While many older PlayStation games have been remade or ported to other platforms, it’s always fun to experience them in their original form. And, while the PS5 is backward compatible with practically all PS4 games, the only option to play PS3 and PS2 games on Sony’s latest machine is via the soon-to-be-defunct PlayStation Now service or the redesigned PlayStation Plus.
Having said that, subscriptions are a convenient way to preserve rare older games. Subscriptions are one way to keep older games accessible as some digital game storefronts close and technology becomes antiquated. However, Sony — and Nintendo — appear to be moving toward making retro games subscription-based and relegating them to the most expensive tier. And, unlike with Nintendo’s Virtual Console, there is no opportunity to purchase older games individually on the PlayStation 5 or the Switch.
