PlayStation Boss Jim Ryan Clarifies His Support For Legacy Games

Despite the success that the PlayStation 5 achieved in its short run so far since launching this past November, many still hold criticisms to the lack of legacy support on its platform. In that, the opposing Xbox Series X|S support up to four generations of hardware releases on the one device. However, the PlayStation 5 does not entirely dodge the situation as at least PlayStation 4 titles are available to play natively.

But, that does not leave the presumption that Sony Interactive Entertainment is not fond of the its preceding platforms. Apologetically, President & CEO Jim Ryan at launch for PlayStation 5 was upset to reveal PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 games could not be supported for the newest system. But, the PlayStation company did attempt to through discovered patents before the PlayStation 5’s announcement.

However, an interview with Time Magazine in July shared Ryan’s appeared distaste for previous titles when speaking on the contrast of the original Gran Turismo releases. “The PS1 and the PS2 games, they looked ancient, like why would anybody play this?” Ryan expressed in the interview then. But when speaking to Axios Gaming, Video Game Chronicles transcribes that Ryan is a large supported for older titles.

The point I was trying to make — obviously not very well — was just how great the PS4 version looked and how far the series had evolved. I certainly wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to our heritage. I guess my big learning from all of this is that when Kazunori Yamauchi unveils the next “Gran Turismo” side by side with its history, that I will keep my mouth shut.

What is important to recognize when considering this question about designing a new platform, is that time, engineering resource, and money are all finite, and that important trade-offs have to be made in terms of what’s included, and what’s not.

While Ryan’s comment on his original statement is understanding to be a misinterpretation for what he intended, actions from Sony Interactive Entertainment do appear to be lesser than desirable for previous generations. In that, it was attempted to dismantle the storefronts for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. But, the firm later retracted the decision only dismantling the PSP altogether.

Although the decision to pull the digital stores from PlayStation 3 & PlayStation Vita were cancelled thanks to user outcry, Video Game Chronicles did an analysis previous to the update revealing that roughly 2,000+ titles would be gone forever if the decision was executed. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you surprised by Ryan’s statement on legacy backwards compatibility?

Source: Video Game Chronicles