No. PS5 consoles do not play PlayStation 3 game discs. Sony explicitly says PS3 discs are unsupported, so a PS3 disc you own cannot be used as a game disc in a PS5. To play that physical copy, you need a PS3 console.
Why a PS3 disc will not work in a PS5
Sony’s PS5 backward-compatibility guidance states that PS5 consoles do not support PlayStation 3 discs. Sony’s PS5 disc safety guide likewise says PlayStation, PS2, and PS3 format software cannot be played from a disc. The restriction is about the game format, not a setting you can switch on: an adapter or ordinary system update will not make a PS3 game disc playable on PS5.
PS4 compatibility does not include PS3 discs
PS5 is backward compatible with the majority of PS4 games, according to Sony, but that is a separate compatibility feature. It does not extend to PS3 discs. Sony also notes that if you upgraded a PS3 game to its PS4 digital version and that upgraded game requires the PS3 disc to launch, the upgrade cannot be played on PS5 through that route.
What you can use to play a PS3 disc
Play it on a PS3 console
A PS3 is the direct option for a physical PS3 game. Sony’s PS3 manual describes starting a game by inserting its disc and identifies PS3 format software as playable on the system.
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- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold seperately
Stream a supported game through PlayStation Plus Premium
In supported markets, PlayStation Plus Premium offers streaming for selected PS3 titles. Streaming does not use your physical disc, and access depends on the game being in the current catalog for your region. Sony says availability varies by title and lists an internet connection of at least 5 Mbps as a service requirement in its PlayStation Plus catalog guidance. Check the current regional catalog before subscribing for a particular game; inclusion is not guaranteed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Slim Design, players get powerful gaming technology packed inside a sleek and compact console design.
- 825GB of storage, keep your favorite games raeady and waiting for you to jump in and play
- Ultra-High Speed SSD, maximize yoru play sessions with near instant load times for installed PS5 games
- Integrated I/O, the custom integration of the PS5 console's systems lets creators pull datat from the SSD so quickly that they can design games in ways never before possible
- Ray Tracing, immerse yourself in owrlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games
Rank #4
- Enjoy smooth and fluid high frame rate gameplay at up to 120 fps for compatible games, with support for 120Hz output on 4K displays.
- PS5 consoles support an 8K output, so you can play games on your 4320p resolution display.
- Maximize your play sessions with near-instant load times for installed PS5 games.
- 825GB SSD allows ultra-fast load times, while 3-D audio output produces crisp acoustics.
- Explore uncharted virtual territories and slay dragons with this sleek Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console.
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- 🚀 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
- 🚀 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
- 🚀 RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- 🚀 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
Rank #2
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output, 4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version; Wireless controller; USB cable, HDMI cable, AC power cord. Nogtox PVT HDMI_cable
Which option fits your situation?
| Option | Uses your PS3 disc? | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 console | No | Sony does not support PS3 game discs on PS5. |
| PS3 console | Yes | Play the physical PS3-format game using PS3 hardware. |
| PlayStation Plus Premium streaming | No | Stream only selected catalog titles where the service is supported; availability varies by game and market. |
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