It’s Time Sony Stops the Confusion Over PS5 Backward Compatibility

• Used physical PS4 games will be eligible for free PS5 upgrades, Sony has confirmed.
• A new report suggests Sony remains reluctant to discuss backward compatibility beyond PS4 titles.
• It’s time for Sony to clarify PS1, PS2, PS3 backward compatibility once and for all.

There’s good news for would-be PS5 owners. Free PS5 upgrades for games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Marvel’s Avengers will also extend to second-hand physical copies of PS4 games.

Used PS4 Games Eligible For PS5 Upgrades

In a report published by Japanese gaming outlet GameSpark , a Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan spokesperson clarified that the upgrade path would function in much the same way as the PS3 to PS4 transition. Thanks to BlackKite on Twitter  for the translation.

Just like PS4 era, if you have PS4 discs that were bought used, it will be supported.

It’s unclear how the process will work in practice, but Sony has promised more details in the future. We imagine PS4 discs with act as a verification key of sorts.

Despite these assurances, the article raises yet more questions about the backward compatibility capabilities of the PS5.

Backward Compatibility Questions Remain

As it stands, Sony has confirmed compatibility with the ‘overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles.’ In a PlayStation Blog post published following Mark Cerny’s PS5 technical deep dive in March explains :

In his presentation, Mark Cerny provided a snapshot into the Top 100 most-played PS4 titles, demonstrating how well our backward compatibility efforts are going. We have already tested hundreds of titles and are preparing to test thousands more as we move toward launch. We will provide updates on backward compatibility, along with much more PS5 news, in the months ahead.

The waters remain murky when it comes to the gaming giant’s previous consoles. There’s neither been a resounding no, nor even a hint of any form of compatibility with PS1, PS2, and PS3 games. It seems unlikely the PS5 will support older PlayStation titles , but Sony has yet to offer a definitive answer, which naturally leads to speculation among PS5 fans.

The GameSpark report further confuses the matter. When quizzed about backward compatibility, notably for older consoles, the SIE Japan representative explained ;

We’re focusing on PS4 compatibility so that users can transfer their PS4 library to the new console. There is nothing we can say about backward compatibility with original PS1, PS2, and PS3 games.

It’s unclear whether the response should be interpreted as official confirmation that the PS5 won’t support backward compatibility beyond PS4. Or, conversely, a call for further patience ahead of an official announcement.

As we slowly trudge towards the launch of the PS5, it’s time Sony clarified PS1, PS2, and PS3 backward compatibility once and for all.

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