Sony’s aim with PS5 backwards compatibility is for legacy software program to run optimally on new {hardware}, however it’s additionally investigating methods it may run higher.
Sony beforehand revealed that backwards compatibility is a key characteristic in PS5, however we nonetheless don’t know precisely the way it’s going to work. As most questions stay unanswered, some have seemed to the corporate’s patents for a little bit of perception.
Sony lately up to date a patent that outlines the way it plans to make PS4 games run on PS5.
As noticed by Twisted Voxel, the patent web page shares a number of the key strategies Sony will probably be counting on as a way to guarantee legacy games don’t run into issues on new {hardware}. The patent description is full technical jargon, however there are few takeaways value discussing.
First, Sony will run the legacy game in query on the {hardware} it was designed for as a way to monitor efficiency traits. Then, Sony will run the identical game on new {hardware} to see how each information factors “converge”.
The aim of those checks is to tune the “operating parameters” of the brand new system to realize the identical degree of efficiency seen on outdated {hardware}.
Though this may appear counterintuitive, given the distinction in energy, Sony seemingly desires to make sure no new issues are launched. Although trendy consoles are extra much like PCs than ever, every era nonetheless depends on proprietary tech that makes platforms distinct. More highly effective {hardware} could not essentially translate to higher efficiency, therefore why Sony desires a like-for-like efficiency on new {hardware}.
As the methodology explains, nevertheless, that is solely the beginning. When testing concludes the legacy game is steady on new {hardware}, Sony will start optimising efficiency to see if the game may gain advantage from the upgraded {hardware}. This is completed till the applying fails, to find out the ceiling.
It’s a course of akin to overclocking on PC, of which optimisation and fine-tuning is a core half. The description doesn’t point out any change to legacy code, which may point out the intent is for outdated games to run on new {hardware} seamlessly. Whether that may be a blanket affirmation for all games launched on current-gen, after all, stays to be seen.
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