Consoles
No backwards compatibility for PS4… ever
Many gamers expressed disappointment (and anger) when the most recent generation of videogame consoles (barring the Wii U) wouldn’t feature backwards compatibility. After being able to enjoy PS2 games on PS3 and Xbox games on the Xbox 360, this felt like a bit of a step back to some people. However, the tides seem to have turned – on the Xbox side at least, with Microsoft unveiling plans to introduce backwards compatibility to the Xbox One at this year’s E3. All eyes were now on Sony as to whether the PS4 will receive a similar upgrade. However, it appears that those hopes have been dashed.
On Twitter, when asked if the PS4 would ever receive backwards compatibility, Sony President Shuhei Yoshida responded with a very blunt “No.”
.@Raid_Zorde Non 😀 #AskShuhei pic.twitter.com/QnR9MJjm0a
— PlayStation France (@PlayStationFR) October 28, 2015
It seems that Sony are sticking to their guns; during E3 2015, they established that they had no intentions to introduce this feature. While this answer may upset some, it should be noted that the PS3’s backwards compatibility was “not so greatly used,” according to PlayStation Europe boss Jim Ryan. There’s also the fact that despite the lack of such a feature, the PS4 has still being selling considerably well. Back in July, it was revealed that over 25 million units had been shipped, tripling Sony’s profits. And this was before the recent price cut, which could improve sales even further.
As it stands, Sony has no reason to resort to adding backwards compatibility, meaning owners will have to make do with playing their PS3 games on their PS3’s, which, in all honesty, they most likely still own anyway. Xbox One owners, on the other hand, can look forward to backwards compatibility being added in a future update on November 12th. This update will allow specific Xbox 360 titles to be played on the Xbox One, both in physical and digital form. Titles include Kameo, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Mass Effect, with even more to come in the future.
Consoles
Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year
PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.
With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.
While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.
Consoles
New PS5 firmware is available for download!
A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?
Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:
- We updated system software security
- We improved system software stability and performance
- Some screens now have better messages and usability
That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.
Consoles
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Version Will Help PS5
Belgian developer Larian Studios’ work on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Series S version will improve performance on all platforms, including PS5. The game’s fifth major patch, expected to launch this week, will include upgrades and new features. More details will be revealed later today.
Director of Publishing Michael Douse says PS5 performance improvements may be the “least exciting thing” in the title’s next update, so it sounds like a big one. Larian Studios employees are proud of “finally” implementing tweaks, fixes, and changes, Douse says. Later today, we’ll bring you all the Baldur’s Gate 3 update details.
Those who reached the RPG’s third act have reported technical issues during the narrative’s conclusion, especially in co-op, so today’s update should fix them. New features like a permadeath mode are expected, along with Xbox Series S optimization fixes. What else should be added to the game?
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