http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/21/playstation-4-not-backwards-compatible-with-retail-or-digital-games

I don't understand this. Don't people purchase PSN titles and own them? Why can't they transfer them to the new console? I was a bit upset at the way Nintendo handled the Wii digital title transferring, but at least they had a system (even if crude) in place. Sony is giving absolutely nothing.

Hopefully this changes between now and when the console releases. Digital profiles should be tied to the user and playable on any device that uses those profiles. If I bought a new PC and Valve said "sorry, you can't play your old Steam games on your new PC. Re-buy them!" I would be hella pissed.

The problem is that the two systems are fundamentally different architectures, you cant simply just move them over without essentially reporting every single game, a very time and cost intensive process. The wiiu and wii at least shared some similarities, the ps3 and ps4 are fundamentally different beasts.

This has been posted several times already.

"Why can't they transfer them to the new console?"

Because the PS4 will not contain the hardware required to run PS3 games.

Yeah, no BC...

You're right, you don't understand this.

These games aren't running through hardware or software emulation, they were coded for the PS3. If you want to play them on PS4, they would have to be ported.

This has me nervous that Microsoft will do the same thing, and I'll be out roughly $1000 in digital content all together (probably more). I had always just figured that the big three would just automatically allow this, and it never crossed my mind that they would not allow a transfer. I just don't get it. PS3 was not my console of choice, but I have at least $200 worth of PSN titles and DLC that will not be transferring to the PS4 it this is true.

It's because the PS4 can't handle PS3 games. The CPU is literally too weak.

Edit: And yes, the next Xbox will face the exact same problem.

Well luckily for me I don't buy games off of the Store.

Ok, unfair comparison, since I take it ps3 games don't work on ps4 and developers need to recode those games for them to work on ps4.

But apart from that, AGREED. From everything I've heard about ps4, this is the only thing that has pissed me off. Used games can be blocked, gt6 can take a decade in developement, but that's annoying as hell. And to everyone who says, keep your ps3, well it's easier said than done. As a student I live in tiny appartments over the years and don't have much space at all. My ps3 is in my living room and can't really have any more consoles there. 

Anyway, if they don't fix this, I'll just avoid getting one for a couple of years I guess. 

Retail PS3 games will not work either.