Is Sony Making Another: PS4 Not Backwards Compatible with PS3 Titles

[SeanM]

Is Sony Making Another Blunder: PS4 Not Backwards Compatible with PS3 Titles

So I've been thinking, has Sony made a bad marketing call not allowing backwards compatibility in its 'next-gen' machines. Remember they had allowed limited backwards compatibility on their earliest Playstation 3 models, and those ones were the most sought after, with even the used PS3 fetching prices as high as $700 USD on ebay. I know they had most of the PS2 and PS1 games on the Play Station Network available for stream play, but some consumers want a hard copy in the form of a disc to trade or sell or whatever when they're through beating the game. What do you guys think?

 

[Linkzelda41]

I think the reason they may have had this is because of going against piracy. If people can get a tangible copy of the games, someone out there is going to find some way to promote piracy online (not that it’s probably prevalent already). The way I see it, especially since they’re incorporating the PS Now to this, is that it’ll make things more difficult for others to do something like that.

Of course, the difficulty for that may not be something challenging for those that are experienced in bypassing things like this, but maybe they’re committed to doing over the cloud. And seeing how most gamers would still have their PS3s around, they wouldn’t want their consumers to think the previous console is now a doorknob (other than selling it on eBay obviously). Another reason could be that games are going to require a larger disc size, and seeing how installation is inevitable, the same logic may apply with PS3 games that would just be filler memory compared to PS4 games.

In a way, it would only cause more problems of people having to be resourceful with the limited storage (if they’re on a game buying frenzy of course). So I guess having backwards compatibility isn’t something they can do consistently the more they aim for photo-realistic games, and cutting a few corners to reach there. If anything, they may in the future introduce some component or model that can do backwards-compatibility. All the more reason to wait things out to really make a good judgment of their intentions.

 

[Ghost_of_Crash]

I would say Sony is making a mistake with no BC. It definitely would've been nice to have though. The actual blunder will come in not featuring a kind of digital soft-BC in allowing digitally purchased games tied to your PSN history not to be granted without having to purchase them again.

 

[daimashin]

I don't really see an issue with no backwards compatibility. To include this means that it's going to increase production costs and Sony may not be able to sell it at this price point. Also, people that have PS3 games also have the PS3. Since the PS3 is still being supported, there's no need for them to have another console to play the same games. Besides, Sony is planning for Playstation Now, having BC defeats their plan to launch the new service.

 

[Haymansafc]

Whilst I'm not surprised in the last that the PS4 doesn't offer backwards compatibility (or not as of yet, at least), I have to admit I'm disappointed. Whilst I don’t know all the 'techo' in's and out's - most of it is just babble to me, considering many PS3 owners have spent many hundreds if not up into four figures on their consoles over the last seven/eight years or so, I can't help but feeling it’s a real kick in the privates by Sony.

True, certain games may be available again to download onto the PS4 but what if you don't want to use the console online or don't have sufficient bandwidth to do so? Then there's the old argument that you've already paid for them once over! It's not the same as having a physical disc. I've never used the 'online' function and therefore wouldn’t have the foggiest how I'd go about it.

Yes, there is the argument that there is no need to dispose of your existing PS3. That's very true. However, not everyone has the space/spare plug sockets or the technical knowledge on running two consoles at once. It's so much easier to just have one console.

 

[Titan]

I don't think they did backwards compatibility for a couple reasons. For one, the PS3 had very different chipsets because of the Cell processor. The only way to include backwards compatibility was to include a PS3 within the PS4 (exactly what they did for early PS3 models. They had the PS3 chips then they had PS2 chips and the Emotion Engine that ran the graphics). Doing that would also probably double the price of the console and Sony learned the hard way with the PS3.

Secondly, they just announced Playstation Now to stream old games and they also bought Gaikai which is what PS Now is based on. Now had they made it backwards compatible, people would have no reason to buy games or pay for a subscription to play old games, thus losing an entire source of revenue for them. Doesn't make a wise business decision. Sucks but it all comes down to the dollar. I'd love to see backwards compatibility so I only have one console hooked up instead of the soon to be PS2, PS3 and PS4. But that'll be the way it is.

 

[mauricioq]

I don't think they did backwards compatibility for a couple reasons. For one, the PS3 had very different chipsets because of the Cell processor. The only way to include backwards compatibility was to include a PS3 within the PS4 (exactly what they did for early PS3 models. They had the PS3 chips then they had PS2 chips and the Emotion Engine that ran the graphics). Doing that would also probably double the price of the console and Sony learned the hard way with the PS3.

Secondly, they just announced Playstation Now to stream old games and they also bought Gaikai which is what PS Now is based on. Now had they made it backwards compatible, people would have no reason to buy games or pay for a subscription to play old games, thus losing an entire source of revenue for them. Doesn't make a wise business decision. Sucks but it all comes down to the dollar. I'd love to see backwards compatibility so I only have one console hooked up instead of the soon to be PS2, PS3 and PS4. But that'll be the way it is.

You clearly made a lot of good points, thanks for that info, I didn't know it!
Now the ability of streaming games I already knew and that's probably the solution Sony arranged for the problem, and it's good.

 

[Titan]

You clearly made a lot of good points, thanks for that info, I didn't know it!
Now the ability of streaming games I already knew and that's probably the solution Sony arranged for the problem, and it's good.

I like to analyze things. A hobby of mine I guess, lol. Plus I spend a lot of time researching these kinds of things and drawing conclusions.

 

[schoat333]

IMO Sony did the right thing this time. They made a next gen console that is entirely built for next gen gaming. Since they didn't have to include backwards compatibility, all of the money you spent on the console is geared towards the future and none to the past.

If you want to play old PS games, keep your Old PlayStation. That's how it used to be in the old nintendo, sega, and up to PS2 days.

 

[SpaceTiger]

If the upcoming streaming service makes the entire PS3 library available then that would be pretty cool. I wouldn't even expect it all to roll out at once, just have the whole thing or like 90% of it.

 

[Titan]

IMO Sony did the right thing this time. They made a next gen console that is entirely built for next gen gaming. Since they didn't have to include backwards compatibility, all of the money you spent on the console is geared towards the future and none to the past.

If you want to play old PS games, keep your Old PlayStation. That's how it used to be in the old nintendo, sega, and up to PS2 days.

I agree 100%. Though I do have to say, my entertainment center is getting a bit cluttered, lol. After the next generation, I'm not even gonna have any HDMI ports open.