Some gaming consoles have backward compatibility, meaning that you can use them to play titles from older generation consoles. Therefore, one pressing question among PS4 owners is whether they can still enjoy classic games on their consoles.
So, can the PS4 play PS3 games? The PS4 doesn’t have backward compatibility to support titles from the PS3 or older generation models. It cannot read the discs or directly download old digital games to its system. The PS3 and PS4 have different hardware and software capabilities making it challenging to run PS3 titles. However, you can stream the games by subscribing to PlayStation Now, playing title remakes, or utilizing cross-buy promotions.
When PS2 came out, it offered backward compatibility for PS1 games, and so did the first versions of the PS3 console. This was a significant selling point for Sony, and it would be great if the PS4 had the same feature. Therefore, can the PS4 play PS3 games?
Unfortunately, the PS4 doesn’t offer backward compatibility for PS3 games. Therefore, the title discs will not operate or read. Similarly, there is no way to download digital PS3 titles from PSN and play them on the PS4.
You may have to find other ways to play the classics on your new device directly. This applies to all PS4 console versions, including the PS4 Pro and the slim PS4. These different console generations have hardware and software differences making it challenging for classic titles to work on the PS4.
If a new console release allows users to enjoy backward compatibility, it implies that you will spend less money to play the classics. This feature has proven to be a great selling point for consoles in the recent past, and companies creating software emulators have reaped big from their buyers. The device’s value shoots up, and it becomes an excellent investment since the gamer will have more games to try out on a console with significant hardware improvements.
Therefore, it is unfortunate that the PS4 doesn’t have backward compatibility even though it doesn’t take away its great new generation’s impressive features. You cannot insert a title disc into the console as you did with the PS3, since the system will not play or even recognize it. On the other hand, there is no way to directly download your favorite titles from PSN and play on digital mode regardless of the PS4 version you own.
The main factor preventing consoles from having this functionality is system architecture differences. The PS4 and PS3 have distinct designs, particularly the software, making it tasking to play the titles from the previous console model.
Sony didn’t deem it necessary to create an emulator to facilitate backward compatibility; hence, the PS4 could only play its dedicated titles exclusively. The company further says that it isn’t making any plans for it at the moment. However, there are still some workarounds to enjoy your PS3 games on the PS4.
How To Play PS3 Games on the PS4
Although the PS4 isn’t backward compatible with PS3 titles, the silver lining is that Sony has provided some solutions. You can log onto various avenues to play the classics, and I am here to shed light on all of them.
First, you can use the PlayStation Now service to download and stream PS3 games on your PS4. This platform allows backward compatibility and is a subscription or renting service that will effectively work if you have high-speed internet.
Alternatively, you can also play PS3 game remakes with a unique and adjusted gameplay to function on the PS4. Lastly, you can cross-buy; this is where you purchase a game that plays on different devices or allows upgrading to the PS4 title level.
Fortunately, there is a workaround to playing your PS3 games on the PS4, and the following is a detailed guide to help.
- PlayStation Now
The PlayStation Now is like a streaming service for Sony that lets you download titles to play on your console and is available for Windows, PS4, and PS5. With this service, you can download and play any game you need on the PS4, even with a dedicated PS3 title. You can get PlayStation Now from the PSN and effortlessly bypass the backward incompatibility.
To get this service, all you need is a high-speed internet connection, preferably Wi-Fi of at least 5Mbps, and you can choose any PS3 title from the massive library. PSN is a cloud service that functions like Netflix, but exclusively for games where you play directly through the servers. You won’t need to wait for titles to load or install while using this platform. Also, the game updates are unnecessary unlike using the downloadable versions.
You will also find PS2 classics games but be wary that some titles on PlayStation Now also rotate out of the site. The streaming service requires a monthly subscription, or you can rent games with a single payment.
I always recommend the monthly fee because you will always have your saved data to continue playing. Thankfully, PlayStation Now has a free trial for the first month if you want to try it out first.
- Remakes and Remasters
Fortunately, even when your console doesn’t play games from older generation devices, you can still access remade titles. Nowadays, many developers are releasing video game remakes and remasters for older consoles and improving them to play on newer versions. To make it more exciting, most of these games come in compilations.
This aspect lets you play several other titles. Therefore, you will be getting your usual PS3 games but with some advancements. For instance, some of the best PS3 title remakes include the Borderlands, remasters of Borderlands 2, and Pre-Sequel. Other gamers’ favorites are The Last of Us and The Bioshock compilation.
- Cross-Buys
Another viable option to enjoy PS3 titles on the PS4 is by taking advantage of cross-buy promotions. When you purchase a game on one system, you get a chance to play it on other devices. Thus, buying a game gives access to the same title on another new generation console without re-buying it.
Similarly, when PS4 was launched, some PS3 games allowed users to upgrade their bought titles to work on the console, though at a small fee. There were also codes that you could use to activate the offer.
