Best answer: Unfortunately, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan confirmed that only PS4 titles will be playable on the PS5. PS3, PS2, and PS1 titles will not be playable (unless they’re available on the PS Store).
- Pick up a game: PlayStation Store Gift Card (From $20 at Amazon)
- Preorder now: PlayStation 5 ($499 at Amazon)
Will the PS5 support PS3 titles?
Sony has made no secret that the PS5 will be backward compatible. However, it didn’t specify just how far back that will go. PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan previously talked about PS4 compatability, but nothing more than that.
However, in an interview with Japanese site Famitsu (via Siliconera) Ryan confirmed that the PS5 won’t be backward compatible with PS3 or older titles. He said this was due to restrictions in the development process.
We keep in mind the engineering specialized for the PS5, as we produced the device. 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.
This makes sense when you think about how the PS4 and PS5 are built around the same architecture. One of the key issues when moving from the PS3 to the PS4 was this internal difference, which made backward compatibility difficult. Playing a PS3 game on the PS4 was therefore impossible unless the game was remastered for the PS4 or was available digitally in the PS Store.
Still, it’s important to note that this doesn’t completely rule out the possibility for backward compatibility for PS3, PS2, or PS1 games, maybe on a future version of the PS5.
Will the PS5 support backward compatibility?
According to Sony, yes. Early in the PS5’s announcement history, lead console architect Mark Cerny said that the PS5 would be backward compatible with PS4 games, due in part to the console using some of the PS4’s architecture. Earlier this year, Sony also confirmed that they believe the “overwhelming majority” of the PlayStation 4 library would be playable on the PS5.
During the Sept. 2020 showcase, Sony announced the PlayStation Plus Collection, which makes select PS4 games available to PS Plus subscribers for free on the PS5. Ryan also reiterated around this time in an interview with the Washington Post that “99 percent” of PS4 games will be playable on the next-gen console.
Our pick
PlayStation Store Gift Card
From $20 at Amazon
From $50 at Best Buy
From $20 at Walmart
Easy to stock up
PlayStation gift cards are an easy way to grab currency for games, add-ons, themes, and more on the PlayStation Store. You can pick up a variety of gift cards for different prices, so there’s something for everyone.
Coming soon
PlayStation 5
See at Amazon
Preorder now (if you can)
The PS5 is set to release on Nov. 12 in select countries and on Nov. 19 in the rest of the world. When it launches, the PS5 will be an incredible source for both new titles and classic PS4 favorites.
