Sony has admitted that backwards compatibility used to be a standout feature, gaining much appreciation until it was phased out during the PS4 era. Many have speculated that changes in console architecture were behind its absence on the PS4. However, a now-notorious comment from former executive Jim Ryan back in 2015 implied that Sony didn’t really see much worth in keeping backwards compatibility.
### ‘Why would anybody play this?’ – Jim Ryan on PS4 Backwards Compatibility
On a special webpage launched to mark PlayStation’s 30th birthday, Sony fondly recalled how backwards compatibility became a surprising yet celebrated feature during the PS2 days. At that time, it was quite a rare find, earning praise from gamers everywhere.
“PlayStation made a bold, consumer-friendly move that caught everyone off guard, delighting those with collections of games from earlier generations,” reads a segment focused on the feature.
In 2015, Ryan was asked about the lack of backwards compatibility on the PS4. He explained that while it’s something players often ask for, it’s not something they use a lot. “I recently attended a Gran Turismo event where they had games from PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4. Frankly, the PS1 and PS2 games looked so outdated that I wondered why anyone would want to play them,” Ryan mentioned to TIME, which sparked quite a bit of backlash.
Even today, there’s a strong demand for re-releases of older PlayStation games, and they remain popular picks on PS Plus Premium. Sadly, players can only stream PS3 games, and that’s only an option in certain countries.
