PS5 backwards compatibility seems to be getting closer

Prices for several PS3 games have appeared on the PS5 store, leading fans to speculate that certain PlayStation titles are in the works for backward compatibility.

PS3 games listed on the PS5 store usually redirect players to the trial page of PlayStation Now, Sony’s cloud subscription service that lets you stream older titles on the latest generation of hardware.

However, fans have spotted some PS3 games listed on the store with new price tags in place of the PlayStation Now logo, including two games from the Prince of Persia series and Dead or Alive 5 (thanks, VGC).

Games cannot be purchased, although they can be added to your wishlist. The new prices could suggest where the PS5 store, PlayStation Now, and the future of PS3 games are headed.

---

Analysis: Is greater backward compatibility likely?

The sudden appearance of PS3 game price tags has caused a lot of speculation and hope that PS3 games will be available for purchase from the PS5 store in the near future. While Sony hasn’t confirmed anything yet, a PS5 backwards compatibility overhaul isn’t out of the question, given the bigger changes coming to its adjacent PlayStation services.

Last week it was reported that PS5 system architect Mark Cerny had filed a patent suggesting the console would be extended backwards compatibility and PlayStation Now subscription cards were being removed from sale in retail stores. retail in the UK and USA.

Add to that The Bloomberg report starting in December Sony is gearing up to combine PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus into an Xbox Game Pass-style service, codenamed Spartacus. Offering multiple subscription tiers, the highest is supposed to allow gamers to stream a library of classic PS1, PS2, and PS3 games.

These reports indicate that PlayStation Now is reaching the end of its lifespan, as Sony prepares to end the subscription service for its successor. These unexpected price tags seen recently on the PS5 store could be the first signs of this change.

Extending PS5 backwards compatibility wouldn’t hurt fans, with gamers always eager to return to their favorite titles from generations past. While the PS5 can run the vast majority of PS4 games, its incompatibility with older gen titles is something of a sticking point.

Currently, the only way to play PS2 and PS3 games on Sony’s latest console is to stream them through PlayStation Now. A subscription service that only offers a handful of older titles, many gamers eager to dig into older games are naturally more drawn to the Xbox Series X, which lets you play Xbox One, Xbox 360, and to the original Xbox versions right out of the box, without the need to subscribe to any additional service.

If Sony is keen to match its main rival’s backwards compatibility, adding PS3 games for purchase from the PS5 store would be a welcome step.

Dig deeper into Xbox’s backwards compatibility journey in TRG’s interview with Series X Head of Development Jason Ronald.