Shadow Complex Remastered may have been the most high-profile PS4 game to not be backward compatible on the PS5. However, that has changed, as Chair Entertainment announced that Shadow Complex Remastered is now playable on the PS5.
Shadow Complex is an action platformer that originally released on PC and the Xbox 360 in 2009. Critics gave the game rave reviews upon release, with several outlets calling the title one of the greatest arcade games to release on the Xbox 360. The game received numerous award nominations, including nods from the Game Developers Choice Awards and the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards. Shadow Complex amassed a cult following in the years after, which led to the title receiving a remaster for PC, Xbox One and PS4 in 2016.
But while Shadow Complex remained popular among a group of loyal fans, the game has become more obscure since it released more than 10 years ago. Perhaps that is why Sony announced in October that it was one of the 10 games that would not be backward compatible for the PS5 at launch. The reasoning for why the 10 games were not backward compatible is unclear, but it is worth noting that all of them were lesser known titles. But now, Shadow Complex Remastered is playable on the PS5.
Of the 10 backward incompatible games originally announced, these remain unplayable on the PS5:
- DWVR
- Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
- TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2
- Just Deal With It!
- Robinson: The Journey
- We Sing
- Hitman Go Definitive Addition
- Shadwen
- Joe’s Diner
Many gamers may have never heard of the games above, with the exception of Hitman Go. Their obscurity is likely the biggest reason why they are not backward compatible on the PS5, and it seems that they will stay that way unless enough fans show interest in them being made playable on the new system.
In March, PS5 Lead System Architect Mark Cerny said that each PS4 title would have to be tested on a “title-by-title” basis for the PS5, sparking speculation on how many games would be backward compatible on the PS5 at launch. Any worry that fans may have had regarding the amount of games that would be backward compatible was alleviated last month, when Sony confirmed that more than 4,000 games would have backward compatibility.
Some PS4 games even receive enhancements when played on the PS5, such as better frame rates and faster load times. It is not clear if Shadow Complex Remastered will have any of these improvements, but at least fans have confirmation that they will be able to play one of the Xbox 360’s best arcade games on the PS5.
Shadow Complex Remastered is available on PC, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, with backward compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Source: Polygon