PlayStation 5 modders have demonstrated that Sony’s current-generation console can run PlayStation 3 games through an unofficial version of the RPCS3 emulator, with some titles reaching 60 frames per second. The development provides another indication that the hardware itself may not be the only obstacle preventing official PlayStation 3 backward compatibility on the PS5.
The latest development involves an unofficial RPCS3 port that runs directly as a native title on a jailbroken PlayStation 5, removing the need to install Linux first. RPCS3 is an open-source PlayStation 3 emulator, and the new PS5 version uses Vulkan for rendering through a PS5-compatible RADV implementation. It also uses the console’s SceAudioOut system for audio and ScePad support for DualSense controllers, while its interface is based on RPCS3’s Big Picture Mode. The project is still unofficial and requires a modified console, meaning it is not a solution available to ordinary PS5 owners through Sony’s software ecosystem.
Testing so far has been limited, with the port reportedly tested on a jailbroken PlayStation 5 Pro and only a small number of games. Need for Speed Carbon has been reported as fully playable, while the original inFAMOUS continues to experience performance problems. Earlier experiments with RPCS3 on PS5 hardware have also shown that some PlayStation 3 games can run at or around 60 frames per second, although performance varies significantly depending on how heavily individual games rely on the PlayStation 3’s Cell processor and its specialised processing units.
Sony currently does not offer native PlayStation 3 backward compatibility on the PlayStation 5. Selected PS3 games are available through cloud streaming for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers, but this differs from allowing users to run compatible games directly on the console. Earlier 2026 experiments using Linux and RPCS3 had already demonstrated that PS5 hardware could handle a range of PS3 titles, although some games remained difficult to emulate because of the architectural differences between the two consoles. The latest native RPCS3 port adds further evidence that the challenge involves more than simply having enough raw hardware performance. Official backward compatibility would require Sony to support and optimize emulation across a large library of PS3 games, while also ensuring consistent performance and compatibility. The current modding work remains experimental, and the small number of tested games means it cannot yet demonstrate broad PS3 compatibility. However, the progress is likely to keep interest in official backward compatibility alive as Sony develops future PlayStation hardware.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
