Sony PlayStation 5 is the latest gaming console, and there is no doubt that PS lovers want to upgrade from PS3 and PS4 to PS5. Everyone has a common doubt in their minds if PlayStation 5 is backwards compatible or not. This means that PS5 users can play games from older PlayStations such as PS4 and PS3. Generally, PlayStation consoles are not backwards compatible.
However, there are so many popular games that users play on older PS versions. They are quite worried that if they upgrade to PS5, they won’t be able to continue playing and enjoying like their older consoles. In this article, we will answer if you can play PS3 games on PS5.
Does PlayStation 5 Have Backwards Compatible?
Yes, PlayStation 5 has partial backwards compatibility. But we cannot say that PS5 has complete backwards compatible. Since PS5 has come after PS4, PS5 has a wide range of compatibility for PS4 games. This means you can play most PS4 games on your PS5 online and offline. To be exact, more than 4000 PS4 titles are playable on PS5. This helps users who are making the transition from PS4 to PS5.
However, it is partially backwards compatible which means the PS3 titles are not widely compatible on PS5. You cannot run physical copies of PS3 games on PS5. You can only use PS3 games on PS5 that have cloud streaming support. Thanks to backwards compatibility, when you run downloaded PS4 games on PS5, you get better resolution as well as better frame rate.
Can Users Play PS3 Titles on PS5?
Technically speaking, you can play PS3 games on PS5. But you will need to purchase a PS Plus Premium plan to play Playstation 3 games. But you cannot download PS3 games on your hard drive. So, you have to depend on cloud streaming to play PS3 games rather than playing them from a hard drive.
Therefore, you will need a stable internet connection to play PS3 games on PlayStation 5. In fact, the internet speed has to be fast as games need high speed for smooth performance.
It is quite strange to observe that the PS Plus Premium plan allows users to download and play PS2 and PS1 as even PSP games on PS5. But the same is not applicable to PS3 games. This is because PS3 games have quite complex architecture that PS5 finds extremely difficult to run smoothly. Sony has not invested heavily to solve the issue, and they are happy to offer cloud streaming based PS3 games compatibility.
How Can I Play PS3 Games through PlayStation 5?
The only way to play Playstation 3 games on PS5 is by subscribing to PS Plus Premium or PS Now plan. The option to purchase the plan is available directly on PS5 home screen. You can use your console as well as purchase from PlayStation Store. You can stream over 500 PS3 games directly from the library through cloud streaming service.
You can’t download them and play without an internet connection. You cannot even purchase digital Playstation 3 games on PS5. You have to access everything from the PS3 library and stream games through PlayStation 5. You cannot even play games from PS3 game discs. PS5 supports only games discs of PS4 and PS5 games.
Here are some criteria you need to fulfill to access PS Now plan –
- You will need a PS account with a verified payment option.
- You will need DualSense or DualShock 4 controller.
- A stable and high speed internet connection. Sony recommends 5mbps internet speed.
You can opt for a free trial offer for seven days before subscribing. The subscription plans stand at
- $9.99 per month
- $24.99 quarterly
- $59.99 annually
Is it possible to purchase digital PS3 games on PS5?
No, you cannot purchase digital PS3 games on PS5. You have to purchase PS Now plan to play PS3 games.
Is it possible to run a PS3 disc into PS5?
No, you cannot insert and run Playstation 3 disc into PS5 and play games. This is because PS5 is not compatible with PS3 game discs. PS Now membership is the only option you have to run PS3 games on PS5.
What are Some Popular PS3 Games that you Can Play on PS5?
The reason why some users want to play Playstation 3 games on PS5 is because PS3 has one of the best collections of games till date among all gaming consoles. Here are some of the popular PS3 games you can play on PS5 with PS Now membership.
- God of War II – This is an action cum adventure video game published by Sony. The first version of the game was first released on PS2 and the second version of the game was released on PS3. It has been deemed as one of the best action video games of all time and has several gaming awards to its name.
- The Last of Us – This is another action cum adventure game published by Sony. The game is based on a post-apocalyptic world, and the main character is a smuggler who has to escort a girl. The weapons in the games are quite innovative and mind-blowing. Starting from narrative and visuals to gameplay and audio effects, the game has all the elements perfectly balanced.
- Bioshock – This is a FPS game that became popular among Windows users as well as Xbox users. Thereafter, it was introduced in PS3 and you can play it on PS5 by opting for PS Now membership. The game is popular for its themes, customizable settings, visual effects, as well as gameplay. It is one of the pioneers in the first person shooting game world.
- Resident Evil 4 – There is no introduction needed for Residential Evil game. It is a horror game where the protagonist needs to survive by shooting the zombies. It is one of the best video games of all time. Starting from graphics and characters to voice acting and audio effects, the game has all the elements to keep the players hooked.
- Yakuza 5 – This is another action and adventure game that is widely popular among PS3 users. Now, you can play Yakuza 5 on PS5 as well once you purchase the PS Now plan and access it from PS3 library. The game was published by Sega and the characters in the game are immortal. The graphics quality is very realistic and there are several themes and settings to choose from as per your preference.
Conclusion
To sum it up all, the answer to the question “Can you play Playstation 3 games on PS5” is a conditional yes. You can play games of PS3 on the PS5 by purchasing the PS Now plan and streaming the games from the PS3 library. However, you cannot purchase or download digital games and you cannot run PS3 games from game discs.
