How do you play PlayStation 4 games on your PlayStation 5?

Backwards compatibility means that games which are made for the PlayStation 4 (PS4) also work on the PlayStation 5 (PS5). With backwards compatibility on the PS5:

• You can play physical or digital PS4 games on the PS5.
• You can upgrade certain PS4 games to a next-gen PS5 version with 4K resolution and high framerate.
• Can't play PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, or PlayStation 1 games on the PS5.
• Can't play physical games on the PS5 Digital Edition.
• Only 9 PS4 games don't work on the PS5.
• Games with an "also suitable for the PS5" label get a graphic upgrade to take them to the level of an original PS5 game.

Physical games

Do you have the games on a physical disc? You can just do what you're used to. Put the disc of your favorite PS4 game in the PS5 and let the gaming begin. The PS5 may have download some patches and updates before you can play the game.

Digital games

Do you own the games digitally? You can download the games again from your Game Library. So you don't download these games from the PlayStation Store, but directly from your library. Note: you can't play physical PS4 games on the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition, because it doesn't have a disc tray.

Some PS4 games take it a step further. They offer an upgrade to a next-gen PS5 version with 4K resolution and a high framerate. This update isn't always free. In some cases, you have to pay extra or buy a special version of the game.

Have you bought the PS4 game digitally? Log in with the account the game is linked to.

1. Find the PS5 version of the game in the PlayStation store. Be careful not to accidentally download the PS4 version.
2. If you can upgrade the PS4 game, you'll see an option for this. You may have to pay for this upgrade.
3. Press the button, pay for it if necessary, and the you'll download the PS5 version to your console.

To upgrade a physical PS4 game to a digital PS5 version, you have to go through a couple of steps.

1. Put the physical disc in your PS5 first. You now get a new option in the main menu to upgrade to the digital PS5 version.
2. If this option doesn't appear, you can't upgrade. You may have to pay for a next-gen upgrade.
3. Press the button, pay if necessary, and you'll download the PS5 version to your console. If you don't download this upgrade, you'll play the standard PS4 version. Note: you can't play physical PS4 games on a PlayStation 5 All Digital, because it doesn't have a disc tray.

There are only 9 PS4 games that don't work on the PS5. These are in alphabetical order:

• Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One
• DWVR
• Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
• Joe's Diner
• Just Deal With It!
• Robinson: The Journey
• Shadwen
• TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2
• We Sing