Current-gen PSN titles won't be able to work on the PlayStation 4, but Sony is looking to make them work "in some form."
The PlayStation 4 won't be able to play any of the PlayStation 3's PSN games, Sony has revealed.
This means gamers' current downloaded collections, which may include titles like Journey, The Unfinished Swan, and Wipeout HD, won't be playable on the PlayStation 4.
Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida confirmed the news to Engadget after the PlayStation 4 was officially unveiled last night. It's because the PlayStation 4's new x86 architecture is radically different from the PlayStation 3's Power PC innards, according to Engadget's report.
Yoshida added that Sony was looking to make the current-generation PSN titles playable "in some form" in the future, with Engadget saying the PlayStation 4 will be able to emulate some current PSN titles--but only ones that don't "guzzle the latest console's power in emulation."
During its PlayStation 4 unveiling last night, Sony announced new entries in the Killzone and Infamous franchises, before unveiling new IP in the form of Drive Club and Knack. Media Molecule showed off a new sculpting prototype, Capcom unveiled its new title Deep Down (working title), and Square Enix promised to unveil a new Final Fantasy game at E3.
For more information on the PlayStation 4, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
Martin Gaston has absolutely never at all had the song from Beauty and the Beast sung to him at any point during his life, ever.
I must be weird, because I get a new console for the new games, not to play my old games. I have my PS3 for that. I just find it funny how so many people won't buy a new console because it's not backwards compatible. I guess they are the same people who missed out on the SNES, N64 and GameCube. Poor bastards.
This literally just scrapped my idea of buying a PS4. The selling point was that I could play Dust514 on the better hardware, considering how badly it performs on the PS3.
What about games that aren't even out yet, that rely on online functionality.. like DUST 514? That game is to coincide with EVE, but if it's not even playable, then what's the point?
3 Like The PS3 and Xbox360 may very much be my last consoles I'll ever own. Even if the PS4 and XBOX 720 has crazy awesome graphics, their other features, or lack of, will draw me away.
This a consequence of going with the cell architecture and then going back to traditional architecture. Either way they'd have to include the old hardware, or have the job of doing a port of their entire library.
I imagine we'll see a steady trickle of games throughout the ps4's lifespan. I expect that if we bought it on ps3 that whenever they get around to porting it, that it's automatically available since it's on our psn accounts.
2 Like Guess this means that I get to keep my PS3 for a while longer than I thought. With so mnay backlog awesome titles to complete for the current gen (including some due right before the PS4 release). Looks like SONY is abandoning current gen gamers for next gen's. Way to go. I'll just wait for "system seller" games to come about and hopefully a price cut. I am in no hurry to spend my hard earned cash.
@Insomniak1 While I agree with the anger that can be generated by having to hold on to the old hardware, sometimes to move forward you have to forget the past. What Sony is doing is going to be good for their console, the developers, and more imporantly, the gamers. Writing games for the PS4 will be much easier, and accessible. On top of that, ports will be easier to complete as well.
@Strider8009 I don't think its because of anything business related but more of a switch in the architecture. Its running a totally different system than what any of the previous playstations used....a PC like system. I think they might create an emulator for each game. They might also use the cloud gaming thing....
6 Like I prefer it that way since it should mean a lower starting price. Also, emulation never works as good as dedicated hardware. Since I have no plans to sell my PS3 I would use them both side-by-side.
3 Like @lion2447 No offense, but sometimes emulation works better than dedicated hardware. Like the fact that the PS2 sped load times and smoothed textures of PS1 games.
I wasn't holding my breath on PS3 compatibility, but I was really hoping the PS4 had software emulation for PS1 and PS2 games, so I could at least ditch my PS2. My living room is getting kind of crowded with a PS3, a 360, a Wii, a PS2, and a Japanese PS2.
@AtheistPreacher @lion2447 I know that feel. I got a 360, PS3 and Wii hooked up to one TV. Hooked up my PS2 to one of my monitors.
