PS5 isn’t backwards compatible with PS1, PS2 or PS3 games

Sony Interactive Entertainment has confirmed that PlayStation 5 won’t be backwards compatible with PS1, PS2 or PS3 games.

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan claimed earlier this week that “99 percent” of PS4 titles can be played on PS5 via backwards compatibility.

However backwards compatibility support doesn’t extend to older PlayStation software, he told Famitsu (via Siliconera).

“We keep in mind the engineering specialized for the PS5, as we produced the device,” Ryan said. “In the midst of that, the PS4 already has 100 million players; we thought they ought to want to play PS4 titles on the PS5 as well indeed, so we included compatibility with the PS4.

“While implementing that, we also focused our efforts on taking in the high-speed SSD and the new controller DualSense at the same time. So, unfortunately, we couldn’t reach the implementation of such compatibilities.”

In contrast, Xbox Series X will be backwards compatible with existing Xbox One games and accessories, including backward compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles, which will “look and play better than ever before”, according to Microsoft.

While PS5 players won’t be able to play their existing library of PS1, PS2 or PS3 games on the new console, legacy software will be playable with a PlayStation Now subscription.

PlayStation Now’s software library currently includes more than 300 PS4 titles which can be downloaded and played on a PS4 console, and over 700 PS2, PS3 and PS4 games streamable to PS4 or PC.

Sony officially announced the PS5 launch date and price this week.

Further reading

Sony has reportedly instructed that new PS4 games be PS5 compatible

New rule said to be implemented from July