backward compatibility is one of the most important features a gaming console could have. This allows you to play older console games on your console. This feature is possible on consoles that support it. It can help you consolidate your consoles and save you a lot of time switching between consoles to play different games.
This feature was available on the PS2 for PS1 games. Early versions of PS3 were compatible with PS2 backward. This feature is not available on the PS4 for PS3 games. There are ways around this. You can play PS3 games on your PS4.
Although the PS4 Pro and Slim editions cannot be used backward, you can still use the same methods to play older Playstation games.
Play PS3 Games on Your PS4
There is still a way to play PS3 games on the PS4, despite its lack of backward compatibility. You can download hundreds of games from Playstation’s PlaystationNow service. This is what’s known as a cloud gaming platform.
Cloud gaming works in the same way as streaming services, but it is for games. The game is downloaded and played directly on servers. Once the game footage has been viewed, it is sent to your console as a video. Playstation Now will require you to pay a monthly subscription fee. It currently costs $9.99 in the US and $8.99 in England.
This service offers many PS3 games, as well as some PS2 games. Games may be rotated out, just like streaming services.
You can also purchase games from the Playstation Store to download and install on your PS4. Sony has remastered many PS3 games so that you can play them on your PS4 and a large number of PS2 titles.
Why can’t PS3 discs be played on PS4?
The reason is that the Playstation 4’s architecture is so different from the PS3’s. This makes it almost impossible to make the PS4 backward compatible. It does not have the hardware required to run the games as they were intended.
This means that a PS4 cannot play PS3 games unless they are emulated. In other words, the program must be able to mimic the PS3’s running system to play the games. This capability, however, would require a lot more power from the console and would be a significant effort.
Sony chose to make individual PS3 games completely compatible with the new console. This was a much simpler route. These included games such as Skyrim, BioShock, and Dark Souls.
Which PS3 Games Are Best?
You might now be curious about the actual games that are available. This list includes games that you can stream or have been remastered specifically for the PS4.
The Elder Scrolls VI: Skyrim
Skyrim has been a very popular game since its release. It’s difficult to find a console that doesn’t have it. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition was released in 2016 on PC, Xbox One, and Playstation 4.
It completely updates the PS3 game version with a graphical update and includes all three original DLCs. You can also modify the game from your console.
Dark Souls
A remastered version, Dark Souls for PS3, was released in 2018. The graphics and frame rate of this version have been completely updated, with a 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second and 4K gameplay on the PS4 Pro. The Online mode now allows you to play with 6 friends.
This classic game was a PS3 hit, so even though the PS4 is not backward compatible, you can still enjoy one of the most popular last-gen games on the PS4.
The Last of Us
This game was a huge success on the PS3 right from its release. It’s a game that people will want to play on a new console because of its compelling story, beautiful visuals, and engaging gameplay.
In 2014, the PS4 released a remastered version of this game. This version includes graphics improvements, faster frame rates, and the ability to play in 4k for those who have a PS4 Pro. They decided to make the PS4 controller more useful in gameplay. You also get the DLC for the original game Left Behind.
Uncharted – The Nathan Drake Collection
The Uncharted Trilogy was another game that made it big on the PS3. These games were full of action and great storytelling. All three games were remastered on the PS4 for your enjoyment. Next-gen updates will allow you to enjoy the entire trilogy.
The games are now optimized to run at 1080p, 60 frames per second, and have received multiple graphics upgrades. The remaster also included some tweaks to the game’s mechanics to make the series more coherent. The PS4 remaster is sure to please, whether you have already played the games in their PS3 releases or are just starting to play them.