The PlayStation 5 is here, and if you’ve been playing on the PS4 for a while, you’re probably wondering: “Can you play PS4 games on the PS5?” Well, the good news is that yes, you can!
Sony has been making strides to ensure their next-gen console is backward compatible with a wide range of PS4 titles. This means that there are some games on the PlayStation library that you’ll be able to enjoy seamlessly on your new console.
But of course, nothing is ever that simple—there are certain aspects of this backwards compatibility policy that might make it challenging to keep up with your game library. In this guide, we’ll discuss all things related to PlayStation backwards compatibility. We’ll explore what it means, what games you can play, and any other considerations to keep in mind when transitioning over to your PS5.
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PlayStation 5 Backwards Compatibility Explained
Are you thinking of taking the plunge into the new PlayStation 5—but you’re worried about what’s going to happen to all your classic PS4 games? Don’t worry, you’re not alone—many people are asking: can I play my PS4 games on the PS5?
The answer is YES. Sony has recently announced that the PlayStation 5 will be backwards compatible with a library of PlayStation 4 games. This means, that regardless of which generation console you have, you can own, access, and play select PlayStation 4 titles on your shiny new PlayStation 5. So, when it comes time to upgrade, rest assured that your old PS4 game collection won’t be left behind.
Now, just what type of backwards compatibility is offered for the PS5? Well, for starters. Sony has announced that any disk-based or digital PS4 game will be playable with full graphical fidelity and improved loading times within a PlayStation 5 console. This means that when playing a disk-based game on the PlayStation 5, it will run at higher resolutions (up to 4K in some cases) and faster frame rates than it would on a PlayStation 4 console.
The Majority of PS4 Games Are Playable on PS5
Dreaming of playing the latest PS4 titles on your PS5? You’ll be glad to hear that the majority of PS4 games are playable on the new console! However, some games may run better or worse than their predecessors, so you may need to dive into the details when it comes to specific titles.
For starters, all digital and physical games released for PS4 are compatible with a PS5 console—but you’ll need to check with Sony if downloadable content made for the PS4 version of a game is compatible with the newer console. Some downloadable content may not be available at all. The good thing is that whether it’s a digital or physical game title, your Sony account will keep track of all your purchases so you can easily re-download them at no extra cost whenever you want.
Additionally, almost all PlayStation VR titles will be playable on both systems as well. Depending on how developers code their new games, some may be exclusive to either system and not playable cross-platform. So make sure you check if a specific game is backwards compatible before making any purchase.
How to Play Your PS4 Games on PS5
When the PlayStation 5 was released, one of the biggest questions gamers had was if they could use their old PS4 games on the next-gen console. The good news is that you can—during Sony’s launch announcement, they confirmed that nearly all of your PS4 games will be compatible with your PS5.
As long as you download or buy them from the PlayStation Store, you’ll be able to keep playing the same games on your new PS5. That said, some enhanced features may not be available on games that were designed for a previous console—so make sure to check out what improvements are included before purchasing.
Playing your old games on PS5 is easy! Here’s how:
- Sign in to an account associated with a supported digital game license on both consoles
- Log into your PlayStation Network account on both consoles
- Re-download any digital titles onto your new PS5
- Enjoy playing the same game on two different devices!
- If you don’t have a digital game license, you can buy a physical copy and insert it into your new PS5 console
Thanks to backwards compatibility, there’s never been an easier way to keep playing all of your favorite classic PlayStation titles. So get ready for another round with all of those games you loved from yesteryear—now with next-gen power!
PS4 Game Performance Boosts on PS5
You may not know that you can actually get performance boosts to some of your favorite PS4 games when played on the PlayStation 5. That means you can enjoy faster load times and better graphics quality with some of your existing console games.
PS5 Game Boost
The PlayStation 5’s Game Boost feature gives selected PS4 titles an upgrade, with smoother frame rates, improved resolution, and faster load times. This is a great way to get a bit more out of your existing library of games!
Supported Games
Not every PS4 game is compatible with the Game Boost feature, as there are a handful of specific criteria that need to be met for it to work. The most important one? You need a physical copy—digital versions don’t work. So head down to your closest store if you want to take advantage of this feature!
At the top of this list are enhancements for backwards compatibility between PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 software titles:
- Increased performance level: Up to 4x faster performance on select titles
- Improved resolution: Improved resolution up to 4K on select titles
- Faster loading times: Experience shorter loading times when playing certain games on the PS5
- Improved user interfaces: Enhanced user interfaces with additional features on select titles
PS4 Games That Won’t Work on PS5
When it comes to playing PS4 games on the PS5, there are some limitations to be aware of. Not all PS4 titles are backwards compatible with the PS5, so before you buy a game for your new console, be sure to double-check which titles will work.
Games that won’t work on the PS5 include:
- Any game that requires the PlayStation Move motion control wand
- Anything that requires the PlayStation Camera
- Games incompatible with Remote Play
- Disks or downloads of games only available on PS3 or earlier consoles
- Any game with added in-game purchases tied to a PS3 or earlier account
- Add-on content that must be used in conjunction with a disk or download of a compatible game.
The good news is that most of the popular PS4 titles will be playable on the PS5, but if you run into any compatibility issues, it’s best to check out PlayStation’s full list of incompatible games and add-on content before making any purchases.
Should You Keep Your PS4 if You Have a PS5?
If you have both a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 console, you might be wondering whether you should keep your PS4 or not. The answer depends on what games you want to play—while PS5 has quite a few backwards compatibility features, there are certain games that will only work on the PS4.
Here’s what you need to know:
PS4 Games On PS5: What You Need To Know
The good news is that yes, many of your old favorites from the PS4 days can still be played on the PS5. However, not all of them—many require a digital version before they can be played here.
Also important is the fact that some of these games won’t perform as well on the new console—they may run slower or have visual issues if you want to take in the full experience. It’s also tough to play online with friends who are still playing from the old consoles; this is because most titles will only work on one platform or the other, so cross-play isn’t possible in all cases.
So should you keep your Ps4 around? It really boils down to personal preference; if there are particular titles that are still best enjoyed on your older console, it might be worth keeping around for those moments when nostalgia strikes. And if online gaming with friends is very important to you, then keeping your Ps4 could make more sense than transferring everything over to the new machine.
Conclusion
Playing PS4 games on PS5 is a significant advantage of upgrading from PS4, and many titles should still work just fine with this new console. Although some titles are incompatible, you’ll be able to access an impressive variety of titles on PS5!
Take advantage of Sony’s commitment to backwards compatibility by enjoying your favorite PS4 titles while taking full advantage of all that the PS5 can offer – speed, graphics, and features that give an edge when it comes to game versions! Enjoy enhanced versions of them while taking advantage of all its capabilities on PS5!
