PlayStation 5 Won’t Support Backwards Compatibility For PS1, PS2, & PS3, Says Ubisoft Support Page

When differentiating the PlayStation 5 from the Xbox Series X, there is a very transparent gap between the two when it comes to game preservation. For Microsoft’s side of the conversation, Xbox Series X is promised to ship day one with roughly a thousand titles primed via its backwards compatibility program which emulates previous hardware on the coming console. While it is offered already on Xbox One, the next-generation system will further the experience offering better resolution, higher framerates, and converted HDR support, Microsoft told.

However, on the other hand for the PlayStation 5, the feature is a frontrunner for the new console to a lesser degree. In that, only the top 100 titles available on PlayStation 4 will be present on the next-generation unit when it ships later this holiday season. And while Sony did clarify more of its properties from the current generation is to hit the platform following launch, the chances for prior generations are currently out of the picture.

And while there has been a basket of rumors suggesting the Sony will implement backwards compatibility for systems like the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and potentially the PlayStation 3, nothing had been cemented as of yet. But now, according to a recent Ubisoft support page regarding backwards compatibility for PlayStation 5, the publisher disclosed that the feature will not be supported for older hardware altogether.

“Backwards compatibility will be available or supported PlayStation 4 titles, but will not be possible for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, or PlayStation games,” the post discloses on the matters. Currently, the page has been updated discarding the information on PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility with no reasoning as for the abrupt change. It is suggested the details were removed due to the system still not being available yet.

While this is certainly not coming from the mouth of Sony, it does still stand as an official statement that leans towards legitimacy on the situation. While emulation has been the approach for Xbox hardware to achieve the feature to support last-generation software, Sony does not rely on the approach. Instead – alike the PlayStation 3 did – the PlayStation 5 will use certain components of its predecessor to perform backwards compatibility.

Elsewhere recently, Sony in its most recent financial report disclosed that the firm will explore bringing more first-party properties to PC. The company told this will be an endeavor to branch out the PlayStation platform further. You can read the full report by heading here.

What are your thoughts on the recent discovery for PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility?

PlayStation 5 is slated to hit store shelves sometime in holiday 2020.