


Sony says it is "expecting backward compatible titles will run at a boosted frequency on PS5 so that they can benefit from higher or more stable frame rates and potentially higher resolutions." That mirrors the promise of the PS4 Pro, which used an optional Boost Mode to achieve much the same effect. Microsoft, for instance, says backward-compatible software on Series X will "benefit from steadier framerates, faster load times and improved resolution and visual fidelity-all with no developer work required." Will my old games get enhancements?īoth Microsoft and Sony are promising that all older games will automatically look and perform a bit better when running on newer hardware. Microsoft, by contrast, is promising that all Xbox One controllers ( with the exception of the Kinect) will work on the Series X without issue. When it comes to accessories, Sony will require users to purchase new DualSense controllers to play PS5 games (though the older DualShock 4 will work on the PS5 when playing PS4 games).

Reading between the lines a bit, it sounds like most PS4 games will run on the PS5 without issue through the launch-day "legacy mode." But Sony also seems wary of making any promises even approaching "universal" backward compatibility until more internal testing is done. In an update days later, Sony Senior VP Hideaki Nishino clarified that Sony "believe that the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles will be playable on PS5." That said, Nishino also added that the company is "currently evaluating games on a title-by-title basis to spot any issues that need adjustment from the original software developers." In that original announcement, though, PS5 architect Mark Cerny would only commit to "almost all" of the top 100 most popular PS4 titles being compatible with PS5 at launch. In March, the company announced the PS5 would run in a "legacy mode" to support content made for the PS4 and PS4 Pro. Further Reading Sony details PS5’s fast SSD, variable clock rates, 3D audio tech For Sony, the specific compatibility list is less clear.
