PS5 Backward Compatibility Needs To Embrace The Forgotten Classics
Rumours are swirling around that PS5 could finally be set to embrace backward compatibility beyond a single generation. Sure, you can purchase select PS2 titles and a handful of remasters on the PlayStation Store, but countless classics remain shackled to a certain system with no way of playing them in the modern landscape.
I own a PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PS5 because I’m a serious gamer, but no way should I be expected to dig them out each and every time I fancy revisiting an older game. Unlike other artforms, gaming has yet to figure out a flawless route of preservation. Developers and publishers still earn hefty profits through remasters of beloved classics, so ensuring they are available to play in their existing form with few obstacles isn’t really in their best interest.
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The cynical belief is sadly the truth in this regard, but I feel Sony could subvert our expectations if backward compatibility on its latest console is tackled correctly. With only a few exceptions, almost every PS4 game is available to play and purchase on PS5 right now, making it a breeze to enjoy your exising library with ample performance improvements courtesy of the new and improved hardware.
It’s amazing, and something we’d seldom seen in the console space before to such an extent. Yet for those who have followed PlayStation from the very beginning, the majority of their libraries remain inaccessible. But imagine if things change, picture a future where any of our existing discs or digital purchases suddenly became compatible with PS5, effortlessly meshing with the platform thanks to a bespoke emulator or other such solution.
A recent listing of Dead or Alive 5 on the PS Store
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