If you're deciding whether to upgrade from PS4 to PS5, then it's worth understanding just what will happen to all those PS4 titles you've collected over the years, and if you'll be able to play them on the new machine.
Also, with games like Horizon Forbidden West, Dying Light 2, and Elden Ring incoming for both PS5 and PS4, it's worth making sure you know all the options!
We've got everything you need to know about PS5 backwards compatibility, right here.
Can You Play PS4 Games On PS5?
Yes, you can play PS4 games on the PS5, however, there are some restrictions, as not all games are compatible.
The good news is that physical copies of games and digital purchases can be played on PS5, however, for obvious reasons only digital versions can be played on the Digital Edition console.
For those of us that have a vast collection of physical PS4 games, it could be worth spending the extra $100 / £100 and going for the Disc Edition over the Digital Edition PS5.
Which PS4 Games Will Not Work On PS5?
There are only a small number of PS4 games that are not playable on the PS5, they include:
- Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
- TT Isle of Man Ride on the Edge 2
- Just Deal With It!
- Robinson: The Journey
- We Sing
- Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
- Shadwen
All other PS4 games are playable on the next-gen console.
Do PS4 Games Play Better On PS5?
Some PS4 games will play better on PS5, however, this does not necessarily apply to all PS4 games.
With the PS5's faster internal SSD, PS4 games should experience faster loading times and smoother transitions.
Sony has stated "Yes. Select PS4 games will see increased loading speeds when played on PS5, and will also leverage Game Boost, offering improved or more stable framerates. Some games with unlocked or dynamic resolution up to 4K may see higher fidelity."
Read More: Best Monitor for PS5 - Our Top Picks
This suggests that some games will experience a 'boost' but this is not necessarily going to happen with every PS4 game.
Of course, if you're going to experience any games in UHD, you'll need a standout 4K TV or monitor to match.
Can I upgrade my PS4 game to PS5 version?
For some PS4 games, you will be able to up to upgrade them to the PS5 digital version on either edition of the console.
Depending on the game, this could be possible at no additional cost, however, with some games there will be an upgrade fee.
This can be achieved by either having the digital copy of a PS4 game or inserting a PS4 game disc into the PS5 and then navigating to the store page to see if that game is eligible for a PS5 upgrade.
Does my save data transfer from PS4 games to PS5?
Handily, if you are upgrading to the newer PS5 from your PS4, then you can transfer your saved data over from one console to the other.
This can be achieved in a few different ways:
Data Transfer On Setup - When first setting up your PS5, it is possible to connect up the two consoles via Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable and port over your PS4 data to the PS5, including apps, games and save files.
PS Plus Cloud Storage Download - If you're a PS Plus member then your PS4 data is readily available to download on your PS5 via cloud storage options in the settings, including individual save files.
It's just a case of going into the settings and going into where your save data is located and hitting 'Download' and your saves should all be there.
USB Drive Transfer - If you don't have PS Plus, then you can transfer your save data via a USB drive.
It's a simple case of copying your data over to the drive via the 'Saved Data Management' tab in the settings and then plugging the drive into your PS5, navigating to the Saved Data tab in the PS5's settings and then copying the data from your USB drive.
You can check out some of our top external hard drive picks for PS5 here.
Is the PS5 fully backwards compatible?
As you can play PS4 games on the PS5, it would be easy to assume that you could also play games from Sony's previous console generations on the PS5.
Unfortunately, it isn't possible to play games from the PS3, PS2 or PS1 on the PS5, and neither is it possible to play PS Vita games.
That being said many PS3 games have been remastered for PS4, like The Last Of Us, so you should be able to experience some classics.
Backwards compatibility also doesn't extend to even the best PS4 controllers. If you want to play PS5 titles you must either have a DualSense or one of the few new PS5 controller releases.
However, the good news is that your trophies from previous consoles should transfer over to PS5, provided you're using the same PSN account.
READ MORE: PS4 vs PS5 - Should You Upgrade?