PS Plus emulation could be improving in the most unexpected way TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. PS Plus emulation could be improving in the most unexpected way By Rhys Wood published 4 July 2022 Did you keep your old peripherals? (Image credit: Sony) Audio player loading… We hope you kept your old PS3 controllers and peripherals, because it's possible the PlayStation 5 might support them in future. A recently published PS5 patent shows that Sony could be planning to make older PS3 peripherals compatible with its latest flagship console. The new PS Plus includes a slew of older gen games from the original PlayStation to the PS4. Sony wasn't overly concerned with backwards compatibility last generation. But the success of Xbox Games Pass has given it a renewed focus on supporting older titles. And now it looks like it's doubling down with support for older hardware. The patent, which can be read here (opens in new tab), is titled "Systems and methods for converting a legacy code into an updated code." It largely focuses on methods of facilitating emulation on PS5. The most eye-catching diagram in this regard is 'Fig 14.' This diagram shows controllers and peripherals like the DualShock 3, EyeToy camera and the PSP Go. The intent seems to be creating a method by which these peripherals can connect to PS5, wirelessly or otherwise. (Image credit: Sony) Good news for PS3 fans PS3 emulation on PS Plus isn't exactly perfect. So far, the PS3 games available on the service have simply migrated from the (now non-existent) PS Now. On top of that (owing to the difficulty of emulating PS3 games), you can only stream these games via an internet connection. There's no option to download PS3 games as there is for every other generation featured on the service. However, what this patent could suggest is an effort on Sony's part to make PS3 emulation more robust, albeit in a fairly unexpected way. Supporting such a wide variety of peripherals on PS5 will open the floodgates on the kinds of games Sony can add to PS Plus. The EyeToy, for example, had a litany of games dedicated to its use. Then there's the DualShock 3, which was the first controller to support Sony's bespoke Sixaxis gyro aiming. Now, the PS5's DualSense controller does support gyro aiming, but official DualShock 3 support might suit those looking for a more authentic experience. That, and allow for more PS3 games with Sixaxis control options to launch on the service. It remains to be seen if Sony will act on this patent in any tangible way. As always, patents aren't a guarantee that the features laid out will undergo development. However, we're glad to see Sony is at least thinking of solutions to prevent its older tech from becoming obsolete. And it's doing so in a way that would cleverly add value to its PS Plus subscription service. So if you've got some older PS3 peripherals lying around and gathering dust, don't be so quick to throw them out. Sony might just have plans for these gadgets yet.Did you know: PS Plus Premium includes one of the best PS2 horror games? Rhys WoodHardware WriterRhys is Hardware Writer for TechRadar Gaming, and while relatively fresh to the role, he's been writing in a professional capacity for years. A Media, Writing and Production graduate, Rhys has prior experience creating written content for app developers, IT firms, toy sellers and the main TechRadar site. His true passions, though, lie in video games, TV, audio and home entertainment. When Rhys isn't on the clock, you'll usually find him logged into Final Fantasy 14, Halo Infinite or Sea of Thieves. See more Gaming news TechRadar Newsletter Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1RTX 4090 too expensive? Nvidia resurrects another old favorite2Blizzard made me explain Overwatch 2 smurfing to my mum for nothing3Apple October launches: the new devices we might see this month4Google's AI editing tricks are making Photoshop irrelevant for most people5Nvidia RTX 4090 Ti reportedly canned due to sky-high power consumption1Best laptops for designers and coders 2The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me3Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie4iPhone 15 tipped to come with an upgraded 5G chip5Google Pixel Tablet is what Apple should've done ages ago Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)