First check which version of the game your PS5 is running. A PS4 game played through backward compatibility, a separate PS5 version, and a PS5 upgrade are different builds—and improvements in one do not prove that the PS4 version runs better. For the PS4 build, Sony’s Game Boost is automatic on PS5, but only select games may benefit. Use the checks below to find what is confirmed for your title.
Check which version of the game is running
In your Game Library or on the game hub, check whether the PS4 or PS5 version is selected if both are available. Sony documents how to switch between versions in its backward-compatibility support guidance.
A native PS5 release or upgrade is a separate game build. It may have changes that the PS4 version does not, so do not attribute its performance to backward compatibility. If an upgrade is offered, check its terms: availability and whether it costs extra vary by game and edition.
Look for game-specific evidence
Check the PlayStation Store listing and the publisher’s current support page or patch notes. Look for specific statements about PS5 upgrades, frame-rate or resolution changes, or a PS4 Pro patch. Note the platform and game version named in the information; a patch for the PS5 build does not establish how the PS4 build behaves on PS5.
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Sony says the PS5 supports more than 4,000 PS4 games, but compatibility alone does not mean a title has a performance improvement. Sony’s support page also warns that some games may have errors or unexpected behavior, and advises trying a PS4 game on PS5 before buying add-ons for it. See Sony’s PlayStation ecosystem guidance and its backward-compatibility list and guidance.
Know what Game Boost does—and does not promise
When a PS4 game runs on PS5 as a PS4 game, Game Boost works automatically; there is no PS4 Pro-style Boost Mode switch to enable. Sony says select games may run at a higher or smoother frame rate. Some titles may also load faster or show higher fidelity, but Sony does not promise a visible improvement for every game or specify a universal uplift.
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Existing PS4 Pro enhancements supported by a game may carry into the PS5 gameplay experience. That is still distinct from installing a native PS5 version. Sony explains these distinctions in its PS4 and PS5 ecosystem guidance.
On PS5 Pro, check the separate PS4 image-quality option
PS5 Pro has an optional setting called Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games. It is not the same thing as Game Boost. Sony says it is available for PS4 games on consoles in model group CFI-7000 and requires a display that supports 2160p or 1440p at 60 Hz. If gameplay behaves unexpectedly after enabling it, Sony advises turning it off.
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- Open Settings.
- Select Screen and Video, then Video Output.
- Select Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games.
See Sony’s PS5 Pro image-quality instructions for the setting and its requirements.
Use the PS5 Pro Enhanced collection for its intended purpose
On PS5 Pro, open the PlayStation Store, go to Collections, and select the PS5 Pro Enhanced collection; alternatively, search the Store for “PS5 Pro.” This identifies games carrying Sony’s Pro-enhanced designation. It is not a complete list of PS4 games that may experience ordinary Game Boost effects. Sony describes the collection in its PS5 Pro support guidance.
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How to compare performance fairly
If you are reporting or evaluating a result yourself, compare the same game build under clearly stated conditions. Keep frame rate, resolution behavior, and loading time as separate measures; an improvement in one does not establish an improvement in the others.
- Record the game title, platform build (PS4 or PS5), and game version.
- Identify the console model: PS5 or PS5 Pro.
- Note display and video-output settings, plus the scene or activity compared.
- Describe what you measured—frame rate and stability, image output, or loading time—and the method used.
- Use a title-specific publisher statement or a clearly described comparison before claiming a particular uplift. Sony’s general compatibility guidance is not a title-by-title benchmark.
Sony’s cited material does not provide a complete per-game benchmark table or a standard test protocol. A launch-era Sony FAQ statement said more than 99 percent of the 4,000-plus PS4 games were playable on PS5; that is a launch-era compatibility figure, not a current performance measurement. It should not be confused with Sony’s current broad catalogue count or used to infer how well an individual game runs.
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