Can you play PS3 games on the PS4? We explain the backwards compatibility of the PS4, and show you how you can enjoy old-school games on Sony's latest console.
The PS4 and PS4 Pro are two of the most popular consoles in the market today alongside the likes of the Xbox One X and Nintendo Switch – but what if you want to play your old (but just as good) PS3 games?
Here, we explain the current backwards compatibility situation with Sony’s PS4, and showcase how gamers can enjoy PS3 titles on the console.
Interested in newer games? Take a look at the best PS4 games of 2018
Can I play my PS3 games on my PS4?
Unfortunately, the answer, is no – not by putting the disc in the console, anyway.
While you can’t use PS3 game discs in the current console (as was the case with the first-generation PS3 with PS3 titles), you are able to stream older titles via Sony’s own PlayStation Now service, available in the UK, US and a handful of other countries.
The Xbox One offers backwards compatibility – why not the PS4?
Unlike Sony, Microsoft offers backwards compatibility with the Xbox One for almost 500 Xbox 360 titles. You can either insert the disc if you already own the game or buy the game online via Microsoft’s online store. It’s a natural way for a console to offer the functionality, and is a big selling point over the PS4. You can see our Xbox One S vs PS4 comparison here.
However, Sony’s head of PlayStation Europe Jim Ryan said in a June 2017 interview that while backwards compatibility is much-requested by gamers, it’s not actually used very often.
"When we've dabbled with backwards compatibility, I can say it is one of those features that is much requested, but not actually used much," Ryan said, speaking to Time. "That, and I was at a Gran Turismo event recently where they had PS1, PS2, PS3 and PS4 games, and the PS1 and the PS2 games, they looked ancient, like why would anybody play this?".
Play PS3 games using PlayStation Now
While you can’t play your old PS3 games on your PS4 using your old discs, there is another option available: PlayStation Now.
While PlayStation Now isn’t the same as Xbox One’s backwards compatibility, it’s much like Nvidia’s GeForce Now app, allowing gamers to stream a library of games remotely via the internet.
Sony’s PlayStation Now subscription gives gamers access to a library of PS3 (and more recently, PS4) games available almost instantly thanks to streaming. In fact, Sony claims that there are over 600 titles to choose from. Streaming games offers benefits including no initial downloads and synced progress between consoles, so it might appeal to some.
The streaming service is available for PS4 and PC, and will set potential subscribers back £12.99 a month in the UK – although that’ll give you unlimited access to all 600+ titles from day one.
For more information on Sony’s streaming service, take a look at our explainer: What is PlayStation Now?
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