PS3 Games on PS5? Sony Reportedly Exploring Backwards Compatibility

If players wish to play PlayStation 3 games now, they need to do so through the corresponding console, an emulator, or by subscribing to the PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe service. To enable players to enjoy older games on the PlayStation 5, Sony plans to develop backward compatibility, allowing PlayStation 3 games to run natively on the PlayStation 5.

According to Notebookcheck, industry insiders have recently disclosed that Sony intends to select certain PlayStation 3 games to make them compatible with the PlayStation 5, similar to Microsoft’s “backward compatibility” feature on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. However, the specifics of Sony’s plan remain unclear, such as whether these selected PlayStation 3 games will receive enhancements in resolution or frame rate.

Given that the PlayStation 3 utilized an unconventional cell architecture, unlike the x86-based hardware of the PlayStation 5, a special patch may be required, adding extra complexity to the porting process. There are rumors that Sony might showcase this new feature later this year, potentially unveiling it alongside the PlayStation 5 Pro. Some players are concerned about whether this feature will be exclusive to the PlayStation 5 Pro, serving as a selling point for the new device.

While Sony has ported some PlayStation games to the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog, the issue of compatibility on the PlayStation 5 has still drawn criticism from players, particularly since most older PlayStation games from various eras cannot run on the current PlayStation 5 platform. Many veteran players would undoubtedly welcome Sony’s initiative, allowing them to revisit classic exclusive games on next-generation consoles at a relatively low cost.