PS4: current-gen PSN purchases & saves won’t carry over

@Dave Cook
To be honest, we ask for our consoles to be cheap, but we ask for so much from them nowadays that it’s impossible for them to be so. Cuts need to be made.
As such, backwards compatibility with disc and digital based releases isn’t really going to be feasible considering the wildly different architectures of the machines.

This is probably another reason why Sony got Gaikai. Will put their back catalogue on the service and allow you to stream it to your PS4 as part of your monthly subscription.
No real biggy there. At least it’s not a second hand game blocker.

EDIT: Also, don’t forget, Nintendo started the precendent with WiiU. I also don’t recall howl’s of derision when it was annoucned NES games wouldn’t work on the shiny new SNES.

@46 +100

@#33 No your trolling. You really stuck to M$ofts script haven’t you?

@50

Like I said, I think you’ve read far too much into it. From the article itself – “just confirmed to us that current-generation PSN titles won’t transfer across to the PlayStation 4.”

To me, that sounds like PSN games (Journey, Unfinished Swan, Dead Nation, etc) won’t transfer over.

@51 “At least it’s not a second hand game blocker.”

Now that IS something we should all be thankful for. I wonder if it was a consideration at Sony some point down the line.

Well, this is unsurprising.

“You’ve paid for your content, and shouldn’t be asked to pay for it again”

You’re not being asked to. It will continue to work for the system you bought it for.

But there’s no obligation for on the part of someone who makes content today that says it will work on non-existent hardware that will come out in 8 years time. Or, if it doesn’t, to invest time and money making that change for absolutely no renumeration. And to spin this misconception as some sort of ‘right’ to which consumers should be upset about shows a huge lack of understanding of the topic (at best) or sensationlist straw-clutching (at worst).

29 makes a good point also.

JM

@52 are you mental?

I own and enjoy both the PS3 and Xbox 360. They’re both brilliant.

I’ve bought vinyl records, cassettes, cds, and digital copies of the same music. VHS, DVDs, Blurays, and digital copies of the same movies. This gamer entitlement shit makes me sick.

@55 That’s already happened Dave, the point of a closed system is to monetize it. You’re already being nickle and dimed for basic online services that are free on any other device, and you’re overpaying for digital downloads due to the lack of competition.

What you have is essentially this.

That battle has already been waged and lost. Some people look to the Steambox to shake things up, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

@Dave:

Pay for what again? Why are people going to buy the same, last gen, games?

If they trade in their PS3, I’d have thought that they could also trade their games in.

I’ve never personally spent more than a few hours playing a last gen game on a current gen console. The one that I did the most was probably OoT on Gamecube, but even then I didn’t finish it.

I disagree with you on this one.

You also have to look at it from Sony’s perspective. They’ve gone with a well known architecture (x86) to try and make it easier for developers to make better games.

The PS3 struggled initially, because it took people so long to learn how to code for it efficiently.

The new and old architecture are incompatible, so it’s a bit unreasonable to expect Sony to put themselves in a difficult situation just so that a few people can still play old games for a year or two.

Actually, I’d say that Sony are thinking of gamers with this move. They don’t want to have the sluggish ports any more. They want to make it easier for devs to make better games for gamers.

The original story does not mention the word purchases. It says “PSN titles”, not purchases.
I think this is Joystiq’s error.

Wow, wow, wow !!!

Let’s not get too excited on this. In the ENDGADGET article, Yoshida says:
“Because the architecture of the Power-PC-based PS3 and x86-based PlayStation 4 are so different, Sony WILL ONLY BRING ACROSS GAMES that don’t guzzle the latest console’s power in emulation”

So IT SEEMS PSN GAMES WILL BE BROUGHT ACROSS! The ones concerned (not transferred) are obviously the PS3 games based on CELL processors, but apparently not PSN games like Flower, etc.

So basically it just says what we already knew: PS3 games won’t be compatible with PS4, except via Cloud gaming

@OG
“There is zero reason to not build your platform going forward.”

Well there are some reasons. PS3 was a poor technical design – so do you stick with it for compatibilities sake or do you move forward with a better design? Sony have gone for the latter. It was a situation they helped fashion though, so they do deserve some flak for it.

Nintendo with the Wii-U have managed it but at the same time they have hamstrung their CPU to an extent in the past. Swings and roundabouts.

@59 I don’t think it’s entitlement to be fair mate, it’s because the digital frameworks are in place now that studios could just whack our previous digital purchases over to other platforms.

But you’re right in saying that music and film have been doing this for ages too. it could just be that gaming is still in its infancy and folk are yet to adjust. HD repacks only just started getting big two years ago. It’s a new step.

