UPDATE
Sony also published an article on the official PlayStation Blog. Here, you can more easily digest the various upgrade paths and BC features.
ORIGINAL STORY
After months of speculation, Sony has updated the support website that clear all questions about backward compatibility. After previous confirmations, we now have the list of PS4 games that will not run on the PS5. Thankfully, it’s quite short.
When the PlayStation 4 launched way back at the tail-end of 2013, one big disadvantage was its backward compatibility support. Or rather, the entire lack of it. You see, unlike previous PlayStation consoles, the PS4 couldn’t play any past games.
Fast-forward an entire console generation, and fears that this is now the norm going forward are rampant. At least they were for a long while until Ubisoft leaked that the PS5 would not play any PS3/PS2/PS1 games. The leak prompted Sony to release an official statement and confirmation.
But together with that, the company also reassured PlayStation users that 99% of PS4 games would be natively playable on the PS5. To be precise, only a small list of 10 PS4 games will not have backward compatibility on the PS5.
Today, Sony is finally putting an end to all kinds of remaining fears. The official support page explains in great detail the scale of the PS5’s backward compatibility and how exactly it will work.
As expected, the ordeal is very simply with physical PS4 games. Just pop the disc into the PS5 and off you go. You might need to download an additional update for certain titles, though.
Likewise, digital games also are fairly simple. You can simply choose and install digital PS4 games on the PS5. Adding on top, there’s also the option to transfer digital games and save data from a PS4 to a PS5. Might be useful for users with a slow internet connection or data caps.
Last but not least, we have one of the most exciting aspects of next-gen. Free next-gen upgrades. Sony created a dedicated website to explain this but thankfully it’s also very simple. For physical games, just insert the PS4 disc and go to its game hub. Here, you’ll find the option for the upgrade offer. Digital games work the same.
Together with games, the support articles also detail hardware backward compatibility for controllers. So, you’re best advised to take a good look at it.
