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The dream of a unified PlayStation experience on the PS5 is seemingly over, as Ubisoft has confirmed that the upcoming system will only be backward compatible with PS4 games, and not PS3 or PS2 titles. The PS4 had no backward compatibility feature, which was something that the Xbox One had over it.

There have been rumors circulating about PS5 backward compatibility since the system was first announced. According to numerous leaks, patents, and rumors, the PS5 was going to be compatible with games from every PlayStation system, with the possible exception of the handheld consoles.

Sony has officially confirmed that the PS5 will be compatible with PS4 games, but it seems that's as far as it will go. The FAQ section on the official Ubisoft website has a question about upgrading games from PS4 to PS5. The answer says that there will be an upgrade process to allow games to transition from PS4 to PS5 and that PS4 players will be able to jump in on multiplayer games with PS5 players. The answer also confirms that the PS5 will only be backward compatible with PS4 games, and there will be no compatibility on PS3, PS2, or original PlayStation games.

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It's disappointing to learn about the limited backward compatibility of the PS5, especially following all of the leaks and rumors over the past year. The fact that it's compatible with PS4 games is certainly an upgrade from what the PS4 was capable of, but it seems like Sony is ignoring a large part of its old library and leaving it to collect dust. It's possible that more compatibility will be patched in at a later date, but Ubisoft seems sure that it's just PS4 games for the time being.

Microsoft is making cross-generational play a huge part of the Xbox Series X's marketing, with the idea that fans won't need to upgrade straight away. Sony is taking the opposite approach, with PS5 games staying exclusive to that system (at least for the time being). The exact list of PS4 games that will be compatible with the PS5 at launch have yet to be revealed, nor how the system will work. It's great that the PS5 generation will be spared the "Definitive Editions" of previous-gen games, like in the early days of the PS4's lifespan, but the absence of backward compatibility with the older systems is something that is likely to frustrate fans who were expecting more.

The PS5 is due to be released during the 2020 holiday season.

@chinski, you should consider this if you think buying a PS5..