Sony Explains Why PS4 Will Not Get Backward Compatibility

[jaggysnake57]

At this years E3 MS dropped the bombshell (well maybe more shotgun cartridge) that the xbone will offer backwards compatability for 360 games. this was praised and, in all fairness, i see why.  its a good thing for exsisting 360 owners and people who have never owned a 360 at all.  this left people wondering if sony will do the same and sony have answered.

 

 

We are just taking two different approaches. Unfortunately there are just not sufficient enough software engineers in the world for everyone to do everything," he said. "Each platform holder has to make their choices, we made one and they made another. Their choice is entirely legitimate, and I think our choice is legitimate, too. In some ways it is quite nice to have points of difference between the two platforms, and people will decide which approach suits them best."

 

He went on to explain that the company provided backward compatibility earlier with first generation PS3s being able to play PS2 games.

 

"We have experience of backwards compatibility. The earliest PS3 model was backwards compatible with PS2, and it is a much requested feature... but actually it's not so greatly used... On balance, we are happy with our approach and we don't wish to be defensive about it at all. But as I say, both approaches are legitimate."

 

 

i get where they are coming from, its extra work to get the console to do BC, work that could be spent on getting the thing to run 60fps @ 1080 (pcmasterrace) and to be honest, its not going to be the diferance between buying one or the other really. having not owned a ps3, BC would have pushed me to buy a PS4 sooner but instead ill get the PS3 first and buy a shit load of really good games dirt cheap and wait for the PS4 to drop in price sony will still get there money form me. 

 

Its nice to see BC on the xbone but its not going to be its saving grace.

 

source http://gadgets.ndtv.com/games/news/sony-explains-why-ps4-will-not-get-backward-compatibility-for-ps3-games-704710

[niofalpha]

They don't mention that it's pretty much impossible to emulate the Cell architecture on x86, but instead use it to say it's not a useful feature?

[bcredeur97]

The Sony guy is right: it's a feature many people want and scream for, but they don't use it, or they use it for a short time and never really use it again.

At least from what I have seen in my own experience he is right anyway

[minibois]

Very funny Sony.

I have a shitty Ultra Slim PS3 and I am now looking to get a fat PS3 because I want to be able to play PS1 and PS2 games on it too.

Maybe they think it is not used that much, but this is how you make people stay on your platform/side and how you sell more (old) software.

[Mindtrickz]

Sony's solution to backwards compatability will be Playstation Now.

 

Very funny Sony.

I have a shitty Ultra Slim PS3 and I am now looking to get a fat PS3 because I want to be able to play PS1 and PS2 games on it too.

Maybe they think it is not used that much, but this is how you make people stay on your platform/side and how you sell more (old) software.

 

Money which Sony does not see a penny off since old software is only avaiable in 2nd hand.

[Bouzoo]

And here I was, thinking how PS Now would allow all PS3 titles to be playable on PS4.

[Aniallation]

but Xbox One has same architecture but still would offer backward compability.

PowerPC is easier to emulate then Cell. Remember the PS3's backwards compatibility? They literally had to put PS2 hardware in the PS3 in order to have backwards compatibility. 

[projectmayhem]

I had 3 different PS3s and could not get my PS2 games to play on any of them!

I had the first gen Ps3, the second gen, and the slim with the sliding cover on top.

None were able to play my PS2 games.

[MageTank]

It's not that PS3 compatibility to PS2 was "not so greatly used", its that they did away with the models that had the Emotion Engine in it far too quickly for most consumers to even use it, due to it being "too expensive". I am sure it would have been used far more often if they had actually kept it in. Hell, look for the original PS3's on ebay that had the Emotion Engine in them, they sell for over twice the price of the current PS3's. This is enough to show you that backwards compatibility was a sought after feature.

 

I would rather pay $100 more for a console and enjoy all of my previous games without having to repurchase all of them, rather than save $100 and have my previous collection be useless, or tied to antiquated hardware. 

[ZestyJalapeno]

Very funny Sony.

I have a shitty Ultra Slim PS3 and I am now looking to get a fat PS3 because I want to be able to play PS1 and PS2 games on it too.

Maybe they think it is not used that much, but this is how you make people stay on your platform/side and how you sell more (old) software.

Do you know what the fat PS3s are susceptible to? Especially the old ones with backwards compatibility?

 

 

 

Spoiler: Thermal Shock.

[CaliJL]

Xbox clearly won E3 this just reinforces my opinion, there's tons of last gen games that I would love to play without having to reconnect my 360 every time I feel like playing them. I'm just sad Activision partnered with Sony, we'll most likely see Call of Duty esports move to Playstation  :angry: 

[SkilledRebuilds]

Considering 2nd hand pricing of the XB360/PS3 I wouldn't be too concerned about backwards compatability, I'd just buy the actual previous console itself. People in some cases are pretty much giving them away...

[minibois]

Money which Sony does not see a penny off since old software is only avaiable in 2nd hand.

True, I was not thinking logically.

They only want to make money and don't give a shit about the customer, as long as they pay.

[Lazmarr]

The Sony guy is right: it's a feature many people want and scream for, but they don't use it, or they use it for a short time and never really use it again.

