Sony clarifies "overwhelming majority" of PS4 games will be backward compatible on PS5 Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Sony clarifies "overwhelming majority" of PS4 games will be backward compatible on PS5 Following confusion earlier this week. News by Matt Wales Reporter Updated on 20 Mar 2020 161 comments Earlier this week, confusion arose when PlayStation 5 lead architect Mark Cerny appeared to suggest that only a limited number of PS4 titles would be backward compatible with the new console. Now, however, Sony has moved to assure consumers that the "overwhelming majority" of PS4 titles will be playable on PS5. "Running PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro titles at boosted frequencies has added complexity," Cerny explained during his hour-long deep dive into the PS5's tech on Wednesday, "The boost is truly massive this time around and some game code can't handle it." As a result, said Cerny, testing has to be done on a title-by-title basis. "We recently took a look at the 100 top PlayStation 4 titles as ranked by playtime," he continued, "and we're expecting almost all of them to be playable at launch on PlayStation 5." Watch on YouTube Some onlookers, understandably given Cerny's choice of words, took that to mean PS5 users might only have access to a limited selection of the top PS4 titles through backward compatibility - a far cry from Microsoft's pledge that Xbox Series X users will be able to play every non-Kinect Xbox One title, and "thousands" of original Xbox and 360 games. However, Sony has now moved to clear earlier confusion, updating its recent blog post to offer assurances that it has currently tested "hundreds" of PlayStation 4 games and believes "the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles will be playable on PS5". "We're expecting backward compatible titles will run at a boosted frequency on PS5 so that they can benefit from higher or more stable frame rates and potentially higher resolutions," the company wrote, "We're currently evaluating games on a title-by-title basis to spot any issues that need adjustment from the original software developers. "In his presentation, Mark Cerny provided a snapshot into the Top 100 most-played PS4 titles, demonstrating how well our backward compatibility efforts are going. We have already tested hundreds of titles and are preparing to test thousands more as we move toward launch." Sony says it will provide updates on backward compatibility, along with further information on the PlayStation 5, in the coming months. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 10 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store