5 min read
Can you play PS4 games on PS5? Yes. Sony’s own position is that the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 games are playable on PS5 consoles.
The part that costs people money is not the compatibility. It is the console you buy. Choose the Digital Edition and your entire PS4 disc collection becomes unplayable — permanently, with no workaround.
The mistake: buying a Digital Edition with a disc library
Sony states plainly that PS4 game discs cannot be used with the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.
There is no adapter, no external drive option, and no way to register a disc you own to your account. If your PS4 library is physical, the Digital Edition makes it worthless to you overnight.
One further detail that surprises disc owners even on the standard console: the disc has to stay inserted every time you play, even after the game is installed. The disc is the licence check, not just the installer.
So the decision rule is simple. Physical PS4 games you intend to keep playing mean you need a PS5 with a disc drive.
The six PS4 games that do not work on PS5
Guides usually say “a handful of games” or quote a percentage. Sony actually names them. These titles are playable on PS4 only:
- Afro Samurai 2
- Just Deal With It!
- Robinson: The Journey
- We Sing
- Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
- Shadwen
Unless one of those is a favourite, compatibility is not your problem.
Can You Play PS4 Games on PS5 Without Issues?
Mostly, but Sony is more careful here than most articles are, and the caveats are worth reading in their own words.
Sony notes that some functionality available on PS4 may not be available on PS5, and that some PS4 games may exhibit errors or unexpected behaviour when played on a PS5.
Their recommendation follows from that: before buying add-ons to use with your PS4 games on PS5, boot and play the game on the PS5 first to check you are happy with the experience. That is sensible advice for anyone about to spend money on DLC for an older title.
Game Boost: what actually improves
PS4 games do not automatically become PS5 games. What some of them get is Game Boost, which Sony describes as making select PS4 games run with a higher or smoother frame rate.
Note the wording: select games, and frame rate. This is not a resolution or texture upgrade, and it does not apply across the board.
Loading times are the improvement you will actually feel everywhere, because that comes from the PS5’s SSD rather than from any per-game feature.
Separately, some games offer a genuine PS5 version as a free or paid upgrade. That is a different thing from backward compatibility — it is a native PS5 build, and worth checking for in the PlayStation Store before replaying an old favourite.
How to play your PS4 games
Digital games
- Sign in to the PS5 with the same PlayStation Network account you used on PS4.
- Open Game Library.
- Find the PS4 title and download it.
Your purchases are tied to the account, so nothing needs rebuying.
Disc games
- Insert the disc into a PS5 with a disc drive.
- Let it install.
- Keep the disc in the console whenever you play.
Moving your saves across
Three routes work: PlayStation Plus cloud saves, a USB drive, or a direct transfer between the two consoles on the same network. Do this before you sell or wipe the PS4.
Accessories: the part with real exceptions
This is where “it all just works” stops being true.
- DualShock 4 controller — works for playing PS4 games, but cannot be used for PS5 games. If you only own DualShock 4 pads, local multiplayer on PS5 titles needs new controllers.
- PSVR — the original headset works with PS4 games, but requires the PlayStation Camera adapter, since the PS5 does not have the same camera port. Do not assume it plugs straight in.
- Headsets — wired and most USB headsets carry over without trouble.
The controller limitation catches people out more than any other item on this list, because the pad pairs and charges normally — it simply refuses to launch PS5 titles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you play PS4 games on PS5?
Yes. Sony states that the overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ PS4 games are playable on PS5 consoles, with six named exceptions.
Do PS4 discs work on the PS5 Digital Edition?
No. Sony confirms PS4 game discs cannot be used with the PS5 Digital Edition. You need a PS5 with a disc drive.
Which PS4 games do not work on PS5?
Afro Samurai 2, Just Deal With It!, Robinson: The Journey, We Sing, Hitman Go: Definitive Edition and Shadwen are playable on PS4 only.
Do I need to keep the disc inserted?
Yes. Even after installing, the disc must be in the console each time you play.
Will my PS4 games look better on PS5?
Loading is faster on every game thanks to the SSD. Beyond that, select titles get Game Boost, which Sony describes as a higher or smoother frame rate — not a visual overhaul, and not universal.
Can I use my DualShock 4 controller?
Only for PS4 games. PS5 titles require a DualSense controller.
Do I have to rebuy games I already own?
No. Digital purchases follow your account, and discs work on a disc-drive PS5. Some games offer an optional PS5 version, which is a separate upgrade.
Should I buy DLC for a PS4 game to play on PS5?
Sony advises booting and playing the base game on your PS5 first to confirm you are happy with it, since some PS4 games can behave unexpectedly on PS5.
Sources
- PlayStation Support — Backward compatibility: PS4 games playable on PS5 consoles
