Can You Play PS3, PS2, and PS1 Games on PlayStation 5?
A question often asked, and for a good reason. How many hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent buying games over the years? Let’s find out what the reality is.
The short answer is nothing after PS4 is backwards compatible, that’s the reality of the gaming business. Sony is a business, and this is key and something to remember, so realistically the backwards compatibility to the PS5 is only a nod to the consumer.
It’s a harsh fact of life but let’s look at this in detail ……
PS1 backwards compatibility to the PS5
No classic you own from your PS1 day is compatible with the new PS5 or the PS4 for that matter, but all is not lost, your games might be classics, but they are in line for an upgraded along with your console.
Remasters exist, PaRappa the Rapper, not my favourite but you can upgrade if you love this game. MediEvil and the trilogies of Sane and Spyro Reignited are available with backward capacity to the PS4.
PS2 backwards compatibility to the PS5
It’s the same story for the PS2, but because of the launch of the best sellers GTA 3, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas Sony are saying they are playable on both PS4 and PS5. This information is not strictly correct; you must have the PS4 version to be able to play it on the PS5.
PS3 backwards compatibility to the PS5
No, no and no – not compatible and not even pretending to be compatible. It’s worth noting that any PS3 Blu-ray discs and store purchases don’t work either. That leaves the PSP and PS Vita, and you know what I’m going to say?
Not compatible in any shape or form, nothing on UMD disc, cartridges and DVD will be any good to you at all.
So What’s Changed?
The PS5 console’s CPU and GPU have been made more powerful, and this means better graphics and visual effects as standard. The system memory has increased in size, also in speed.
An enhanced AMD chip at the heart of the new device, the CPU is a third-generation AMD’s Ryzen line, meaning upgrade tracing rays of light to simulate complex 3D interactions and environments. It’s a big film production-style graphics, much better sound quality and there’s no way the old physical games can support this sophisticated upgrade.
It’s a bit like putting a lawnmower engine into a Ferrari, pointless and frustrating.
PS4 to PS5
Okay let’s not pretend we’re surprised, it’s all about technology and these old games just don’t cut it now, old-style, old graphic and with so much more on offer we really can’t mourn the release of the remastered PS4 games and the new PS5 games.
There is a little leeway – Sony calls the lead on from PS4 to PS5 a soft transition and physical games from the PS4 onwards will play on PS5. Time and technology move on, by the time we reach PS8 you will require VR headset to play, and cloud-gaming will be as standard.
If I were you, I would only buy download now, forget the dust collecting physical games, it’s a bit like records and DVD, who has those now?
New PS5 Games
Above thirty new confirmed titles to choose from, chuck out the old games and get yourself some new ones. Partner games and upgrades not included you are spoilt for choice.
Hot on my list is Demon’s Souls a remake for the PS3 version and Horizon Forbidden West, a totally new game. Gran Turismo is returning updated and fresh; finally, PS5 remastered Astro’s playroom just for fun.
The launch of the PS5 is nowhere in sight, and we still don’t have a date, but the facts are when it arrives gaming history will be made, so stop crying over broken discs and step up into the future, what else are you going to spend your money on?