At least from what I have seen in my own experience he is right anyway

A feature that people didn't use becuase they were unable to use features on those games, such as multiplayer, where that is now going to change with X1 as it will be like playing on the X360... you have access to the multiplayer and can even play with your friends on the X360

[minibois]

Do you know what the fat PS3s are susceptible to? Especially the old ones with backwards compatibility?

 

 

 

Spoiler: Thermal Shock.

yeah, I heard they were very often RIP.

 

I had 3 different PS3s and could not get my PS2 games to play on any of them!

I had the first gen Ps3, the second gen, and the slim with the sliding cover on top.

None were able to play my PS2 games.

First one should have been able to play them..

 

Considering 2nd hand pricing of the XB360/PS3 I wouldn't be too concerned about backwards compatability, I'd just buy the actual previous console itself. People in some cases are pretty much giving them away...

But what if you have only 1 HDMI port on your monitor/TV? No place to power it anymore?

What if you don't have the room for it anymore? Those are all reasons why it is very helpful.

[SkilledRebuilds]

But what if you have only 1 HDMI port on your monitor/TV? No place to power it anymore?

What if you don't have the room for it anymore? Those are all reasons why it is very helpful.

I agree there are some instances where my way is more annoying...

But.. HDMI splitters and 2in1 power adapters have that covered.

[Trik'Stari]

There's an easier solution here. Use a platform that can be upgraded instead of having to purchase a new platform every few years.

 

And I'm not saying "use a PC". I'm saying perhaps they should make an upgradeable console, and instead of spending 5 years creating a new console, spend that time and money on making some upgrades for the original platform..

[JAKEBAB]

Lol, i can't wait to play cod 4 and blops 2 on my XBOX ONE too bad sony players won't be able to.

[Thorium19]

I've got a PS3 that supports backwards compatability /fatPS3masterrace but I think I used it once for gran tourismo 4, but then just gave up as I had more fun with other games like motorstorm instead. I get why some people might like backwards compatability, but I personally, as with a lot of other people, don't actually bother with it. I'd rather keep the old console and set it up if I desperately want some gaming nostalgia, but overall most people would rather play newer titles than old, previous gen ones.

[MoonSpot]

911 is a feature on phones that I don't use often either, what's your point?  I want what I want, and if I only use it once or twice then I'm still able to use it.  Backwards compatibility is particularly awesome when generation changes happen since users won't be stuck with having just 1 game for the first year or X months and can hit up their other titles without turning their entertainment system/theater into a mess of shit cables everywhere.

[KingKeith55]

We're starting to see lots of good things from Microsoft. I hope this does not change, although I am happy with my PC and will not buy a console it is still a great feature to throw in there, and another reason to consider the Xbox One.

[79 Potatoes]

PowerPC is easier to emulate then Cell. Remember the PS3's backwards compatibility? They literally had to put PS2 hardware in the PS3 in order to have backwards compatibility. 

A clear example is PCSX2... It still somewhat CPU heavy for only emulating a PS2... I tried GT4 once in a G3258 (not OC tho) and it reached 100 % CPU usage many times 

[M156]

Of course Sony says that. 

 

PS Now is a subscription service. Why would they give you BC for free when they can charge you with that? 

 

MS has no streaming service. They don't care. They are giving you a FREE feature that simply requires publisher approval to make happen, and lets you enjoy older games that you still might want to play. Hell, I still play KotOR I and II, those are ancient games. 

 

Sony is actually trying to make BC sound like a waste or a bad feature. How sad. 

[sgloux3470]

The Sony guy is right: it's a feature many people want and scream for, but they don't use it, or they use it for a short time and never really use it again.

At least from what I have seen in my own experience he is right anyway

 

As someone who does use it a lot, it always disappointed me they didn't have it with PS4.

 

I had an original 60 GB PS3 with PS2 and PS1 BC and used both frequently.  I even bought my cousins second hand 60 GB PS3 when mine died so I could keep the feature. (Even if the fan in that thing is louder than a 290x on full tilt.) I also extensively use my Wii U's backwards compatibility for Wii games.  

 

I would have gladly paid $600 for a PS4 to get a PS3 thrown in there so I could play my library of 150+ PS3 games on one system, rather than needing both of them at my TV for the foreseeable future. 

 

I suppose I'm a niche scenario though.  I have a rather large PS3 backlog and it's annoying to swap HDMI cords since my TV only has two ports.  

[Incineration]

A feature that people didn't use becuase they were unable to use features on those games, such as multiplayer, where that is now going to change with X1 as it will be like playing on the X360... you have access to the multiplayer and can even play with your friends on the X360

 

No, it was a feature people didn't use because people didn't use it. People look to new/recent games for their gaming fix, they rarely, if ever, look back. Having the feature is a nice gesture but an unnecessary one at best.

 

I still remember having my Fat PS3 lying about. I think I played PS2 games on it twice or so before completely making the swap to PS3 games. Since then my PS2 collection has just been collecting dust, and I certainly don't feel like revisiting it any time soon.

 

If it costs them both time and money which could've been spent on other features/games then I'd much rather have them do that instead of wasting those resources on a feature that's more for show than it is actually useful.