Dave, this is nothing new. When I bought a CD player, I had to re-buy all my tapes and LPs. BUT… those old formats still worked on my tape deck and record player!

Same goes wiith content for X360s and PS3s – we bought content for those systems, not their descendants.

I remember when Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel – I new that all my old programs wouldn’t work on new Macs… but they’d still work just fine on the Mac I currently owned.

If you want to future-proof your media, switch to PC and Linux and put up with the hassle involved.

@#43 The name semi comes from semi conductor and I don’t have to explain accurate. It’s a site aimed at the semi conductor industry and deals with the business end of things to. And they’ve been right about plenty of other things in the past too.

@61 “If they trade in their PS3, I’d have thought that they could also trade their games in.”

I think the point has been lost here a little man. It’s more that the Gaikai tech does allow for past game purchases to be transferred from PS3 to PS4, as it streams from their native tech, not the PS4s. That’s how Gaikai works. So all of this talk about the architecture changing can be skirted around if they really wanted it to be.

And yes I 100% understand and agree that making PS4 easier to develop on is a wise step. PS3 was a nightmare in its early days. That’s why Square made Crystal Tools, to make it easier to code for.

@66

PowerPC apps did work on Intel Macs for two (three maybe?) OS versions – there was software emulation (Rosetta). It’s gone now though.

@69: Good point, totally forgotten about that. I think I just ended up getting anew Mac so I could enjoy a new OS version and the point became moot.

Just wait a minute, so people like to buy ps4 to play ps3 games?
Its just not possible, is it that difficult to understand?

Now, if there was no BC, how were you supposed to play the old content? Its just ridiculous. Sorry people, this was bound to happen. And nothing to get angry about. This obviously doesn’t rule out emulation now.

@Dave,
You brought Streets Of Rage 12 times too right? Isn’t this the same thing?
And streaming isn’t free. I think you know that.

@62
That is a very good point.

@58 I assume you didn’t mean to ask Me (52) if I’m mental?

@73: Are you MENTAL?!?!?!?!?

Oh great Older Gamer a well know poster of VG24/7 who openly admits in 90% of his post he doesn’t even use his PS3 or care for PlayStation that much is so passionate about this news…..LMFAO

Truth is it is a let down and I am disappointed in SONY for this. What is the cloud game saves for? Why not take all this time and make software emulation and use it in the PS4 or find a Gaikai work around.

Then on the other hand I’m really not that upset because my PS3′s aren’t going anywhere. I have the original 20GB and 60GB with full 3 gen backward compatibility. They are used for gaming and media apps like netflix and that won’t change anytime soon. I can’t see SONY shutting off the PS3 from PSN anytime soon like Microsoft did with the original XBOX.

On the brighter side of things. This box has just been confirmed to be an all out PS4/media streaming box (Gaikai,Netflix,Hulu,etc) It should cost $299 at launch.

@74 Yes yes I am

@#45 Truth hurt? You’re the blind idiot! And I won’t go away.

Doc, use Gaikai. The how it works is more of Sonys issue them it should be the consumers. People expect more today. Consoles may well be closed hardware and all of that. But they are competing in a bigger more open world. The thinking behind consoles is just outdated.

@65 I understand it seems easy on the outside. Its digital. But some work would need to be done to get PSN games designed for PS3 working on different hardware. I would expect to pay for that work. And I’m not even talking about licensing. That’s a different issue all together.

@71 not really as I wasn’t forced to buy it again. This is forcing you if you want to get PS4 but can’t afford it without trading your PS3. This is my point basically. I’m just shit at explaining things sometimes.

Dave I think this article is factually inaccurate, which I’ve said twice now. Check the Engadget source.

“This is due to the architecture between PS3 and PS4 being so different. ”

same old bullshit !

well i just hope when they announce cloud gaming, that for those who have already purchased ps3 games, you enter a code of proof to get a copy of the game, without having to pay for it again.

It is the cusp of a new generation Tea. I am weighing my options. Digital content is a HUGE deal for me. I wrote several posts on it awhile back. I feel the same way about it across all platforms.

Stop making everything a Sony vs issue.

If MS do the same thing, I will be equaly as put off on suporting them.

@dave:

So wait, are you saying that you can insert a PS3 game into a PS4, and that the game data would be sent to GAIKAI, which would then stream it to your console?

How do you know all this?

If that’s not what your saying, then how is Sony going to know who owns what games?

