Backward compatibility is something that both Sony and Microsoft are focusing on with their next-gen consoles, but it also looks like it’s not an equal priority for both. While Microsoft are essentially doing more of what they have been doing for the past few year with their commendable backward compatibility efforts for the Xbox One and taking that forward into the Xbox Series X, Sony are instead seemingly playing catch up.
Both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X will be able to play the vast majority of the games in the libraries of their immediate predecessors, but while a selection of games for the original Xbox and the Xbox 360 will be playable on the Series X, so far, it seems legacy backward compatibility isn’t going to be a thing with the PS5.
Speaking to GamingBolt in a recently interview, Ozan Drøsdal – the creative lead for upcoming narrative adventure title Helheim Hassle at indie studio Perfectly Paranormal – gave his thoughts on this disparity. And though he expressed disappointment at the lack of legacy backward compatibility in the PS5, he said that ultimately, the thing that will matter the most will be the new games that release for both consoles.
“It is a little disappointing to hear that we still can’t use our PS2 libraries without dusting off the ol’ PS2,” Drøsdal said. “It is exciting to hear that we can use the original Xbox games on the Series X. But I reckon which console to choose will always boil down to the current gen of games anyway. Or you can always get both if you save up like crazy!”
Perfectly Paranormal’s Helheim Hassle is currently in development for the Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Our full interview with Drøsdal will be going live soon, so stay tuned for that.
