Although the PlayStation 5 launched back in 2020, many people still find it difficult to get their hands on the fastest-selling console in US history. So while you wait for the PS5 to restock, you may be wondering if you can play PS5 games on your old PS4.
While most PS5 games are not playable on the PS4. Sony has released a few titles with versions for both consoles, but you can’t insert PS5 discs into your PS4. You can use SharePlay to play PS5 games on your PS4, but it’s no big surprise that, in general, PS5-specific games don’t work on PS4.
Because the console doesn’t support forward compatibility, you can’t simply take a PS5 game and play it on the PS4. However, there are a few ways you can still access these new games on your older console. Let’s look at which PS5 games are available for PS4 and how you can use SharePlay to play certain PS5 games on PS4.
Can You Play PS5 Games on Your PS4?
While you can’t play most PS5 games on your PS4 (on Amazon), there are a few titles that Sony released for both consoles.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to play most upcoming PS5 exclusives on your PS4. These games have been specifically designed to take full advantage of the PS5’s new features, including controller upgrades, graphical enhancements, and extremely speedy SSD.
Also worth noting: we’ve looked at how the PS5 can play both DVDs and Blu-Rays, and the PS4 can too, but only after enabling the feature on the console.
PS5 Games Compatible With PS4
Some PS5 launch games, such as God of War: Ragnarok will have a simultaneous PS4 release.
Games like Horizon Forbidden West, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Spiderman: Miles Morales are also PS4-compatible, with a different PS4 version of the game available.
Can You Put PS5 Discs in PS4?
You can insert PS5 discs into your PS4, but the console won’t be able to read them. If you do try to insert a disc, your PS4 could constantly spin the disc to try to read it, but it won’t actually be able to do so.
This can also result in the PS5 disc getting stuck, and you’ll have to use the manual eject screw located on the bottom of the PS4 to take it out again. So it’s best not to try inserting any PS5 discs into your PS4. We have a full article on this questions going into more detail here if you’re interested!
How to Use SharePlay to Play PS5 Games on the PS4
You can use PlayStation SharePlay to play PS5 games on the PS4. With this feature, you can share a PS5 play session with your friend on PS4, enabling them to see your screen. You can also virtually pass the controller to your friend, so they can play your PS5 games through their PS4.
SharePlay also allows your friends to join your multiplayer games, even if they don’t have that particular game or the PS5 themselves.
Here’s what you need to do to host a SharePlay session on PS5:
- Access the ‘Parties’ tab and create a party chat with your friend.
- Press your controller’s PS button.
- Access the ‘Control Center’ and choose the party voice chat card.
- Choose ‘Start Share Screen.’
- Select ‘Start Share Play.’
- Choose the PS4 owner in the voice chat, invite that particular player, then choose the play mode. Make sure the visitor accepts this invite.
- Access the party voice chat card and choose ‘Visitor Plays as You.’ This will allow them to take control of the game.
- Choose ‘Share Play Session’ once finished.
If you want to play a PS5 game’s co-op or local multiplayer mode with a friend who has a PS4, you’ll need to follow the same steps as mentioned above, except for one small change.
In step 7, instead of choosing ‘Visitor Plays as You,’ you’ll need to select the ‘play a game with the Visitor’ mode.
However, remember that in order to play co-op, both the host and the visitor need to have an active PlayStation Plus membership.
Requirements
While SharePlay is an excellent way to play PS5 games on the PS4, there are a few important things you should keep in mind:
- If you have a PS4, your friend needs to have a PS5 or vice versa. SharePlay also requires you to be friends on PSN.
- You can only use SharePlay with one friend at one time.
- Both consoles should have the latest system software update and both should have a stable internet connection. According to Sony, you and your friend should have an upload speed of at least 2Mbps.
Limitations
- SharePlay sessions have a 60-minute time limit, so you’ll need to restart the session once the time has elapsed.
- While you don’t need a PS Plus subscription to watch someone else’s game session through SharePlay, you will need one if you want to pass the controller to a visitor. However, remember that only the host needs to have an active PS Plus subscription.
- Visitors can’t earn trophies during a SharePlay session.
- While it’s only required for the host to own the game, the visitor should have that particular game in their PlayStation store for both people to play.
- SharePlay won’t work if the visitor has strict parental control levels or if the age of the visitor is lower than the age rating of the game.
- SharePlay will only share the host’s game screen and audio. This means that the visitor won’t be able to see any other non-game app screens.
- SharePlay is not compatible with all games, and you might not be able to share some game scenes with your friend.