1 Like i don't believe that Sony is bringing out a brand new state of the art game machine and straight away they are saying that all PS3 games and PSN games that were purchased will not work on the new machine.well in my opinion that it is bad planning and poor marketing that many people might wanna keep playing old games without having to keep the old system,example PS2,many people were keeping there old PS2 to play games that would not work on the PS3.so they are putting us in the same boat as before and the boat might be sinking
@roberttalia Sony cant magically make a game designed around the cell architecture suddenly run on an x86 system. Emulation is an overhead hungry system that is typically highly inefficient. It takes quite a powerful computer to emulate the gamecube and wii using the Dolphin emulator and the PS3 is far far more complex a system and more powerful than either of those. Sony's only choice for backwards compatibility on a wide scale would be to once again include last gen hardware into the next gen like they did with the launch PS3s. Unfortunately that adds a cost to the overhead of the console itself which is thrown into the price of the system. Personally, id rather just let them do what they are saying and attempt to emulate less power hungry games such as indie titles or let developers port them properly and allow for free carryover than to stick a 100$ cell processor into each PS4 just so that I can play my PSN+ copy of bioshock 2 on my PS4. I can better put that 100$ toward something else and just use my PS3 for PS3 games.
@roberttalia It does explain why there havn't been as many PS2 games converted to dowloading as PS1 games on the PSN
1 Like As far as I'm concerned, Sony is dead to me until they get this specific issue resolved.
2 Like Hear Ye Hear Ye
Can we (gamers) stop getting screwed at every turn? please!
Many of us have LOYALLY been lining your pockets for 20 years how about you take of us? WTF
2 Like In a way I don't mind that PS4 is not backwards compatible as long as they still offer to fix, offer tech support and such for the PS3. It would be a shame for your ps3 to die out on you and not be able to fix or replace it. The PS3 is pretty much the gateway for your PS1,PS2,PS3 and PSN games and for SONY to say let it all go is pretty lame. I, like most others have spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars for these games. So it would be as if they just slapped the people in the face that stuck with them since the beginning. Just my opinion.
1 Like It looks to small to me. Probably because it made more for the Asian market then anywhere else. I always wanted the DualShock controller to be a little bigger, heavier and be more like the XBox 360 controller, which is still the best.
2 Like Even though I have a room large enough to have a mountain of twenty consoles in it, isn't it much more convenient to have just one PC? I can play 20yo The Lost Vikings on it just as fine as Crysis 3 on ultra, play on any controller, connect to TV and pretty much anything else. Oh, and it's cheaper (games + peripherals).
I have the luck of still owning a bc PS3 (FFX ftw) and still use it sometimes for the exclusives but since Kojima looks like he's going multiplatform, there really is no reason left to buy non backwards compatible PS4.
I'm all for this. I think the PS4 is a great idea. Do keep in mind there are other console releases this year though. If you're so unhappy with the PS4 lacking backwards compatibility you have other options. If the rumors are true about the Xbox 720, I hope you enjoy your mandatory Kinect and your required internet connection. If I was you, I'd just go with the Xi3 Piston (or it's other variations). Steam will treat you guys right.
1 Like Lots of reasons. No PS3 B/C. Can't play any current PSN games on it. Price is still too high to me. PSN online service and features will probably cost a fee now and be combined with PSPlus. I'm happy with my PS3 at the moment. The PS4 can wait really. Only a couple decent games so far.
1 Like @bokisa303 Same. I have extensive psn/ps1/2/3 game collection and limited tv space. Will leave all new games to my PC.
I have hardly any anyway except a few re-releases. This is why I'm keeping my consoles/games henceforth. there are so many PS2 games i traded that I now want to play but they've hardly brought any out. Wheres Timesplitters 3 or Mercinaries? Actually, I think I still have 'splitters in my PS2 box.
I have faith in you, Sony. I mean if MS can let you run 32s on a 64, I'm sure you can let people play their PS3N games on the PS4. That is... if you don't just throw components with high numbers together and your definition of optimization is "if it works, it good"...
I like you Sony, the PS family hardly disappoints with the games I like to play, but your PR sucks Tanuki balls...
1 Like PS4 is looking better each day! Oh wait, not better. What's the word? Abysmal, that's it.
2 Like Exactly what a lot of crap! Get it sorted out! That is a must for these new consoles.
then no one will trade there ps3 console to buy the ps4 console, if ps4 console is not backlwards compatible with ps3 games lol
@sam628 I will because after Last of Us and beyond two souls I'm done with ps3. Also I want new games not last gen games. Backwards compatiblity means nothing to me. Just speaking for myself.
backwards compatibility means a lot to me as I still keep my PS2 to play my old FFs and I want to play other PS1 games such as Legend of the Dragoon which I can't find in stores. But I don't want to have to keep my PS2 forever...
Mark Cerny says Sony understood shortly after PS3 launch that company needed to make future platform more developer-centric.
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