Backward compatibility is a major concern for gamers who have built up a library of physical and digital titles over the course of years or decades.PC gamerstend not to have to worry so much about this since they just upgrade their hardware and games (for the most part) continue to play on them. When you buy a brand new box, however, you never know if your collection will carry forward.
The PlayStation 5is the latest in Sony’s line of consoles and offers the most robust backward compatibility yet, although not always in the most convenient way. You canplay your classicPS4, PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP games on your new hardware, but there are some nuances and exclusions you should know about before you sell off all your old consoles.
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 is a powerhouse of a games console. It knocks out 4K HDR graphics and up to 120 frames per second play on a compatible TV. There are thousands of games available for it already, and PS4 games will work seamlessly - sometimes with enhancements.
How does backward compatibility on PS5 work?
What older games can I play?
When a new console is developed, designers must carefully balance performance and price. Every piece of silicon they include has to justify its cost, and one thing that sometimes doesn’t make the cut is the ability to play older games from previous console generations. Fortunately, the PlayStation 5 is backward compatible with almost every PS4 game available.
Both the standard PS5 and Digital Edition are capable of playing PS4 games, but you can only play PS4 disc titles on the former machine. To do so, simply insert the disc as you normally would and install the game. Once it’s done, you can boot it up and begin playing. If that game has a PS5 version, you have the option to upgrade to the PS5 version, although it may cost a few dollars to upgrade depending on the game.
Your digital library, on the other hand, will carry forward with no issues on both PS5 models. So long as you’re using the same PSN account, all your owned titles will appear in your Game Library to download. you’re able to also transfer your games from a PS4 or PS4 Pro to the PS5 with an external USB hard drive or Wi-Fi to avoid having to download them again.
As with theXbox Series Xand S, backward compatibility is done through software emulation, which means some features and games may not work or exhibit bugs. However, you can also use the PS5’s Game Boost feature on some PS4 titles to play them at a smoother frame rate.
How to connect Bluetooth headphones to your PS5
Sony doesn’t make the process as easy as it should.
Can I play PSVR games on PS5?
The old headset on new hardware
Yes, anyone who already owns a first-genPlayStation VRheadset will be pleased to learn that it is fully compatible with the PS5. It will only work with the PS Camera, though, which needs an adapter. It will not work with the PS5’s own HD Camera accessory. The old PlayStation Move controllers and PSVR Aim Controller will also work with PSVR games on PS5.
Now that thePlayStation VR2is available, you are advised to pick one up if you want to play the newest virtual reality games on a PlayStation 5.
Original PSVR games will not work with a PSVR2, nor vice versa.
Will my save files be transferred?
No need to start over
Yes. As well as the games themselves, you may transfer your save data from a PS4 to the PS5 and carry on playing from where you left off. In many cases, PS4 cloud saves can be downloaded to a PS5 (for PS Plus members). However, that’s not an option for every title.
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PS5 backward compatible games list
Which gamesdon’twork
With more than 4,000 PS4 games able to be played on PS5, we can’t list them all here. Instead, it’s easier to list the ones knownnotto work.
There are also some PS4 games that may exhibit some issues or lack features when played on a PS5. You will see this message attached to a related game on its PlayStation Store listing: “When playing on PS5, this game may exhibit errors or unexpected behavior and some features available on PS4 may be absent.”
PlayStation Plus tiers explained: What you really get for your money
PS Plus offers three tier options to cater to different gaming needs.
What about PS3, PS2, and original PlayStation games?
Going retro
A large selection of legacy PlayStation games are available as part of a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription. It provides access to a classic catalog of PS1, PS2, PS3, and even PSP games to play via Sony’s own cloud gaming service. More classic games are added each month so make sure to check in on the catalog as it grows.
The Premium tier costs $17.99 per month, $49.99, or 3 months, or $160 for a year.
While you can download all PS1, PS2, and PSP games, PS3 games are only available through streaming. If you don’t have a strong enough internet connection, these games may not play smoothly or even be able to load.
