The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →You can prepare your PS5 library now, but Sony has not confirmed whether PS6 will play PS5 games, restore PS5 saves, retain digital entitlements, or support PS5 storage devices. Keep control of the PlayStation account tied to your library, understand where your saves are stored, and treat today’s PS4-to-PS5 transfer process as guidance for managing your current console—not a promise about PS6.
What can you prepare now—and what is not confirmed?
Sony documents transferring supported data from a PS4 or PS5 to a PS5. The instructions cover using the same account, moving eligible data, and accessing games on the destination PS5. They do not establish a PS6 migration policy.
In the official material available here, Sony has not confirmed whether PS6 will play PS5 games, restore PS5 saves, preserve PlayStation Store entitlements, support PS5 M.2 SSDs or USB extended storage, or include a disc drive. The previous PS4-to-PS5 transition is not evidence that any particular feature will carry forward. Check official PlayStation support when Sony announces a new console.
Will I keep my PlayStation account and digital games when I upgrade?
Sony’s current transfer guidance uses the same PlayStation account on the source and destination consoles. That is a practical reason to keep access to the account you use for your library; it is not confirmation that PS6 will handle accounts or digital purchases the same way.
#1 Best Overall
- Up to 6TB[1] that can hold up to 150 games[3], so that you can save old favorites and still have room for new titles.
- Portable form factor with sleek metal top covering that provides fast access to your growing game library
- Speeds up to 130MB/s[2] to push your console or PC to new levels
- Compatible with Xbox Series X|S (play and store Xbox One games / archive Xbox Series X|S games) and PlayStation 5 (play and store PS4 games/archive PS5 games) consoles
- Premium HDD with 3-year limited warranty, purpose-built for gamers based on WD_BLACK quality and reliability
For a current PS5, digital games can be downloaded from the Game Library. A game’s account entitlement is separate from its installation: re-downloading a game gets the software onto a console, while saved data is handled through a separate transfer or storage path. Sony’s instructions describe moving supported account information, saved data, captures, playable games, and certain settings, but eligibility varies by source console and by whether you are transferring during initial setup or later.
To prepare without making assumptions about a future console:
- Keep access to the PlayStation account that owns or accesses your digital library. Do not create a replacement account solely in anticipation of PS6.
- Keep your PS5 system software current and synchronize trophy information, both of which Sony lists among preparation steps for its PS4/PS5 transfer workflow.
- Keep physical game discs you want to use. A disc-based game requires a compatible disc drive; PS4 game discs cannot be used with PS5 Digital Edition.
How do I transfer my PS5 saves to a new PlayStation?
Sony currently documents PS5-to-PS5 transfer, not PS5-to-PS6 transfer. For a new PS5, its transfer tool can move supported saved data and other eligible content. Sony also lists PlayStation Plus cloud storage as a saved-data option. Check that the saves you care about have uploaded; the existence of cloud storage does not guarantee that PS6 will restore them.
Rank #2
- Built-in 4TB Capacity USB 3.0 External Gaming Hard Drive (7200RPM Enterprise HDD, designed for 24/7)
- You can play PS4 games directly from USB extended storage, which lets you save space on your PS5 console storage for PS5 games. To play PS5 games, you need to copy game data from your USB extended storage drive back to your PS5 console's internal SSD storage. It’s much quicker to copy a PS5 game from USB extended storage than to re-download it.
- Compatible with PS5 Game Console, Expand game console storage instantly! NOTE: You cannot download PS5 games direct to USB Hard Drive, It has to download to internal SSD and then "Move/Copy" to USB HDD after that. (about 3 ~ 5 min transfer a game)
- PS5 Game has to play on internal SSD, you can "Move & Store" your PS5 Games from SSD to USB HDD when you're not play it. And it's always faster than re-download it online. That will free up your Internal SSD Space for more games.
- This external hard drive boasts a brand-new, premium HDD case paired with a excellent refurbished, top-tier internal 7200RPM enterprise hard drive from a leading manufacturer. With zero bad sectors and 100% health, it has passed rigorous factory quality tests to ensure exceptional performance and reliability. Fully researched and tested for outstanding performance and compatibility with PC & gaming consoles, it stands as the top choice in external gaming hard drives.
The important limitation: Sony says PS5 saved data cannot be copied from a PS5 console to a USB drive. A USB drive is therefore not a complete PS5 save backup.
Current options by data type
| What you want to preserve or use | Current PS5 option | Key limit |
|---|---|---|
| Digital game | Download it from the Game Library or transfer eligible game data. | Downloading a game is distinct from transferring its save data. PS6 entitlement and download policy are not confirmed. |
| Disc-based game | Insert the disc to install or play it on a compatible disc-drive console. | The disc must remain inserted to play. PS4 discs do not work with PS5 Digital Edition. |
| PS4 saved data | Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage or copy saves to USB. | These are documented current options; future PS6 restoration is not confirmed. |
| PS5 saved data | Use a supported console transfer or PlayStation Plus cloud storage. | Sony does not provide a USB-copy option for PS5 saves. |
| Game installation data | Use network transfer, eligible USB extended storage, or supported M.2 storage procedures. | Install data is not the same as a save or ownership entitlement. PS6 support for these devices is unknown. |
Will my PS5 games work on PS6?
Sony has not confirmed PS5 game compatibility on PS6 in the official material covered here. Do not infer it from current PS4 compatibility on PS5: Sony says PS5 supports the “overwhelming majority” of more than 4,000 PS4 games, but that statement applies to PS4 games on PS5, not PS5 games on a future console.
Even the current PS4-on-PS5 support has exceptions. Some games may lack PS4 functionality or show errors or unexpected behavior, and Sony notes that its list of PS4-only titles can change. Its compatibility guidance recommends trying a game before buying add-ons for it.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Digital and physical games also have different current requirements. Digital games can be downloaded from the Game Library. A disc game needs a compatible disc drive, and the disc must stay inserted to play. Those PS5 rules do not establish what disc or digital-game support PS6 will have.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should I buy an external SSD now for PS6?
Buy or use external storage for a present PS5 need, not on the assumption that it will work with PS6. Sony’s current PS5 storage guidance distinguishes game installations from saved data: USB extended storage can hold PS4 game data, while PS5 games must be moved back to console storage or M.2 storage before they can be played. The storage matrix also lists M.2 storage for PS4 and PS5 game data, cloud storage for saves, and USB copying for PS4 saves—but not PS5 saves.
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Sony has not confirmed that PS6 will accept a current external drive, PS5 M.2 SSD, or USB extended-storage device. Wait for official compatibility and format requirements before buying hardware specifically for a future console. If you need storage on PS5 today, choose it based on the PS5’s documented requirements and the kind of data you need to store.
Quick Recap
A practical PS5-to-future-console checklist
- Protect account access: Keep using and maintain access to the PlayStation account associated with your library.
- Know what each backup contains: Game installations, game entitlements, and saved data are separate. A drive containing game data does not automatically preserve saves or purchases.
- Check saves: If you use cloud storage, confirm that wanted saves have uploaded and check your PlayStation Plus status. If you need to preserve PS4 saves, USB copying is currently supported; PS5 saves cannot be copied to USB.
- Keep discs you rely on: Current disc-based play requires a compatible drive, and future disc support is unknown.
- Prepare a current-console transfer only when needed: For the documented PS4/PS5-to-PS5 workflow, use the same account, current system software, synchronized trophies, and the same network on both consoles. Transfer eligibility depends on the source and timing.
- Recheck official guidance at launch: Confirm PS6 compatibility, account, save, disc, and storage policies with PlayStation once they are announced.
