The PlayStation 5 has been a big success for Sony, but the console is still handicapped by decisions made two console generations ago. With only one generation of backward compatibility, however, the overall library that the PS5 has access to isn't as robust as it could be, and the fault lies with the PlayStation 3. Understanding that lack of backward compatibility on the PS5 requires taking a closer look at the history of Sony's consoles.
The company found massive success with the PS2, but the next generation proved to be rockier. Despite having its fair share of classic titles like The Last of Us and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, the PS3 was PlayStation's weakest console generation overall, struggling to compete with Microsoft's powerhouse Xbox 360. Most of the PS3's problems came from its hardware, which featured powerful but complicated architecture that was difficult for developers to utilize to its fullest potential. At the time, this resulted in issues like bugs and long loading times and incentivized developers to build games for the Xbox 360 to avoid the PS3's complications.
The Uphill Battle Of Playing PS3 Games On The PS5
Plenty of great games managed to rise above the PS3's challenges, but its hardware complexity now makes it more difficult to play those games. The vast majority of PS4 games are playable on PS5, and many of these titles feature enhancements in performance or graphics. Sliding in a disc from one generation earlier, however, will result in nothing but frustration. Emulating the architecture of the PS3 comes with significant challenges, and the lack of any ability to play PS3 games on the PS5 shows Sony decided it was either unworkable or not worth pursuing at the time of the console's launch.
The lack of hardware support doesn't mean that there's no way to play any PS3 titles on the PS5. Certain classic PS3 titles have received remakes or remasters for the PS4 or PS5. Gamers looking to step into the shoes of the intrepid explorer Nathan Drake can play Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, a PS4 release that updates some of the best Uncharted games.
The Last of Us and Demon's Souls, two of the most critically acclaimed PS3 titles, have both received PS5 remakes, and the former has the bonus of a PS4 remaster that's also playable on the current console. These options represent some of the best that the PS3 had to offer, but they cover a limited portion of the console's library, and fans loyal to the original experiences might mourn the changes made in newer releases.
Is Streaming The Answer For Modern PS3 Gaming?
The other noteworthy option for playing PS3 games on the PS5 comes in the form of PlayStation Plus. PS Plus marketing often revolves around the biggest current titles that it has to offer, but older games are buried within its catalog. Sony's older subscription PlayStation Now merged with PS Plus worldwide earlier this year, bringing with it a catalog that included a number of PS3 games otherwise unplayable on the PS5. Unfortunately, the PS3 games only come with PS Plus Premium, the most expensive option for the subscription. Fans willing to fork over more cash will be treated to titles like Fallout: New Vegas and the original version of Demon's Souls.
The cost of access is not the only factor holding PS Plus Premium back from being a definitive way to experience PS3 games on the PS5. Although many games on the service can be downloaded, PS3 titles can only be streamed, a limitation that goes back to the complexity of emulating PS3 hardware. Gamers without a stable high-speed internet connection are prone to struggle with playing these titles without hiccups.
As a subscription service, the library available on PS Plus is also subject to change. Red Dead Redemption's surprise removal from PS Plus left fans of Rockstar's Western adventure with no way to play the title on PS5. Losing Red Dead Redemption is a sizable forfeiture alone, but it also represents an overarching concern that any iconic title offered on PS Plus could disappear at any time.
Microsoft Offers More With Backward Compatibility
What makes the lack of backward compatibility on the PS5 particularly frustrating is the extensive cross-generational compatibility that the competing Xbox Series X/S brings to the table. The more straightforward hardware design of the Xbox 360 and Microsoft's continued focus on backward compatibility means that many games from the PS3's competitor are still playable on modern Xbox hardware.
Even more impressively, a large selection of titles for the original Xbox has remained compatible with all three subsequent generations of Microsoft's console, so gamers can play plenty of the best original Xbox games on the Series X/S. Xbox also has its own streaming options, but subscriptions and internet access aren't required to dive into some nostalgic gaming. Comparing this extensive availability to the complete lack of support for PS3 discs on the PS5 showcases just how much the current PlayStation experience is suffering for design choices made in the past.
Despite the variety of games that the PS3 brought to the table, modern options for playing these just aren't what they could be. Unfortunately, if a gamer wants to play a classic title like Red Dead Redemption on a current generation console, the Xbox Series X/S is the only answer. Although there's always hope for better options in the future, the dream scenario of backward compatibility on the PS5 matching what Xbox has to offer isn't very likely. The limited library of PS3 classics on the PlayStation 5 is a textbook example of how mistakes made in one console generation can be felt many years later.