New Sony PS5 patent hints at backwards compatibility with older consoles

According to a new patent discovered by Sean McIlroy, a new PlayStation patent suggests the PS5 could be backward compatible with older consoles. The patent was filed by Mark Czerny, PS4 and PS5 Lead System Architect.

The patent appears to detail a solution to the backwards compatibility issue for the new console by “Using Spoof Clock and Fine Grain Frequency Control”. Essentially, the patent suggests that the PlayStation may be looking to extend the new console’s backward compatibility options to older consoles beyond the PS4.

One of the biggest criticisms leveled against the PS5 was the lack of meaningful backwards compatibility for older consoles. Perhaps this is an important step in the right direction for the PlayStation, as it will make the PlayStation 5 even better than it is now.

A new PS5 patent could finally solve one of the console’s biggest problems

PlayStation fans were delighted when Sony confirmed that the PlayStation 5 would have some level of backwards compatibility. However, the community quickly became frustrated that backwards compatibility didn’t extend beyond PS4 generation games.

On the other hand, Xbox has been quite generous in this regard, as the new Xbox Series X can play almost every Xbox game ever made. This new patent simply suggests that PlayStation is at least looking into expanding the system’s backwards compatibility system.

Currently, in order to play PS3 generation games, players had to rely on cloud gaming services like PlayStation Now. However, the service is not available in all regions of the world, which deprives most players of the opportunity to play old games.