Can the PS4 Play PS2 Games?
The transition from PS1 to PS2 was more relaxed since the newer model allowed backward compatibility, meaning that the buyers would still catch up with their original PlayStation games. This set the tone for console buyers who often checked for compatibility before making a console upgrade. Therefore, this brings us to the question of whether the PS4 allows PS2 gameplay.
There is currently no PS4 backward compatibility to support PS2 titles. Thus, you cannot directly download or insert a PS2 disc to play on the console. The device will not recognize the disc, and the digital titles available will only be the PS4 versions.
Fortunately, Sony allows you to purchase and download digital PS2 games via the PlayStation Store, although very few of them are available on the site. The PlayStation Now platform also has some great titles to try out. Besides, you can also find PS2 title remasters on the PS4.
If you are hoping to play the original PS2 titles on your PS4, it may be more challenging than you thought. The two are console generations apart; hence, have different software and hardware capabilities.
Although the PS2 allowed revisiting the initial console titles, the functionality became more complicated with the release of better consoles. With the PS4 releases, backward compatibility was already being faced out.
Gamers seemed more excited about the titles that came with the upgraded device. If you insert your discs in the PS4, the system will fail to recognize it, and, in the same light, you cannot purchase all PS2 digital games using the PS4. Fortunately, it doesn’t mean that it is impossible to bypass this challenge, provided that you have no issues spending some more cash on getting the old games again.
A few games are listed on the PlayStation Store, although fewer than the massive PS4 library. You may also not find exciting classics or bump into long-forgotten ones. The alternative is to log onto the PlayStation Now platform that provides other PS2 titles. With this system, you can use your PS4 for games in older console models, and you only need a stable internet.
If you have a subscription, you can download the titles on the device, but the streaming may distort the quality unless you have high-speed internet. In addition, you’ll be glad that your classics may have remakes on the PS4. Some PS2 titles come in better versions on the newer console, perfect if you love RPGs like the Final Fantasy collection.
Can the PS4 Play PS1 Games?
Since the PS2 console was compatible with the PS1 titles, many loyal users believed that the trend would pass on to the later consoles. If you are one of the first PlayStation buyers holding the original games dear and hoping that you can relive the good old days on the PS4, I have the answers you seek.
Unlike the first model consoles, the PS4 doesn’t have backward compatibility, making playing PS1 discs on the device pretty challenging. However, you may stream the PS1 games to your PS4 through modifications, use an older PS model or subscribe to PS Now, although it may only offer limited options.
With much speculation and competition, gamers hope that Sony would someday reconsider having backward compatibility on the new PS models. Since there is no way to play PS1 titles on PS4, many gamers have jailbroken their firmware.
There are digital versions of the PS1 games, but they don’t play on the PS4, the same case with the hard copy discs. The online titles may only run on consoles older than the PlayStation 4. If SONY would construct an emulator, fans could comfortably enjoy PS1 titles without modding their devices and risking it all in the process. Currently, Sony’s backward compatibility may not be a top priority since few gamers are still inclined to the classic original PS1 titles.
Sony seems quite reluctant on retro-playability, and there are high chances that the PS1 titles will slowly give way to the PS4 and later generations. However, there is some hope because you can play the games on a PS2 console and some versions of the PS3, especially the initial releases. On the other hand, you may have to jailbreak your PS4 to play the classics, a procedure that may destroy your hardware.
Also, you risk being banned by Sony, meaning you won’t play online or enjoy the digital services on your console. However, many gamers would rather not take the risk and instead stick to legitimate solutions. For instance, you can purchase older PS3 models that are compatible with PS1 games. This way, you can insert the PS1 discs into the console, and they will run normally.
Otherwise, if you don’t have the physical disc, you can get the digital versions of the PS1 games and play them on the new PlayStation. Thanks to backward compatibility, you can enjoy PS1 games on the PS2, PS Vita, and PSP.
Typically, new consoles have improved graphics, fantastic resolutions, and better hardware. It explains why gamers only go for the new PlayStation versions and let go of games with lower quality. Sony seems to consider what the majority needs, but the minority attached to titles on the older consoles will have to play digital copies or buy a PlayStation with retro-compatibility.
In Summary
Whenever there is a new console release, many gamers are interested to know whether the model supports games from previous generations. It is cheaper and more convenient instead of re-buying the games you already own. Sadly, the PS4 isn’t backward compatible; hence, cannot play PS1, 2, or 3 titles.
However, you can bypass this using a platform like PlayStation Now. PSN is a game streaming service where users can access titles from older models and play them on newer consoles. It is a monthly subscription plan, or you can rent a game for less as long as you have fast and reliable internet. Alternatively, you can play classic remakes that are modified for the PS4. Lastly, there is an option to cross-buy where a game can play on different console versions.
