Let's say I splurge and spend $400 on a Playstation 4 for my nephew. His favorite games are Fallout 3 and Skyrim. I looked at Amazon and Newegg but couldn't see either game for Playstation 4.

Is it in fact true that if one buys a brand new Playstation 4, they CANNOT play blockbuster titles like Fallout 3 or Skyrim???

Yes, the PS4 (like the Xbox One) has no backwards compatibility due to the x86 architecture. If the game box does not specifically state "game for PS4"... it means that it will not work.

Edit: Ninja'd by Grargar... again!

Thank you very much. I was getting that vibe from my shopping, but it seems so outrageously stupid that I thought I should ask.

Reason number 1,348,284,392,202 why I hate fucking consoles.

yehees because off course it should be expected that the ps4 plays aaaaaaaaal the previous playstation games
(sarcasm )

even if they were on different architectures

and while we are at why not complain to nintendo that the wii U doesnt play cube games any more

You own Sony? Or did you personally engineer the PS4?

If not, WTF do you care about what I think about it??? The only people that should get butt hurt about me not liking consoles are the sellers, owner, or makers of consoles.

I like chocolate ice cream. Do you like a different flavor??? How about I get all sarcastic about you not liking chocolate ice cream, because, you know, that somehow affects my life personally.