in this way. Sony has only ever done it once with PS X to PS2. Not even the Vita is BC with UMDs, you can only download PSP titles. No one has done BC better than Nintendo. No one.

[one2thr]

Supernintendo wasnt backwards compatible with nintendo, gamecude wasnt backwards compatible with N64, and only the gameboy to DS had the strongest and true sense of Backwards Compatibility of any nintendo console...

And if your speaking of manufacturer, as in "manufacturer" then PC's of any form, destroys any competition in the B.C. department, and this is coming from a PS3,PC,Vita gamer...

Not saying, i disagree with you

[spoonard]

No PS3 backwards compatibility is ok with me. It's not like my PS3 is going to stop working when the PS4 comes out. It's likely the PS4 will be hooked up to the 24" PlayStation 3D Display my PS3 is currently hooked up to anyway so it'll be right there.

[Adolph Fitler]

@Skud & others that would like to be able to play PS1,2 & 3 games on PS4.
The most realistic option is PS1 b/c only, just like PS3 only does PS1 b/c, because it is a cheap viable option, because the PS1 had less proprietry parts. The PS2 has the Emotion engine & games HAD to be built from the ground up to run on that, so PS4 would need an Emotion chip to be completely b/c with ALL PS2 games. Then we have PS3, which was built with the Cell chip, & this means, just like PS2's Emotion Engine chip, it is a specially designed & produced part for PS3 & the running of it's games......So, this means for PS4 to be completely b/c, it would need a Cell & Emotion engine as well as whatever new cpu & gpu it will be fitted with. This is just not realistic or viable for too many reasons, but the main & only one that stands in it's way is MONETRY. For Sony to include all this, as well as all the stuff we expect from next gen machines would mean that production costs would be too high, & in turn retail prices on the machine would kill sales, as most people seem to have this ridiculous cut off point on how much they'll pay for new consoles. I mean, North Americans will happily pay $399 for an Xbox360, that requires an extra $100 wifi attachement, yearly subscription fee to play games online, etc, etc.....but paying $499 (just $100 more), is all of a sudden jus6t too much.
So, I would love for PS4 to either be run by a majorly upgraded Cell chip (apparently you can stack them together, thus essentially having 4,5,6 or so chips working together) or if not, have a pretty basic version of a Cell chip that allows ONLY for PS3 gameplaying.
But, I understand if & why it may be a thing of the past to include this type of thing anymore. I mean, Sony were the pioneers of bringing b/c machines into this business with PS2 & initial U.S. & Japanese PS3's, but basically consumers gave Sony the 1 finger salute for including too much with PS3.....so Sony took away the oldest, most useless features, & lets face it, once you get a good collection of PS3 games up, your PS2 collection is ignored completely. Same with PS4, once you have a decent array of PS4 games, you just won't have the time or initiative to play older games anymore.
So, while it would be a nice bulletpoint, really it is not a neccessary feature of what I want from a next gen machine, I mean that is why I'm calling it a NEXT GEN machine.

[madjedi]

And how many people with fat 60 gig ps3's still use the backwards compatibility feature, i played with it a couple of times but they typically looked like ass on my tv.

Bc will be important for the first 6 months - 1 yr, after that no one really cares about it, why because you have a steady flow of new games releasing.

I like how many people are commenting on the article, half of them are probably not even going to get a ps4 at launch or shortly after.

I'll grant you 2014's lineup is unknown, but do you see any signs of the games slowing down anytime soon, i have games from 2011 i still need to play.

You hook up 3 or 4 devices already, rotating 1 more in occasionally is really going to kill you, get real. Why the hell do people act like ps3's are going to magically disappear when the ps4 launches.

Very simple solution to the bc dilemma keep your ps3, especially since sony will likely just use the same user accounts for the ps4.

Your buying a next gen console for next gen games, not for a previous gen's games otherwise your just stupidly overspending.

[iQuasar]

This article makes it sound like backwards compatibility is all but out the door.

If one thinks logically about this scenario, the best option (for Sony) is to use Gaikai to stream the PS3 library to PSN+ users (to cut operation costs). For verification of ownership, Sony could easily implement the PS3's disc security measures to read already owned games and allow access to the stream.

It is pretty simple to brainstorm the preliminaries, but I am sure the logistics are a nightmare to implement. That takes smarter folks than I.

[dcbronco]

I'm not sure streaming games is the best route unless they plan to charge for it. It would be another added cost for Sony given that they have trained their fans to believe expensive things should be free. It would be best for them to shrink the CPU/GPU as many die sizes as possible and combine them if possible. That way they can add that cost to the price of the machine and it's done. They don't need another constant bill.

[NeoTribe]

Could care less. Trading it all in for ps4 when its out anyway.

[jaundice]

I give Sony three more years before they're out of the console market and out of money. The Vita isn't going anywhere fast, despite some popularity in Japan, where the PSP still dominates, and the PS4 - if there is one, will yet again be another overpriced console marketed as a cheap BluRay player. I've asked tons of people what they do with their PS3, and the common response is "Netflix and BluRays." Sony isn't going to last long, Nintendo will survive on handhelds alone, and sadly, Microsoft will be the gaming giant. It's strange how video games started off in America, got dominated by Japan, and now America is about to dominate yet again. "History repeats itself, herp derp" -Some Greek guy.

[LordHiggens]

Reading through these comments I'm surprised actually by the number of people who think that backwards comp is not a big issue. In fact most people on this thread that I've read have no problem disconnecting their ps4s and re-connecting their ps3s whenever they would want to play a ps3 game. Now to each their own folks but I need your input, why is that? Why would you not want an all in one system? I got numerous disagrees in my first comment on the first page which prompted me to ask this question. Why can you simply just take it or leave it?

[MultiConsoleGamer]

The next PlayStation is backwards compatible with all previous playstation consoles.

[Wizziokid]

What if the PlayStation 4 Is Not Backward Compatible?
I'll plug my PS3 in?

[strickers]

I couldn't care less. Played 1 or 2 ps2 on my ps3 for 5 min.
I'll still have a ps3 in the house.
PSN games may be possible as they are built on Sony Pyre(??) Engine ( on something like that) and its a free multi platform engine that Sony provided

[Insane087]

if they've given it any thought there will be at least 2 options at launch with/without b/c but theres no know what the price difference would be...

[jjb1981]

Ill wait about a year and spend time with the ps3 in its last days...

[Dfooster]

I couldn't care less about backwards compatability, ill have played all this gens games I want to play before buying a next gen machine anyway.

[Tzuno]

Well... another white ball to Microsoft then.

[VR-4nic]

Who care if Orbis\PS4 is backwards compatible I already have a PS3 why would I want another one. Besides I buy a nex gen system to play nex gen games.

[ginsunuva]

It won't have native BC, but cloud to replace it.

They'd have to pay a sh1t ton of royalties to nvidia for each game due to the AMD cards next gen (like MS had to pay Nvidia for the 360 bc and lost tons of money)

[Lvl_up_gamer]

Lmfao what do you mean "what if". The ps4 will NOT be backwards compatible. Gaikai is sony's answer to bc on the ps4.....however be expected to have to either buy the games again on Gaikai or pay an online subscription to play them.