But wait, youve sold the PS1 that originally has your copy of Final Fantasy 7!
What are you gonna do now?
Well, my friend, thats where backwards compatibility comes in.
An example would be the Xbox One, it allows players to play games even from the original Xbox.
Compatible Consoles
All of the current Xbox and PlayStation consoles out there have backwards compatibility.
Of course, its a relatively small fraction of the games released for the two older consoles.
However, Microsoft is said to be interested in preserving their incredibly extensive games library.
One of the main features of Microsofts next-gen release will be backwards compatibility.
On the Xbox One, backwards compatibility is done through its software.
The console will transform itself software-wise into an Xbox 360 so that it can play older generation games.
Backwards compatibility for the Xbox One is the same as the one for the 360.
Be mindful that you cant connect to online features as servers for older games would have been dead already.
Also, you wont have access to older save files as well.
However, the System Link feature for these games still work.
However, you cant start and play PS3 games on a PS4.
Well, not through the usual route anyway.
However, Sony made a subscription service called PlayStation Now.
It will get you hundreds of PlayStation games that go back three generations of their console.
PlayStation Nowallows you to play games from older generations.
Next-Gen Backwards Compatibility
How Does Backwards Compatibility Work on PS5?
Lets begin the question of backward compatibility with the PS5.
However, we do know that the console will have backwards compatibility support.
Its been confirmed that the PS5 will have support for PS4 and PSVR titles.
There are also rumors of the PlayStation 5 being able to support games from all four previous generations.
How Does Backwards Compatibility Work on Xbox Series X?
Meanwhile, Microsofts approach will be the same as Sony with the PS5.
Xbox Series X will support games from the Original, the 360, and the One.
Microsoft also plans to improve the performance of old games once supported by the Xbox Series X.
Another feature is that the Series X will also support Xbox One hardware.
However, Microsoft is not only looking back, but theyre also looking forward.
The Series X will have the Smart Delivery system.
In laymans terms and some respects, the Smart Delivery system could be looked at as forwards compatibility.
The Smart Delivery system would assure users that they do have the appropriate version of a game.
As a benefit, it wont matter what Xbox console youve bought it on.
The first-party titles Microsoft is going to offer will get this by default.
However, other companies are not mandated and can not do so.
But, they also said the catalog compatible with supported games from all previous generations will be big.
What Games From Previous Consoles Are Compatible?
The other way to do this is byinserting a PlayStation 4 game disc into your PS5.
However, be reminded that the PS5 youll buy is the one with a disc drive.
you’ve got the option to also play games that were downloaded as a PS4 on your PS5.
Microsoft will dig deep from their backward compatibility library, and allow Xbox Series X users to have access.
Their library supports over 900 games from the first two generations of Xbox consoles.
Microsoft has also stated that the Series X will support most titles from the Xbox One.
This will, of course, include the newHalo Infiniteand CyberPunk 2077.
Backwards compatibility is a good way of preserving software from previous generations and making them accessible to younger generations.
All the while, the game developers slowly start to move on to newer hardware.
The PS2 was made to have backward compatibility for the games that its predecessor, the PS1, has.
A big boost for Sony was making thePlayStation 2capable of supporting games from the PS1.
Originally, the Xbox One was not capable of supporting games from its predecessors.
However, Microsoft added this feature a few years after the consoles release.
A pretty good example of the above is SonysPS3.
Why this is the case?
Well, the first PS3 version was incredibly expensive to create.
The PS3s architecture was significantly different when compared to the PS2.
The next PS3 hardware changes have removed the Emotion Engine, which saved the company production costs.
This, of course, comes with the consequence of removing the PS3s capability to play PS2 titles.
