Backward compatibility for PS3 games continues to be one of the biggest topics among PlayStation fans. While many PS1, PS2 and PSP classics are now playable on modern PlayStation hardware, a large part of the PS3 library still remains unavailable on PS5 due to the console’s unique and complicated architecture.
Now, a new test by Digital Foundry has revealed how PS3 emulation performs directly on a standard PS5 using the RPCS3 emulator. The results are surprisingly mixed depending on the game.
Digital Foundry Tests RPCS3 Directly on PS5
Thanks to a recent Linux exploit, Digital Foundry was able to run the popular RPCS3 emulator natively on PlayStation 5 hardware.
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The team tested several major PS3 titles including Killzone 3, GTA 4, Ridge Racer 7 and Resistance: Fall of Man to see how well Sony’s current-gen console could handle PS3 emulation.
A major focus of the test was the PS3’s SPUs, the console’s specialized co-processors that were heavily used by developers during the PS3 era. These processing units are notoriously difficult to emulate even on powerful modern PCs.
Some PS3 Games Run Surprisingly Well
According to the tests, earlier PS3 titles that relied less on the SPUs performed very well on PS5 hardware.
Ridge Racer 7 reportedly ran smoothly at 60FPS in native 4K resolution, while Resistance: Fall of Man also delivered stable performance with enhanced visuals.
Killzone 3 showed promising results as well, reaching stable 30FPS at higher resolutions during certain test scenarios.
These games appear to benefit from simpler use of the PS3’s architecture, making them easier to emulate on modern hardware.
More Demanding Titles Push PS5 CPU to Its Limits
The situation changes significantly with later PS3 games that heavily utilized the console’s specialized processors.
GTA 4 reportedly struggled badly during testing, dropping to around 17FPS at 720p resolution. Metal Gear Solid 4 showed similar frame rate problems in demanding sections.
According to Digital Foundry, the issue is not the PS5’s GPU power but rather CPU limitations when trying to accurately emulate the PS3’s complex SPU behavior.
Some developers also used advanced post-processing techniques like MLAA anti-aliasing, which relied heavily on SPU processing and further increases the difficulty of accurate emulation.
PS6 Could Finally Solve the PS3 Compatibility Problem
The tests once again highlight why PS3 backward compatibility remains such a difficult challenge for Sony.
While certain games already perform surprisingly well through emulation, more advanced titles still require significantly more CPU power than the PS5 can currently provide in these scenarios.
Digital Foundry believes the PlayStation 6 may finally offer enough processing power to properly emulate PS3 games without major compromises across the entire library.
Until then, Sony will likely continue relying on cloud streaming and selective remasters for older PS3 titles.
