Backwards Compatibility
The PlayStation 4 has dominated the Xbox One in the vast majority of departments ever since the two released. Whether its exclusive titles or sales figures, Sony has been the apparent winner. But there is one thing that Microsoft has had the entire time that PlayStation fans have been begging Sony for, and that is backward compatibility.
Ever since launch, the Xbox One has been backward compatible, meaning that old Xbox and Xbox 360 games can be read and played when they are inserted into the newest gen consoles disc drive. This eliminates the need to buy the games all over again. The PS4 does not feature this ability. Instead of backwards compatibility, Sony has attempted to solve the situation similarly to Nintendo, by updating and reselling the older hardware.
Similar Nintendo’s NES Classic, Sony has revealed a PlayStation Classic. This updated first gen console will feature 20 built-in games and will also be HDMI compatible. This may excite a lot of fans but it’s not the same thing as having a fully compatible PS4. If the PS4 were compatible, there would be no need to spend $99.99 just to buy an old console and its old games, especially if you already bought them as a kid. It all seems greedy in comparison to how Xbox has gone about the issue and likely won’t bode well if the same thing occurs with the PS5.
