The original Ratchet & Clank hits PlayStation Plus with a new Platinum trophy

Following its reveal at the September 3 State of Play, Insomniac Games confirmed that the 2002 original Ratchet & Clank is joining the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog later this year with native emulation and full trophy support.

The studio posted a quick update on Bluesky, telling fans they can "blast through the original adventure later this year." The game is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. You will need a PlayStation Plus Premium or Deluxe subscription to access it.

Escaping the cloud

For years, playing the 2002 game on modern PlayStation hardware meant relying on legacy cloud streaming. Sony offered the PS3 HD collection via the cloud, which introduced network latency, and that isn't ideal for a precision platformer. This upcoming release runs natively on the PS4 and PS5 hardware. It upscales the original PS2 code without the video compression artifacts of a streamed feed, finally giving players a responsive way to play the game on current consoles.

It also adds a fresh trophy list, complete with a Platinum. The new native emulation wrapper typically includes features like rewind functionality and custom video filters. Sony's recent PS2 emulation efforts on the PS5 have been a massive improvement over their earlier attempts on the PS4. Games like Sly Cooper and Tomb Raider Legend run beautifully on the current emulator. I am curious to see if they tied a trophy to grinding for the 150,000 bolt R.Y.N.O. Purchase. That specific weapon took hours of hovering over a race track in the original game.

The 2002 original versus the 2016 remake

Insomniac Games launched the franchise on November 4, 2002. The studio was already known for Spyro the Dragon, but this game established them as a powerhouse for 3D action-platformers. It introduced the Lombax mechanic Ratchet and his defective warbot partner Clank. The game pioneered a specific style of action-platforming that rewarded players for constantly swapping weapons mid-firefight. You didn't just jump on enemies. You deployed auto-firing glove turrets, tossed bombs, and used a massive wrench for crowd control. The formula worked so well that it spawned over 15 installments across four console generations.

Sony previously released a reimagining for the PS4 in 2016 to tie into the animated film adaptation. That version heavily revised the narrative and softened the cynical edge of the original characters. Ratchet became a wide-eyed hero, and the corporate satire was dialed back. This upcoming Classics Catalog release brings back the authentic PS2 experience. Chairman Drek's corporate greed remains intact, and Ratchet keeps his original, slightly abrasive personality.

A crowded retro roster

The addition joins a wave of retro titles announced during the September broadcast. Capcom's Dino Crisis 2 and Mega Man X: Command Mission are also slated for the service. Sony has been slowly filling out the PS2 section of the catalog after a sluggish start.

The exact release date hasn't been locked down beyond "later this year." Bringing Sony's own first-party mascots over natively feels like a necessary step for the highest tier of their subscription service.