Currently, PlayStation Plus Premium only allows streaming of PlayStation 3 games, unlike PS1, PS2, and PS4 titles, which can be downloaded and played locally on the PS5. The limitation stems from the PS3’s unique hardware architecture, which used a complex processor that is difficult to emulate or port to modern platforms. This has made running PS3 games natively on newer PlayStations a significant technical challenge, which is why most PS3 classics have not been re-released beyond streaming or specific remasters.
Recently, Bill Litshauer, CEO of Implicit Conversions—a studio known for bringing classic PlayStation titles to PlayStation Plus Premium—revealed that they are working on a PS3 emulator. In an interview, Litshauer said the project is in early stages, describing it as “technically possible” for current and future PlayStation hardware, especially the PS5 and eventually the PS6. However, Litshauer explained that PS2 support is a higher priority due to greater demand, and the PS3 emulator effort is being explored in collaboration with third-party partners as a long-term, lower-priority initiative.
The broader emulation community has demonstrated real progress in PS3 emulation on PC, with open-source projects like RPCS3 successfully running hundreds of PS3 games. This shows that technical obstacles, while significant, are not insurmountable. Native emulation on PlayStation hardware may be feasible if resources and development focus continue to increase in the future.
If Implicit Conversions or Sony officially launch native PS3 emulation for the PS5 or later systems, it could eventually enable PlayStation Plus Premium users to download and play PS3 classics instead of relying solely on streaming. However, this is not guaranteed and would depend on future development milestones and Sony’s support. For now, PS3 games on PlayStation Plus Premium remain stream-only, but advancements in emulation provide some optimism for eventual change.
