Compatibility · NexWave Games
Which PS4 disc games can you play on a PS5?
You are moving to PS5 but want to keep using your PS4 collection. You can do that with the vast majority of PS4 games. Physical discs have one important condition, though: your PS5 must be able to read them. Then come questions about installation, exceptions and a possible PS5 upgrade.
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A working disc drive is the first requirement
Sony states that the vast majority of PS4 games work on PS5. A physical PS4 disc requires a PS5 with a working disc drive. Insert the disc and follow the installation instructions. A download or update may be needed. Keep the disc available afterwards: this way of playing still requires it whenever you start the game. Installing is therefore not the same as receiving an independent digital purchase.
Check the exact PS5 model if you still need to buy a console. Some newer models support an official disc drive sold separately, but not every Digital Edition does. An older PS5 Digital Edition does not gain that function from just any external USB reader. Sony also specifies an internet connection when pairing the detachable drive. Treat console, drive and model number as one combination.
Check the specific game and its features
Broad support is not a promise that every PS4 game and every feature works identically. Sony maintains information about exceptions and points to watch. Look up the full title when buying a game whose compatibility matters to you. Check extra requirements for specialised accessories, motion controls or other additional hardware. A PS4 logo alone does not tell you whether every part of your old setup carries over to PS5.
With a used disc, ideally ask to see the actual game start. Check for visible damage and compare its label with the box. A multi-disc edition must include all required discs. Also ask about loose codes and extra content without counting on a voucher that the previous owner may already have redeemed. Condition and completeness remain important even for officially supported titles.
A PS5 upgrade is a separate option
Some PS4 games offer an upgrade to a PS5 version. Whether one exists, its price and the conditions vary by title and release. Backward compatibility therefore does not automatically give you the PS5 edition for free. An upgrade based on a physical PS4 game may still require the original disc. Read the official explanation for that game before comparing the prices of two editions.
Your practical buying checklist is the exact PS5 model, a usable disc drive and support for the chosen PS4 game. Only then check for a possible upgrade. This lets you keep playing much of your existing collection and deliberately add used PS4 games, without mistaking a digital console or missing disc for an installation problem.
Keep the PS4 disc even if you mainly launch the installed game through an icon on the home screen. That icon can give the impression that everything is available digitally. With a physical purchase, keeping the original disc with the correct box remains important.