Sony Files Backwards Compatibility Patent

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by dyne

The only unknown is if either company can get a real wow factor at a decent price out of what's on the PC roadmap right now. If not they'll be forced to go custom which could throw a wrench into compatibility without a software solution.

Also you have to consider, why take out a patent for backwards compatibility? If it's done through hardware (i.e. backwards and forwards compatibility) I don't think you'd need that. Seems to me that it'll be software based and could point towards a custom setup.

Only thing that concerns me with custom build would be finding ourselves in a repeat of the PS3 where devs absolutely hated the the hardware and was a dog to port to.

BUT

At the same time it could save them money but also having custom chip sets can be more expensive since they aren't already mass produced.

Whatever they do though they should include backwards compatibility, ideally all 4 generations so they could really milk the 25th anniversary by being able to play all the old games.

Another thing they could do is introduce some of the Gaikai tech they have failed to utilise. I'm sure I remember them saying at one of the presentations that the plan was to be able to browse the store and instantly be able to start playing a demo of the game you liked the look of. So basically instant access to everything that is on the store. All games could have an instant 1 hour trial with the option to buy and download.