Compatibility · NexWave Games
Can you play PS3 discs on a PS4?
The box says PlayStation, the disc looks like an ordinary Blu-ray and you know the title from both consoles. It seems natural to try a PS3 game in a PS4. Yet it will not work. With these generations, the platform logo tells you more than the disc's shape or the game's name.
PS4 does not play PS3 discs
Sony confirms that PlayStation 4 does not support PS3 disc games. Both consoles having a Blu-ray drive does not help. The software was made for a different system, and a disc that fits does not make it compatible with PS4. A system update or extra storage cannot turn a physical PS3 release into a PS4 game either. Always check the platform of the disc being offered.
This also applies to familiar games released on several consoles. A PS3 edition and a PS4 edition with largely the same name remain different products. A loose PS3 disc does not become the later version when inserted into a newer console. To play the original PS3 disc, you need a working PS3 with the necessary parts.
A remaster or re-release is a separate edition
Some games later received a PlayStation 4 version. Words such as 'remastered' may help identify it, but not every re-release follows the same naming convention. Check for the PS4 logo on both box and disc, and compare the title and edition too. A shop image showing a PS4 cover means little if the seller actually sends a loose PS3 disc.
Also check the contents of your chosen version. Extra chapters, downloadable content and vouchers can vary by edition. Do not assume codes in a used game are still redeemable. Past promotions allowing certain games to be upgraded are not a general, permanent compatibility rule either. Assess the exact release currently offered and the contents actually supplied.
Avoid buying the wrong used game
For a loose game, request a photo of the printed disc side showing PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 clearly. If buying for someone else, check their console too. A PS4 and PS3 can sit under the same TV, but they do not play the same physical library. Note the full game name and platform when comparing prices. That also prevents comparing a cheaper PS3 release with a PS4 remaster.
A streaming version offered by a service is a different form of access and does not make your PS3 disc playable on PS4. Available titles depend on the service and its catalogue. For a physical collection, keep it simple: PS3 discs with a PS3, PS4 discs with a PS4. If you want to play on PS4, look for an actual PS4 release of your chosen game.
If you already have the wrong version, check the purchase description before buying another console. The game may not match what was advertised. A photo of the platform logo lets you explain clearly which edition you received and which one you needed.