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Most PS4 games work on PS5: Sony says the console plays the overwhelming majority of more than 4,000 PS4 games. For a disc game, insert the disc into a PS5 with a disc drive and keep it inserted while you play; for a digital game, sign in to the account that owns it and download it from Game Library. A few PS4 games are exceptions, and some compatible games may have missing features or unexpected behavior, so check Sony’s current compatibility information for the specific title.
Can you play PS4 games on PS5?
Yes. Sony describes the PS5 as backward compatible with the overwhelming majority of more than 4,000 PS4 games. That is Sony’s current official figure; its support page does not attach a publication year to it. The practical takeaway is that most PS4 owners can keep playing compatible games on PS5, but compatibility is not a promise that every title, feature, or accessory will behave exactly as it did on PS4.
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Sony identifies a small set of PS4-only games and warns that otherwise compatible games can have missing PS4 functionality, errors, or unexpected behavior. Check the current PS4-to-PS5 compatibility information for the individual title before buying a game or add-on based on an assumption that it will work. Sony advises keeping PS5 system software up to date as well.
Backward compatibility means playing the PS4 version of a game on PS5. It is separate from upgrading to a PS5 version: if a game has an eligible upgrade offer, you can choose to claim it, but you do not have to upgrade to play a compatible PS4 copy. The PS4 and PS5 versions are distinct choices, with separate offer terms and potentially different save-transfer rules.
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How do you play a PS4 disc on PS5?
You need a PS5 model with a disc drive. Insert the PS4 game disc, install an update if the console prompts you, then select the game hub from Games home. The disc must stay in the console whenever you play; it acts as the license for the installed game. Installation does not turn a disc copy into a disc-free digital purchase.
- Confirm that your PS5 has a disc drive. A PS4 disc cannot be used on PS5 Digital Edition.
- Insert the PS4 game disc and allow any required installation or update to finish.
- Choose the game hub from Games home to start the game.
- Leave the disc inserted for each play session. Sony’s support instructions specifically say the disc must remain inserted each time you play.
If the disc does not launch, check that it is inserted in a PS5 with a disc drive, that installation or updates have completed, and that the game is not on Sony’s PS4-only list. If you own a disc-based PS4 game but have a PS5 Digital Edition, that disc will not provide access to the game. The disc requirement also applies if you use an eligible disc copy to claim a PS5 upgrade: the upgraded PS5 game is digital, but the PS4 disc remains the license and must be inserted to play it.
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How do you download digital PS4 games on PS5?
Sign in to the PlayStation account that owns the game, find it in Game Library, and download it if it is not already installed. You do not need a disc-drive PS5 for a digital purchase, and there is no disc to keep in the console while playing.
- Sign in to the account used to purchase or otherwise access the digital game.
- Open Game Library from Games home.
- Select the PS4 title and choose Download if it is not installed.
- Launch the game after installation finishes.
If a game is missing from the library, first confirm you are signed in to the account that owns it. The relevant copy is attached to that account, so looking from another account may not show the same library. If the title appears but will not run, check its compatibility information and any relevant account or game support details rather than assuming every PS4 game is playable.
A compatible USB storage device already used with a PS4 can also be connected to PS5 for direct access to PS4 games and game data. That can be an alternative to downloading or transferring those PS4 games to console storage. This is not a blanket guarantee that any external drive will work: verify that the specific storage device meets Sony’s current PS5 requirements. Sony also documents transferring digital games and game data from PS4 to PS5 over Wi-Fi.
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Do you have to upgrade a PS4 game to play it on PS5?
No. A compatible PS4 version can be played on PS5 without upgrading. An eligible PS5 version may be offered separately, and its availability and terms depend on the game’s upgrade offer. Treat the offer as an optional version choice, not a required step for backward compatibility.
For an eligible digital PS4 game, sign in to the account that owns it, find the PS5 game in PlayStation Store or Search, open its game hub, and select the upgrade offer if one is available. For an eligible disc game, use a PS5 with a disc drive, insert the PS4 disc, open the game hub, and select the offer. You must keep that PS4 disc inserted to play the upgraded digital PS5 version.