What is surprising here is how many people are actually ok with it.
I know I am.
I just have a feeling that Sony are actually going to get this right. The thing is though. What Yoshida-san actually said was that they’d try and make digital purchases playable in some form. As detailed here:
http://www.edge-online.com/news/psn-purchases-wont-transfer-to-ps4/

@78
Yes that’s what they plan to do, but they haven’t actually said your *purchases* won’t carry over when they do this, they’ve said PSN titles won’t carry over to PS4 that’s all.

So SlayerGT you’re telling us you bought the Star Wars collection many times over on all those different formats

Not me. I have one format. Its called internet

Digital content sucks when the avenue for accessing or has been shut down. I learned this years ago in relation to consoles with the original Xbox.

“Now tell us about how angry this makes you below.”

GRR THIS MAKES ME ANGRY. SMASH! SMASH!

At first this actually did seem like a big problem, but then I reconsidered that PS1 and PS2 games didn’t have their saves transferred to the PS3 either and nobody complained about that. It’s a shame that we lost that functionality too, it was cool to be able to play PS1 games on the PS2 complete with the old saves.

I think one thing Sony needs to make absolutely sure they keep intact is transferring over trophies. I don’t think it would be a problem for me because I don’t play games just to get trophies, but I know there are a lot of people that do, and they would be angry to find out their years of getting trophies won’t mean anything with each new generation.

EDIT: Though PSN titles not transferring as well is a bit questionable. At least when it’s on a physical disc, you might be able to get the hardware and still play it offline even when the servers go down. If it’s something you can only get through the PSN store of the PS3, then the servers need to stay up for you to be able to re-download it in the future.

@82
What? Do you think the PS3 and 4 have the same architecture? Get your head out of your arse lad.

@85 that’s not what I said at all.

The idea of Gaikai is that you stream digital content on their tech, suing their servers. Like, say I had the lowest spec PC ever, I could stream Crysis at full spec on their rigs.

I know this (as in the Crysis PC example) because I’ve spoken with Dave Perry twice in person about it.

But no, what you said about PS3 streaming a second ago, that’s not what i said at all. Sorry if I confused the message a bit.

On how they will know, the licenses are tethered to your PSN ID. They track your purchases.

@Dave,
People don’t care about BC except die-hard gamers. Fact. Otherwise ps3 wouldn’t have been selling this well past few years.
There is no solution around this. Gaikai thing also requires additional resources. You wouldnt really think they would let you use servers just for free because you brought something for 5$ 5 years ago now do you?

I think people should get over this. If not, pc is always waiting. Don’t buy ps4 then. Not that it would affect sales though, ps3 just proves that.

Older Gamer I’m not saying your ideals are wrong I agree with them. But come on the second something sounds negative to the consumer from a SONY stand point you’re in the comment section heated about a console you rarely even use on a yearly bases. You’ve probably got like 3 trophies

I just find it funny that you don’t care for the console but quick to go see…I told you so…this is why I don’t invest my time in SONY products.

@Fin alright dude jesus christ, I’m on it

A little busy here.

@90 “Though PSN titles not transferring as well is a bit questionable. At least when it’s on a physical disc, you might be able to get the hardware and still play it offline even when the servers go down. If it’s something you can only get through the PSN store of the PS3, then the servers need to stay up for you to be able to re-download it in the future.”

Exactly, this is my point.

Once again, not having a go at anyone here (I know, I always say this), as this is a good wee debate we’ve got going here.

Incidentally, would you lot like to hear from team VG247 on this and other PS4 issues in a podcast? If so, I’ll run it by Pat again.

@Dave Cook (95)
Yeah, busy arguing with us. Now be a good boy and update the article saying that Yoshida stated that they’re looking at a different way to have previous gen titles playable on the system.

Surely the Gaikai features won’t be free either right? I am thinking “included with PSN+”. Just asking.

Okay… so not backwards compatibility, no PSN games and stuff bought… what should we do? I mean… Okay, yes “just keep the damn PS3 and get over it”. We never got the PS2 backwards on that console either… I’m buying a PS2 before a PS4 I think. Then, maybe around 2016… if there’s any money, the PS4 for the sake of it.

Diffrent Architecture makes it not easy, but not Impossible. What happend in this Generation, like in no Console Generation before, is that a lot of People put a lot of Money in a Online Network like PSN or Xbox Live. That really should count.

Do they have to make PSN Purchases available? No, its up to them, they can do what they want. But Customer Care is an Important thing, because the more Money somene has put in the PSN, the more upset he will probably be. Thats not a good Strategy here, and for me, its more about the Attitude and Customer Care of Sony than about the Point if I can download that stuff on my PS4 too.

Its just an Ugly Situation.