Can you play PS5 games on PS4?

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Is there a way for you to play newer, bigger PS5 games on PS4?

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Can you play PS5 games on PS4? With all the emphasis on cross-gen play and backwards compatibility, it can sometimes be a little unclear what games can be played on what consoles: PlayStation 5, 4, or both? So if you're wondering 'Can I play PS5 games on PS4?', we'll go through all the answers to that below. It's never simple, is it?

Can you play PS5 games on PS4? Sadly, not really

Demon's Souls PS5

(Image credit: Bluepoint Games)

Okay, so the short answer on this topic is, technically no, you can't play PS5 games on your PS4. Upcoming PS5 games that have been confirmed as PS5 exclusives - including the likes of God War: Ragnarok - will not be playable on PS4 whatsoever. These are titles that have been specifically built to take full advantage of the new PS5 features, including that super speedy SSD, fresh controller upgrade, and tasty graphical enhancements. 

However, some PS5 exclusives are also launching on PS4

(Image credit: Sony)

But, there's a caveat to that. Some of the PS5 launch games - plus Horizon Forbidden West - have been confirmed for a simultaneous PS4 release. So, that means if you want to play the likes of Sackboy: A Big Adventure or Spider-Man: Miles Morales, you're in luck. There will be a PS4 version of these big PS5 games available. 

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Lots of games are launching across the generation gap

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(Image credit: Epic Games)

Another element of the whole PS5 games on PS4 conversation is that a lot of games are launching across PS4 and PS5 - including plenty getting free PS5 upgrades such as Fortnite, Marvel's Avengers, and even Cyberpunk 2077. So if you want to be cheeky, you can say you're playing a PS5 compatible game on your PS4 until you're ready to make the upgrade. 

For more info on the PS5, check out the links below:

Sam Loveridge
Sam Loveridge
Brand Director, GamesRadar+

Sam Loveridge is the Brand Director and former Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar. She joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.