Do not assume an upgrade is free, available for every game, or available for every edition. Check the offer shown for the particular game and account in the PlayStation game upgrade instructions. Eligibility and price depend on the offer. A disc-based upgrade is not a way to make a disc copy usable on PS5 Digital Edition, because the process requires the disc and a disc-drive PS5. PlayStation Plus games redeemed as a benefit are not eligible for an upgrade unless Sony indicates otherwise.
Before choosing the PS5 version, consider whether you want to keep playing the PS4 version and whether you need a save to carry over. The game’s PS4 and PS5 versions are separate, and whether a save moves between them is decided title by title. If continuing a particular save matters, check the game developer’s instructions before switching versions or deleting data.
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Sony supports moving digital games and game data from PS4 to PS5 over Wi-Fi. Compatible USB storage already used with a PS4 can also be connected to PS5 for direct access to PS4 games and game data. Check Sony’s current requirements before choosing or connecting a drive; compatibility depends on the storage device meeting those requirements. Do not assume that a particular drive is compatible without checking its model against the current specifications.
These options concern moving or accessing PS4 games and game data. Save migration from the PS4 version of a game to that game’s PS5 version requires a separate check. A PS4 save does not automatically guarantee a save in the PS5 version: whether it transfers is decided title by title. The game developer determines the support for that individual title, so there is no universal rule that applies to every upgraded game.
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Sony’s PS5: The Ultimate FAQ, published November 9, 2020, describes PS4-to-PS5 save-transfer options including LAN, Wi-Fi, compatible USB storage, and PlayStation Plus cloud storage. Those are ways to transfer PS4 saves to PS5; they do not establish that a save will convert from one game version to another. For a move between a game’s PS4 and PS5 versions, confirm the developer’s support for that specific title before deleting, replacing, or relying on a save.
In short, separate three questions: whether the PS4 game itself runs on PS5, how you will access the game or its data on the new console, and whether a save can migrate to a PS5 version. A “yes” to the first does not settle the other two. If you are staying with the PS4 version, compatible USB storage or Wi-Fi transfer may be relevant; if you are switching to the PS5 version, check title-specific save-transfer guidance.
Which PS4 games do not work on PS5?
Sony’s US support page lists these PS4-only games: Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One, Just Deal With It!, Robinson: The Journey, We Sing, Hitman Go: Definitive Edition, and Shadwen. Sony says the list can change, and it excludes demos, media, and non-game applications. Treat this as the list shown on the current US support page, not a permanent worldwide guarantee; check the live page for the title you have in mind.
Being absent from the PS4-only list is not a guarantee that every feature will work. Sony warns that some PS4 functionality may be unavailable and that a game may show errors or unexpected behavior on PS5. If you are considering buying add-ons to address a problem, Sony advises trying the game before purchasing them. That is a sensible check for a game you already own and especially important before spending extra money to address a compatibility issue.
Keep the scope clear when checking a listing: Sony’s cited list concerns PS4 games that are PS4-only, while the support page excludes demos, media, and non-game applications. A PS4 label alone does not guarantee compatibility, and a problem with a particular feature does not necessarily mean the whole game is listed as PS4-only. Look up the exact title and the specific caveat rather than relying only on a general console-level claim.
What special equipment do PS VR games need on PS5?
PS VR titles are among the PS4 games that can be played on PS5, but playing them in VR requires the PS VR headset, a PS Camera for PS4, and a PlayStation Camera adaptor. Sony says the adaptor is available without purchase. The PS5 HD Camera does not work with PS VR, and Sony recommends a DUALSHOCK 4 controller for the best PS VR experience.
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This is a case where “the game is playable” and “the accessories I already use will work” are different questions. A PS VR title may be within the playable PS4 library, but the PS VR setup still depends on the specified headset, camera, and adaptor. Do not substitute the PS5 HD Camera for the PS Camera for PS4. If you are checking whether a particular VR game works, verify its game compatibility separately from the hardware requirements for using PS VR on PS5.
What will not work through PS4 backward compatibility?
PS5 does not support PS3 discs. Sony also notes a special legacy exception: a PS4 digital game that still requires a PS3 disc from the PS3-to-PS4 upgrade program cannot be played on PS5. A game being labeled for PS4 alone is therefore not enough to establish compatibility; check its specific format and Sony’s current listing.
