How Will PS5 Backwards Compatibility Affect Cross-Gen Games & Remasters?

The PS5 backwards compatibility with PS4 games could completely change how cross-generation releases like Death Stranding will work. It could also have a big impact on how developers remaster older games.

[sssb]

one of reason make me buy PS5 or PS next gen BC, including price ofc.

[ziggurcat]

What I think might happen is instead of releasing a remaster, they'll just release a patch with the enhancements (since that's all it is between the base PS4 and the Pro right now). That'd be the friendliest thing to do.

[anonymousfan]

That would be a very nice thing to do... I am somewhat skeptical that they would do that for free but a few devs did that already with PS4 pro / Xbox One X even years after release so maybe :) (I'm thinking of Witcher 3 and Shadow of Mordor for example).

[xander70769]

One thing I like about remasters is that they usually include any and all DLC released for the game. It’s nice to buy a physical disc that has all patches and all content on it, like the good old days.

[paintedgamer1984]

I miss the good ole days lol. But its not really worth the trade off. F going back to dial up, dumb flip phones, no wifi, 480p... gross

[Rude-ro]

Most of their ps4 engines were designed to improve.
Gtsport was built to support all the way to 8k..

How many or what games will remain to be seen... and I am talking ps4 games.. but I think we will be impressed with the games that were designed as such.

[Ju]

That would be great. Also, can I still play both? Given I use the PSN version on the PS4 and PS5? And can i transfer/copy game saves?

[Tross]

In terms of requiring remasters as a means of accessing a certain game, I think that may be less necessary, which for me would be a good thing. Remasters and cross-gen titles will still likely be a thing. The real benefit of BC though will just be a convenient and more affordable way for publishers to have their games on PS5 rather than having to fork out for an enhanced port. Remasters and cross-gen titles will simply be a luxury some games are afforded for that much greater performance, but they won't be the only means through which games can be accessed on Sony's new system. Bonus points if the PlayStation Store on PS5 has a section for PS4 titles.

[PhoenixUp]

It’s been almost 10 years since Sony dropped backwards compatibility from their consoles, which is coincidentally around the same time remasters started to take off.

Games will still be rereleased no question about that, but the frequency may go down a bit

[Omnislashver36]

I'm thinking more games will become cross-gen.

Of course, this means the possibility of FFVIIR having Ray-Tracing and some kind of checkerboarded 4K60 and that's insane.

I saw how CryEngine could do 4K60 w/RT on a GPU agnostic to RT. Hopefully Unreal Engine and whatever RT solution PS5/Navi has can catch up. I'm hoping the game gets regular updates as this becomes more optimized.

As for remasters, I'm actually thinking we'll just see more PS3 versions get upgraded(better texture packs and resolution). As for PS4 games what do they need remasters for? The system can already play them and if they need texture pack updates sell them for $10 on the PS store instead of a $60 remaster.

[DaDrunkenJester]

Is this only going to be for the launch versions like for PS3? I was really bummed when my launch PS3 YLOD and I had to get a slim with no BC.

[Omnislashver36]

Yeah, but PS3 broke compatibility because they had to keep PS2 chips on board.

PS5 should have BC with PS4 regardless because they don't need additional chips. The PS5 chip is the same architecture as the PS4 chip, so they don't need a separate PS4 chip.

[DaDrunkenJester]

True. So it shouldnt be an issue, thanks.

[diesoft]

The same way it does now? Either make it BC or don't make it BC and have a remaster. Rarely both but it tends to be an either/or situation

[Hardiman]

I think remasters will become less frequent but remakes will still have a place. We know the PS5 will run PS4 games with better resolutions, better FPS and load faster but it would be cool if they got like a fidelity bump or something along those lines!

Either way I'm fu*king pumped to see what devs, especially Sony's World Wide Studios do with game worlds, AI, VR and 3D audio!

[capjacksparrow]

They should still continue to remake older games if there is a demand, but there shouldn't be much reason for a remaster if you can just pop in your old PS4 game. I'm sure they won't age horrendously over a gen.

[Kubark]

"Likewise, unless a developer wants to remaster a game with functionality that is simply not possible on the PS4 version, we’ll probably see updates to games to enhance them on PS5 as opposed to full re-releases on the new console."

That's what I'm hoping for with TLOU 2 and Death Stranding. I bought the original TLOU twice, happy to do that for a great game, but one game that runs on two systems is my hope.

[Imortus_san]

After Sony went the stupidity route with the Pro not enhancing all backwards PS4 titles, until the Boost Mode came, and still is not proper support unless a Pro patch, let hope they are smarter this time around and make the PS5 enhance all PS4 games without any patchs necessary.

[Hedstrom]

They could still release remasters with the option to buy the upgrade if you allready own the base game. Kinda like a dlc.

[Lexreborn2]

I just need them to have REAL BC out the gate. Not some flip a switch license crap like the Vita and Xbox one had, let me start that ish and the hardware says it recognizes my ENTIRE catalog of PS4 games and the digital purchase I made transition.

I hate the fact I have so many PS3 and PS1 classics that are essentially gone 2 gems on. It didn’t bother me at the start of PS4 gen but as time went on it steadily irked me on how many re-makes/re-releases dropped that I paid for on multiple consoles.

[REDGUM]

Has Backwards Compatibility actually been confirmed yet?
I ask this as I read the article that Sony (Mark Cerney i believe, i'm probably wrong though) said and the question or more so the answer around BC seemed a little light on with the info. I say this because, if I, as a Sony representative , we're going to release information about it wouldn't it make sense to scream it from the top of their lungs as ps4 did'nt have it at all and only released a payable video game library of older games instead ( not complaining just stating a fact) and that many gamers have been wanting this function for years. Even ps3 lost the BC function after the 60gb machine was replaced.

Maybe I miss read that part in the article but it sounded like a "yeah, we are adding that to the ps5,... next question please. As opposed to a affirmative and give plenty of details on it!