This is one of the major strengths of the PS5: being able to easily play PS4 games and enjoy various visual enhancements. We have therefore concocted a nice list of PS4 hits not to be missed thanks to the backward compatibility. Unmissable 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 are still references in their respective genre, whether in substance or in form. On a completely different note, FIFA 21 is also very affordable while remaining the number one in football simulations. In the realm of more wacky experiences, it's also unthinkable to miss out on Yakuza: Like a Dragon or Borderlands 3.There are plenty of choices and your PS5 will thank you!
our selection
Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Ubisoft
Borderlands 3, Take 2
FIFA 21, Electronic Arts
Wreckfest, THQ Nordic
The Last of Us Part II, Sony
Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix
Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Sega
Ghost of Tsushima, Sony
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, Activision
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Activision
How does PS4 / PS5 backward compatibility work?
The backward 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.
Load times are also faster thanks to the SSD hard drive in Sony's latest console.
The comfort that we gain is such that it is then difficult to go back.
While PS4 / PS5 backward compatibility generally goes smoothly, there may be times when specific features of some games go by the wayside. Some minor errors or bugs can also occur but it is still quite rare. It is therefore strongly recommended to test your favorite PS4 hit on your PS5 before purchasing extensions and other downloadable content. Apart from these few recommendations, it must be recognized that using the 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 from 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 cannot be done, as this model does not have a physical drive. However, you can transfer your digital PS4 games and related data to the PS5 Digital Edition without any problems. This operation is also possible on the classic PS5. To do this,you can choose to transfer via a Wi-Fi network or use a USB storage medium. Another solution for games that you have purchased dematerialized from the PS4 store is to go to the game library on your PS5. Then, select the title concerned and you start the download immediately. In short, you have the choice of weapons!
What PS4 games playable on PS5 consoles?
The PS4 can boast of offering just over 4000 games. A gigantic game library, the vast majority 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 ten) and are all listed on the official PlayStation site. 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 animation at 30 frames per second.By going through the PS5 backward compatibility you can push the resolution up to the famous 4K and enjoy unprecedented fluidity thanks to a good 60 images per second.
Other heavyweights, like Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, can hit the 4K / 120fps combo when switching to PS5. Certainly, it is necessary to have a screen compatible with these performances in terms of resolution and refreshing of images. But if you don't have a state-of-the-art display, enjoying 60 frames per second animation and drastically reduced load times is 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 just saw, the upgrade for Assassin's Creed Valhalla is completely free. Conversely, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is not so generous. Indeed, the update does notis only free for Cross-Gen or Ultimate editions. The owners of the Standard edition must pay 10 €. It is therefore advisable to inquire well before seeing if your bedside game should stop at the toll or not. At worst, whether or not to upgrade a PS4 game on PS5 is indicated to you during the operation. All the useful information can be displayed very easily from the menus of the PS5. You are free to then validate the operation, or not. Important to know: Games picked up on PS4 through the PlayStation Plus subscription are generally not eligible for an upgrade on PS5.It is therefore advisable to inquire well before seeing if your bedside game should stop at the toll or not. At worst, whether or not to upgrade a PS4 game on PS5 is indicated to you during the operation. All the useful information can be displayed very easily from the menus of the PS5. You are free to then validate the operation, or not. Important to know: Games picked up on PS4 through the PlayStation Plus subscription are generally not eligible for an upgrade on PS5.It is therefore advisable to inquire well before seeing if your bedside game should stop at the toll or not. At worst, whether or not to upgrade a PS4 game on PS5 is indicated to you during the operation. All the useful information can be displayed very easily from the menus of the PS5. You are free to then validate the operation, or not. Important to know: Games picked up on PS4 through the PlayStation Plus subscription are generally not eligible for an upgrade on PS5.Games picked up on PS4 through the PlayStation Plus subscription are generally not eligible for an upgrade on PS5.Games picked up on PS4 through the PlayStation Plus subscription are generally not eligible for an upgrade on PS5.
How do I upgrade qualifying PS4 games to the PS5 version?
Whether it's paid or not,
upgrading your PS4 games on PS5 is pretty straightforward.
. For a PS4 game in disc version, it is essential 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 whether the operation is paid or not. All that remains is to validate a possible payment and / or download to validate the upgrade. As for PS4 games in digital format (whether on the standard PS5 or the Digital version without a player), again it is not rocket science. While still logged in with your PlayStation account, you must go and find the PS5 game on the PlayStation Store, go to the game center of the title concerned and select theupgrade offer. All that remains is to validate the download.
Controllers and accessories compatible with PS5 consoles
As for the accessories of your PS4, they can be reused for some but there are a few conditions to be aware of. This is the case of the DualShock 4 controller which is compatible with the PS5 but only for playing backward compatible PS4 titles. For PS5 titles, you must use the DualSense, the controller specially created for the new Sony console. Note that the DualSense also works with PS4 games supported on PS5. The official Platinum and Gold wireless headsets that have delighted PS4 owners are also compatible. For their part, lovers of virtual reality can also take a breath. Because the PlayStation VR headset, the PS Move controllers and the dedicated aiming 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 in order for the PS5 to recognize your camera (which was originally a PS4 accessory), you need an adapter that Sony provides for free. To receive it, you must go to the official PlayStation website and fill out a dedicated form. Before Sony launches a new model of headset 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 at the indications on the box or the description posted by the dealers. If applicable,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 backwards compatible on 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.
The same goes for the PSP or the 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 still 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 button. Unsurprisingly, by launching a video capture of a PS4 game on your PS5 with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 as parameters, there is a good chance that the result will display instead of 1920 x 1080. This is quite logical because standards in terms of display have evolved with the PS5.
Other specificities specific to the PS4 have not passed on to PS5, such as
the “Tournaments” or “Live” functionality
. The same goes for the “Second screen” and “Games companion” applications. To continue enjoying it, you must use your PS4. It may sound boring, but these changes make sense when a manufacturer blasts a generation into its lineup. Sony is not alone in having to make this kind of concession. That being said, it must be admitted that the compromises made in no way disturb the pleasure of the game, on 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.