This distinction matters if a game originated on PS3 or was obtained through an older upgrade program. A PS4 version that normally works on PS5 is not the same as a PS3 disc, and a PS4 digital license that still depends on a PS3 disc has an additional limitation. If your copy relies on that PS3 disc, the usual digital-library download steps do not remove the requirement noted by Sony.
How do you troubleshoot a PS4 game that will not start?
- Disc game: Verify that the PS5 has a disc drive, the disc is inserted, and installation or any prompted update is complete. Keep the disc in the console while playing. Installing a disc game does not remove the disc requirement.
- Digital game: Verify that you are signed in to the account that owns the game, then find it in Game Library and download it if needed. A digital PS4 game does not need a disc-drive PS5.
- Compatibility: Check the current PS4-only list and title-specific caveats on Sony’s support page. A compatible game can still have missing features or unexpected behavior.
- Game data on USB: Use only storage that meets Sony’s current PS5 requirements; do not assume every external drive is compatible. Sony also supports Wi-Fi transfer of digital games and game data from PS4.
- Considering an upgrade: Treat the PS4 and PS5 versions as distinct choices. Check the offer’s eligibility and terms, and confirm save migration for that title before switching versions.
- PS VR: Check that the setup uses the PS VR headset, PS Camera for PS4, and PlayStation Camera adaptor. The PS5 HD Camera is not a substitute.
- Legacy disc requirement: If the PS4 digital game still depends on a PS3 disc from the PS3-to-PS4 upgrade program, Sony says it cannot be played on PS5.
Keep the PS5 system software up to date, as Sony advises. For a title-specific issue that remains, consult the relevant game or PlayStation support information rather than assuming backward compatibility guarantees identical behavior. If you are considering add-ons to fix an experience problem, Sony recommends trying the game before buying them.
PS4 game compatibility on PS5: the quick comparison
| What you have or want | What to check |
|---|---|
| PS4 disc | A PS5 with a disc drive, a compatible title, and the disc inserted for every play session. |
| Digital PS4 game | Sign in to the owning account, then find and download the title from Game Library. |
| PS4 version versus PS5 upgrade | The upgrade is optional; check eligibility and price, and verify save migration title by title. |
| PS4 game data on USB | Use compatible USB storage and verify the device meets Sony’s current PS5 requirements. |
| PS VR game | Use the PS VR headset, PS Camera for PS4, and PlayStation Camera adaptor; the PS5 HD Camera is not compatible. |
The main decision is usually straightforward: use the same format you own, then check title-specific compatibility. A disc owner needs a disc-drive PS5 and the disc; a digital owner needs the owning account. Consider a PS5 upgrade only if an eligible offer is available and you want that version. Storage transfer and save conversion are separate questions, so confirm both before changing how you access a game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play PS4 games on PS5?
Yes. Sony says the PS5 plays the overwhelming majority of more than 4,000 PS4 games. A small number are marked PS4-only, and other compatible titles may have missing functions or unexpected behavior, so check the current listing for the specific game.
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Can I play a PS4 disc on PS5 Digital Edition?
No. A PS4 disc requires a PS5 with a disc drive. If you use a disc-based game on a compatible PS5, the disc must stay inserted each time you play.
How do I download a digital PS4 game on PS5?
Sign in to the PlayStation account that owns the game, open Game Library from Games home, select the title, and choose Download if it is not installed.
Do I have to upgrade a PS4 game to play it on PS5?
No. You can play a compatible PS4 version without upgrading. A PS5 version may be offered separately, subject to that game’s eligibility and offer terms.
Do I need to keep a PS4 disc inserted after installing the game?
Yes. Sony says to keep the disc inserted each time you play. The same applies when an eligible PS4 disc is used to claim a digital PS5 upgrade.
The Bottom Line
Most PS4 games work on PS5, but the right method depends on your copy: use a disc-drive PS5 and keep the PS4 disc inserted, or sign in to the owning account and download a digital game from Game Library. Upgrades are optional and offer-specific; check compatibility, hardware, and save-transfer details for the exact title before switching versions.
