PS5 backwards compatibility: Which PS4 games are playable on the console?

Le Parisien Le Guide,High-tech,Video games

If the PS5 offers its own exclusives, it can also play games from its big sister, the PS4. And it would be a shame not to take advantage of this backward compatibility between PS5 and PS4 as it is so simple to use.

The editorial staff of Le Parisien did not participate in the production of this article.

This is one of the major strengths of the PS5: being able to easily play PS4 games and enjoy various visual improvements. We have therefore concocted a nice list of PS4 hits not to be missed thanks to backward compatibility. Essential productions which, icing on the cake, sometimes display very affordable prices. Blockbusters like The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima or Final Fantasy VII Remake are perfect examples. In addition, there remain references in their respective genres, whether in terms of content or form. In a completely different register, FIFA 21 is also very affordable while remaining the number one football simulation. In the field of more crazy experiences, it is also unthinkable to miss Yakuza: Like a Dragon or Borderlands 3. The choices are not lacking and your PS5 will thank you!

our selection

1. Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Ubisoft
2. Borderlands 3, Take 2
3. FIFA 21, Electronic Arts
4. Wreckfest, THQ Nordic
5. The Last of Us Part II, Sony
6. Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix
7. Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Sega
8. Ghost of Tsushima, Sony
9. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, Activision
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Activision

PS4 / PS5 backward compatibility, how does it work?

The backwards compatibility between the PS4 and the PS5 is very easy to access and even brings some advantages. Some titles benefit from smoother animations and finer textures. Loading times are also faster thanks to the SSD hard drive in Sony's latest console. The comfort that one gains there is such that it is then difficult to go back.

While PS4/PS5 backward compatibility generally goes smoothly, it may happen that specific features of certain games go by the wayside. Some minor errors or bugs may also occur but this is still quite rare. It is therefore strongly advised to test your favorite PS4 hit on your PS5 before buying expansions and other downloadable content for it. Apart from these few recommendations, it must be recognized that using PS5 backward compatibility is quite easy.

If your PS5 model has a physical drive, just insert your PS4 game into it. An update may then be offered, but this is not systematic. Anyway, you must then go to the game center of the PS4 title concerned (accessible to the home screen of your games) and you can start your game. Note that it is imperative to insert the PS4 disc each time you want to play it on your PS5. Unsurprisingly, with a PS5 Digital Edition this operation cannot be performed, this model having no physical drive. However, you can easily transfer your digital PS4 games and related data to the PS5 Digital Edition. This operation is also feasible on the classic PS5. To do this, you can opt for the transfer via a Wi-Fi network or use a USB storage medium. Another solution for games that you have purchased digitally on the PS4 store is to go to the game library of your PS5. Thereafter, select the title concerned and you start the download in stride. In short, you have the choice of weapons!

What PS4 games can be played on PS5 consoles?

The PS4 can boast of offering just over 4000 games. A gigantic toy library, the vast majority of titles of which can be read on PS5. Suffice to say that there is plenty to do! Incompatible PS4 titles remain few in number (less than a dozen) and are all listed on the official PlayStation website. Anyway, on the PlayStation Store, PS4 games that are not PS5 compatible are marked "Playable on: PS4 only". For PS5 compatible games, and as we said a little above, there are significant improvements. Take the example of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the latest installment in Ubisoft's famous open-world saga. On PS4, the game can be viewed in 1080p with 30fps animation. By going through PS5 backward compatibility, you can push the resolution up to the famous 4K and enjoy unprecedented fluidity thanks to a good 60 frames per second.

Other heavyweights, like Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, can hit the 4K/120fps combo when stepping onto PS5. Certainly, it is necessary to have a screen compatible with these performances in terms of resolution and image refresh. But if you don't have a state-of-the-art screen, enjoying animation at 60 frames per second and drastically reduced loading times is already a big leap forward. The annoying little point is that you sometimes have to pay a few euros to validate the upgrade. To build on the two examples we have just seen, the upgrade for Assassin's Creed Valhalla is completely free. Conversely, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is not as generous. Indeed, the update is only free for the Cross-Gen or Ultimate editions. Owners of the Standard edition must pay 10€. It is therefore advisable to be well informed before seeing if your bedside game should stop at the toll or not. At worst, whether or not it's free to upgrade a PS4 game on PS5 is indicated to you during the operation. All useful information can be displayed very easily from the menus of the PS5. You are then free to validate the operation, or not. Important to know: Games picked up on PS4 via PlayStation Plus membership are generally not eligible for upgrade to PS5.

