Backward compatibility is a great way to play your PS4 game library on your PS5 console. While the PS5 console has backward compatibility, there are some things you need to know about it.
If you have a PS5 with a disc drive, it’s as simple as putting the game in the drive and waiting for it to install. There’s a good chance it will require a software update because many developers have been releasing patches to make the games run better on the PS5.
You probably still have a lot of questions about playing PS4 games on your PS5. Not all games are supported, and the games that are supported might have some technical problems. Don’t worry; we’ll take you through the ins and outs of backward compatibility.
Playing Supported Games is a Simple Process
Playing a PS4 game on a PS5 is easy. There are different ways to do it if supported, depending on which version of the PS5 you have and how you purchased the game.
Once you put in a PS4 disc and install the game, you will open the application and play as you would on your PS4. The caveat is that you need to keep the disc in the drive.
If the game you have is digital, just navigate to your library on the console, install the application, and play.
For the PS5 digital console, you cannot play disc-based PS4 games. The PS5 digital console comes without the disc drive, and Sony has not released a way to upgrade those games. If you are entering the world of the digital PS5, you will only be able to play Digital PS4 games.
Which PS4 Games Are Not Supported on PS5?
While the vast majority of PS4 games can be played on PS5, there is a list of unsupported games. They are as follows:
- Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
- TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2
- Just Deal With It!
- Robinson
- We Sing
- Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
- Shadwen
These games will simply not work if you try to install them, but every other game will at least be compatible. Many games that do work experience glitches that need to be ironed out by the developers, but they also get to leverage the power of the PS5 through Game Boost.
Game Boost doesn’t have any bearing on the graphics, but it can give games higher frame rates. For example, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey can reach 60 frames per second without the user doing anything. It reached 30 frames on the PS4.
The developers have given many PS4 games updates to increase the resolution when running on PS5. The Last of Us 2 runs at a higher resolution after an update, as well as a higher frame rate.
Sony recommends that people boot up the games first before purchasing any add-ons to make sure they are happy with the performance. It does vary from game to game. You might be surprised to know that many PS4 games come with free upgrades to the PS5 version.
PS4 VR Games Work on PS5, But You Need an Accessory From Sony
The PlayStation VR was released in the final years of the PS4’s lifespan, and you’ll be happy to know that the games that take advantage of virtual reality work on the PS5. The only issue, however, is that the VR device does not connect directly to the PS5. Here are the things you need to take advantage of VR on a PS5:
- PS VR Headset: This goes around your head and allows you to feel like you are in the world of your favorite games.
- PlayStation Camera for PS4: This was required for the PS4, and you need it again because the technology relies on the camera. The new PS5 camera is not compatible with the VR for PS4.
- PlayStation camera adaptor: You can order the PlayStation camera adaptor from Sony for free, and it will allow you to enter the world of your favorite VR games.
Another thing to note is that the rules above about playing PS4 games on PS5 still stand, so you won’t be able to play a disc-based VR game on a digital PS5. Be well aware of that before deciding which PS5 console to purchase.
Pick Your Favorite Games and Have Fun
The best part of the backward compatibility on the PS5 is that it allows you to play many previous-generation games at current generation framerates, giving you the incentive to play them all over again.
Always be cautious of which PS5 console you want because if you have a bunch of disc-based PS4 games, you will need a disc-based PS5 system to play them.