Sony’s Stance on Backwards Compatibility
Sony has recognized the significance of backwards compatibility as a feature that was highly praised before it was removed in the PS4 era. While many believed the lack of this feature was due to a change in console architectures, a statement from former executive Jim Ryan in 2015 hinted at a different reason.
‘Why would anybody play this?’ – Jim Ryan on PS4 backwards compatibility
On a webpage dedicated to celebrating PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, Sony highlighted the introduction of backwards compatibility during the PS2 era as a groundbreaking feature that was well received by players.
The section discussing backwards compatibility acknowledged that players appreciated PlayStation’s decision to include this feature, especially those with game collections from previous generations.
Despite the positive reception of backwards compatibility in earlier consoles, Ryan’s comments in 2015 suggested a different perspective. When asked about the absence of backwards compatibility in the PS4, Ryan remarked that it was a highly requested feature that players didn’t actually utilize much. Referring to a Gran Turismo event where older PlayStation games were showcased, Ryan questioned the appeal of playing those older games, stating, “they looked ancient, like why would anybody play this?”
While there has been ongoing demand for re-releases of older PlayStation games, PS3 titles are limited to streaming and are only accessible in certain regions. Despite this limitation, older PlayStation games remain popular additions to PS Plus Premium.