Ever wanted to play PS1 games on your PlayStation 5? The time may be approaching when using your current-gen game console for retro gaming action is a reality.
A November 2020 patent application spotted by a Redditor suggests that Sony is developing ways to make old games available on current systems. This may not be limited to the PS5, either. Could you be streaming games from PSNow to your PC in the near future?
The Sony patent outlines a process in which awards (or achievements) might be distributed to a player via emulation. The keyword there is emulation, of course, a method that Sony doesn’t use on the PlayStation 5 or 4. The patent description reads:
“A trophy trigger is detected during emulation of the game by comparing a memory value of the emulated game to a predetermined value and assigning the one or more trophies to the user based on the detected trophy trigger.”
It might be more than just the PlayStation classic and PSX games that are covered by this. PlayStation 2, 3, and maybe even PSP and PS Vita games could be revived by this patent.
One Redditor responds:
Sadly, patents are lodged for all sorts of technologies and development projects. It’s rare that they emerge from the wilderness. Whatever the truth of this and how it turns out, this is a tantalising glimpse of a future where the Big Three take retro gaming seriously.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.