When Nintendo announced their backwards compatibility plans for the Wii U, they ensured that you would be able to play all of your purchased Wii games, physical, digital, or Virtual Console purchases, on your Wii U right off the bat, without any catches, for free. When they ultimately started enhancing their Virtual Console games for Wii U functionality, they did charge a minor upgrade fee (usually a dollar per game), but it was optional, and honestly more or less fair. Keep in mind Nintendo did this without having the much vaunted proper account system.
When Microsoft announced their backwards compatibility plans for the Xbox One, they promised and ensured that the compatible games would be available for Xbox One owners for free, without any catch, with both the disc and digital versions being compatible.
Sony, the company that proclaims it is for the gamers, however, has not done this. According to the leaks obtained by NeoGAF (which are what leaked the PS2 BC for the PS4 in the first place, I remind you), your disc based PS2 games, and your PS2 Classics that you have already purchased on the PS3 before, will not translate to the PS4. I can live with the PS2 discs not being compatible; the PS2 is, after all, two generations and 15 years ago. But why are my digitally owned PS2 games not compatible on the PS4? Why do I have to rebuy them?
Even if it is a new emulator that Sony has designed for the PS4 (which it almost certainly is), there is no technical limitation preventing them from enabling players to play already purchased PS2 games on the PS4, as and when they get made available- all that is needed is a license check. Instead, we have to rebuy these games again.
I’d have taken something like the Wii U solution on the PS4, if the argument Sony will make here is that the PS2 emulator on the PS4 will enhance the games with major new features! I’d have paid a small upgrade fee, then! It would have been better than having to buy another goddamn copy of a game I potentially already bought at least twice before a third time. But no, now I have to purchase GTA: San Andreas for a third time.
It is a scummy and anti consumer move, and goes directly against Sony’s stated ‘4ThePlayers’ mantra. I really hope that the official announcement clears this up to be a misunderstanding.