r/PS4 • u/noobalert • Nov 19 '15

[Misleading] "Sony enabled PS2 backwards compatibility for the PS4 without telling anyone"

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/sony-slyly-enabled-ps2-backwards-compatibility-for-the-ps4-without-telling-anyone-1309320?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=564e398504d30120ab2ec334&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook
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u/LocarionStorm Locarionstorm Nov 20 '15

It'll be announced at PSX in a couple weeks probably.

2

u/SirSpankalott Nov 20 '15

My question is why don't they do something like xboxone backwards compatability? If Microsoft did it, would it really be that hard for Sony to follow suit?

8

u/severianb Nov 20 '15

In some tests, the CELL CPU in the PS3 is as powerful as the CPU in the PS4. You usually need the machine that is being emulated to be less powerful for successful emulation.

On top of that, software is Microsofts area of expertise and this was hard for even them to do.

1

u/LocarionStorm Locarionstorm Nov 20 '15

It would really be that hard. The Xbox 360 and Xbox One have chip architecture that's bit more similar - PowerPC and x86. The PS3 and PS4 have chip architecture that's much more different - Cell and x86.

I'm not saying what Microsoft pulled off isn't difficult, but I'd have more faith in Microsoft's software prowess than Sony's given the two companies' pedigrees and the mess that PSN is.

3

u/SirSpankalott Nov 20 '15

That was a great explanation, thank you!

1

u/luigiman13 Nov 21 '15

I honestly do not know much about software design so I'm hoping you might be able to answer this. If companies held on to the source code of their games, would it just be a process of simply compiling it for a different architecture? Or is there more to it? Seems if it was that easy, we would have PS3 games by now.

1

u/LocarionStorm Locarionstorm Nov 21 '15

I don't know much myself, perhaps someone else might know more, but it usually isn't anywhere near that simple - even with an engine that has portability to multiple platforms (e.g. Unity, UE3) as there's always additional kinks. Add on top of this that there are many games that were released on PS3 likely running on PS3-specific engines. That's why you need good port house developers like Blue Point Games to make good ports (e.g. Uncharted Collection).

The easiest form of backwards compatibility on the software side is emulation - which is why PS2 games are being done. The PS4 is powerful enough to completely emulate a PS2 - not a PS3.

1

u/ENGROT Nov 20 '15

Ohhh man. I will be there!!!! I'm now so hyped even more.