The joy among Sony fans was huge when the company announced PlayStation 5 backward compatibility with previous consoles. Now a new patent has emerged that will put a huge damper on this. Are PlayStation classics only available by subscription?
Current PS4 games such as The Last of Us 2 or the Final Fantasy 7 remake will also be playable on the next-gen PlayStation 5 console, but what about PSX, PS2, and PS3? Probably not as good as fans had hoped. Is PlayStation 5's backward compatibility only available with a subscription?
PlayStation 5 Backward Compatibility Only Via PS Now?
This would be a bitter disappointment for Sony fans. PS5 backward compatibility, the ability to play older generation games on the next-gen console, was the hottest feature of the PS5 announcement.Yes, PlayStation 4 games can be played without any problems. But what about PSX, PS2, and PS3? Probably not quite as rosy as a newly filed patent might have revealed. According to the patent, the PS5 is supposed to offer a kind of emulator that makes older games available via a cloud gaming library. So are the classics only available via Sony's own streaming service PS Now? Up until now, it was only used to play PS3 games. That could change with PlayStation 5.
SIEnoPS5?Te Xu Qing Bao womemoshimasu. PS1/PS2/PS3, Yang "naShi Dai nogemuJi niwataruDa Liang nogemutaitoruga, kuraudogeminguraiburariwoJie shiteXu Ji sareLi Yong Ke Neng . koreranogemuha, sorezorenogemuJi niGuan Lian shitaopereteingushisutemuwoMo Fang shitaJia Xiang mashinnoShang deShi Xing Ke Neng . pic.twitter.com/TsWV859OLd
— renka (@Renka_schedule) July 4, 2020
Translated, the patent states that a large number of games for PS1, PS2 and PS3 can be used via the cloud gaming library. These games can be run on a virtual game console.
It seems that the classic games cannot be bought directly, but can only be streamed and used with a subscription. However, it remains to be seen whether the patent will actually be used on the PlayStation 5. A PlayStation Now subscription currently costs around 60 Euros per year.
The next-generation console is scheduled for release at the end of 2020. We have already listed all confirmed PS5 games and introduced the console.
You can find more about gaming and esports on EarlyGame. Find out why the PS5 is so big or take a look at how Gran Turismo 7 will use the next-gen console.