How do I upgrade eligible PS4 games to the PS5 version?

Whether it's paid or not, upgrading your PS4 games to PS5 turns out to be quite simple to accomplish. For a PS4 game in disc version, it is absolutely necessary to have the PS5 model equipped with a physical drive. Then check that you are logged in to your PlayStation account and insert your PS4 game. Then, you have to go to the game center of the title concerned and select the upgrade offer. This is where you can check if the operation is chargeable or not. All that remains is to validate a possible payment and/or download to validate the upgrade. When it comes to PS4 games in digital format (whether on the standard PS5 or the drive-less Digital version), again it's not rocket science. Always being logged in with your PlayStation account, you have to go get the PS5 game on the PlayStation Store, go to the game center of the title concerned and select the upgrade offer. All that remains is to validate the download.

Controllers and accessories compatible with PS5 consoles

Regarding the accessories of your PS4, they can be reused for some but there are some conditions to be aware of. This is the case of the DualShock 4 controller which is compatible with the PS5 but only to play backward compatible PS4 titles. For PS5 titles it is mandatory to use the DualSense, the controller specially created for Sony's new console. Note that the DualSense also works with PS4 games supported on PS5. The official Platinum and Gold wireless headsets that have made PS4 owners happy are also compatible. For their part, lovers of virtual reality can also breathe. Because the PlayStation VR headset, PS Move controllers and dedicated aim controller work on PS5. Of course, the DualShock 4 controller (essential for PS VR games) is again taken into account. To launch a PS VR title on a PS5, just connect your PS VR headset and your PlayStation Camera. But for the PS5 to recognize your camera (which is a PS4 accessory originally), it needs an adapter that Sony provides for free. To receive it, you have to go to the official PlayStation website and fill out a dedicated form. Before Sony launches a new model of helmet totally dedicated to the PS5, it is necessary to go through this method, the HD camera of the PS5 not being compatible with the PS VR. As for controllers, steering wheels, headphones and other accessories that are not from Sony, just look carefully at the indications on the box or the description displayed by the retailers. If necessary, it is always possible to go to the manufacturer's website.

The limits of backward compatibility on PS5

While most PS4 games and accessories are backward compatible on the PS5, the latter cannot accommodate all games from other PlayStation generations. It is therefore impossible to play PS1, PS2 or PS3 games in physical format on your PS5. Same thing for the PSP or PS Vita. Other solutions exist to find certain classics from these consoles, but you have to go through the PlayStation Store or the PlayStation Now streaming game offer.

You also have to do without certain habits, such as using the Share button on the DualShock 4 controller. This very practical function on PS4, which allows you to take screenshots or video captures, is no longer taken into account. on PS5. Of course, it is always possible to share the same type of content on the latest addition to the PlayStation family. But to do this it is imperative to use the DualSense controller, via the creation key. Unsurprisingly, by launching a video capture of a PS4 game on your PS5 with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 as settings, there is a good chance that the result will display 1920 x 1080 instead. This is quite logical because the standards in terms of display have evolved with the PS5.

Other specificities specific to the PS4 have not transited on PS5, such as the "Tournaments" or "Live" functionality. Same observation for the “Second screen” and “Companion games” applications. To continue to enjoy it, you must use your PS4. It may sound boring, but these changes make sense when a manufacturer jumps a generation in its lineup. Sony is not the only one to have to make this kind of concession. That being said, it must be admitted that the compromises made do not in any way disturb the pleasure of the game, quite the contrary! The backward compatibility implemented here finally allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds, namely those of the PS4 and the PS5.