Can you play PS4 games on PlayStation 5?

The official launch of PlayStation 5 is just around the corner, with a handful of exclusive and non-exclusive new titles releasing on the same day.

However, many PlayStation fans want to know whether they will be able to play PS4 games on the PS5 console or not.

Backwards compatiblity with past generations is always a burning question when it comes to new consoles. (Picture: Sony)

Also, there's a question whether the PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility also applies to the PS1, PS2, and PS3 games or not.

There are many questions regarding the PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility at the moment.

Which games will work and which not?

Will they have any improvements or run better on PS5 or not?

This article will go through these important questions and ease your worries once and for all.

PlayStation 5 backwards compatibility with PS4 games

(Picture: Sony)

PlayStation fans can rejoice as their favourite PlayStation 4 games will be playable on the next-generation console.

It has been confirmed that the new PlayStation 5 will be backwards compatible with the PS4. You will be able to download your favourite PS4 games from your PS library and run them on PS5 at no additional charge.

Although, some of the features will not be available on the PS5 Digital Edition, which will be discussed later in the article.

Even though the launch date is just around the corner, Sony is double-checking to ensure that PS4 games will not come with any compatibility problems.

It makes sense if you take into account that, according to Sony, almost 99% of the PS4 titles will be backwards compatible with PS5, which is an incredible figure.

• Read more: How to set up the DualSense PS5 controller on PC

According to Sony's system architect, the top 100 PS4 games will have no issues in terms of performance upon their launch with the arrival of PS5. Sony assures that their development team is working nonstop to ensure each PS4 game will be playable on PS5 from the very first day.

PS4 games on PS5: better performance and improvements or not?

An important question that has been on the minds of PlayStation gamers ever since Sony announced that the PlayStation 5 would be backwards compatibile with PS4 games is if those games will see improvements on the next-gen system.

The vast majority of PS4 games will work on PS5, but will they look better? (Picture: Sony)

The answer to this question is yes, some of them will.

Sony is hopeful that PS4 backwards compatible games will receive a significant performance boost, resulting in higher resolutions, stable frame rates, and faster loading times.

The developers are also testing each title to verify the results and make necessary adjustments to improve the quality of their games.

The PS4 games will be using a PS5 boost mode feature that will make them perform better.

PlayStation 5 owners will have to make sure that their PS4 games are installed on the PS5's internal SSD in order to utilize the boost mode feature.

• Read more: Will the PS5 support 1440p resolutions?

The games stored on an external HDD will not have better performance and other improvements, as this feature is exclusive only to the PS5's SSD.

PS1, PS2, and PS3 Games on PS5?

(Picture: Sony)

Sony has officially confirmed that only PS4 games will be backwards compatible with the upcoming PS5 console.

Sony further stated that there are no plans to make PS1, PS2, and PS3 titles backwards compatible at a later date, which means these games will not come to PS5 at all.

It is unfortunate news, but there is a slight chance that PS2 games purchased for PS4 via PS Store will work on PS5. 

These titles are using emulators compatible with the next-gen console, but only time will tell whether this will be possible or not.

PlayStation 4 VR Games on PS5

You will be able to use PSVR on PS5 (Picture: Sony) 

Sony currently has no plans to release PSVR 2 headset at least until 2022, and so the PSVR headset will be fully compatible with the PS5.

• Read more: PS5 DualSense controller: Everything you need to know

When it comes to Virtual Reality titles that came out on PS4, Sony has confirmed that all will be compatible and playable on the PS5 console.

PS4 Physical Game Discs on PS5

When it comes to physical copies of PS4 games, they will work without any issues on PS5, which comes with Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc Drive.

This, of course, is not the case with the Digital Edition of the console, which comes without an optical disk drive, so you won't be able to use your physical copies with it.

You can use your PS4 disc with regular PS5, but not with Digital Edition(Picture: Sony)  

PS4 games that will not be compatible with PS5

Although the majority of the PS4 titles will be compatible with the PS5, there are a few games that unfortunately won't be compatible with the new system, and you won't be able to play them on the PS5.

The list includes:

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