Sony's PS5 patent suggests cloud-based backwards compatibility

Sony has filed a patent that looks like cloud-based backwards compatibility system to support PS1, PS2 and PS3 titles on the PS5.

The patent’s description reads:

Another trend growing in this industry relates to the development of cloud-based gaming systems. Such a system may include a remote processing server that is configured to execute a game application, receive input from a user and communicate with a local thin client configured to display an image on a display.

Filed on July 2, the patent contains model illustrations of the PS1, PS2 and PS3 and is accompanied by this description:

An accumulation of game titles across various generations of a gaming console in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

PS5 will support backwards compatibility for some, but not all, PS4 games. The top 100 PS4 games will be supported according to Sony, as will new PS4 games certified after July 2020.

 

[PGen98]

Filed on July 2, the patent contains model illustrations of the PS1, PS2 and PS3 and is accompanied by this description:

So it sounds like it'll be not total backwards compatibility, but hopefully at least a decent library. It's good that they're willing to take backwards compatibility so far, it could not have been easy to achieve!

PS5 will support backwards compatibility for some, but not all, PS4 games. The top 100 PS4 games will be supported according to Sony, as will new PS4 games certified after July 2020.

Somewhat disappointing, but also not, as it's not like the PS4s are suddenly going to shut down just because the PS5 came out.

 

[Ash]

There was a patent for something similar filed a long time ago by Sony that is most likely for the PlayStation Now service. Is this the same thing?

 

[Nova]

It makes you wonder why something like this is patented. Something like should be open source and other games too share such type of the content improvement. But it seems they want to harass other console makers from being cut throat like them in near future. That could be one reason for such patent.

 

[Trashpanda]

You you get to stream a small number of selected titles, and pay a recurring fee for the privilege of doing so? Calling this Backward Compatibility is a joke, honestly I'd say this is worse than nothing :/