Can You Play PS4 Disc Games On PS5 Digital?
Currently, there are two different models of the PS5 on the market: one with a disc drive and one without. The PS5 also has complete backwards compatibility with PS4 games. This line of thinking naturally brings some people to the question: is it possible to play PS4 disc games on a PS5 Digital Edition console?
It’s not possible to play a physical PS4 game on a Digital Edition PS5, because the console doesn’t have a disc drive. To play a PS4 game on a Digital PS5, you’ll have to purchase the digital version of it. However, some PS4 titles offer PS5 updates for both digital and physical versions.
If you’re in the market for a new console, it’s worth your time to weigh your options. Let’s take a look at the difference between the Standard and Digital editions as well as how to upgrade PS4 games to their PS5 counterparts.
What’s the Difference Between a PS5 Standard and a PS5 Digital?
With the introduction of the Playstation 5, Sony announced that there would be two different models of the PS5: The standard PS5 with disc drive (on Amazon) and the PS5 Digital Edition (also on Amazon).
These two consoles are nearly identical. You will get the exact same graphical and game performance regardless of whether you use the standard or digital PS5. So what’s the difference between the two?
The only difference between these two consoles is that the Standard Edition has a disc drive while the Digital Edition doesn’t.
This means that you cannot play physical PS5 games on a Digital Edition PS5. So if the standard PS5 allows you more flexibility than the Digital PS5, why would anyone ever buy the Digital Edition?
The answer here lies in the price. Simply put, the digital edition PS5 is cheaper than the standard edition. At launch, the PS5 Digital Edition was $100 cheaper than the PS5 Standard Edition. This means that the PS5 Digital Edition is for gamers who are willing to forgo the ability to play physical games for a cheaper console.
Is the PS5 Digital Worth It?
Of course, the PS5 Digital doesn’t offer as much value to a longtime Playstation gamer with a collection of PS4 games on disc. Playing PS4 games on a PS5 Digital Edition console requires purchasing the digital versions of them. On top of this, no disc drive means no used games.
These are the factors that make a lot of people buy a Standard Edition PS5 over a Digital Edition. In fact, the PS5 Standard Edition has sold more consoles than the PS5 Digital Edition. However, if you don’t own disc games and still want to play PS5, it may be worth it for you opt for the the Digital Edition.
How to Play PS4 Disc Games on a PS5 Disc Console
This process is extremely simple. If you want to play a physical PS4 game on a PS5 Standard Edition, all you have to do is insert the disc into the disc drive and it should download onto your console automatically. However, certain PS4 games also have PS5 editions that let you upgrade for free.
All you have to do to upgrade a physical PS4 game is insert the disc into the console and then go to the game hub for the game. On the game hub, you should see an option that says “Upgrade.”
Choose this, select “Download”, and your PS5 upgrade should begin to download. Despite the fact that your game is now the PS5 version, you’ll still need to insert your PS4 disc into the console to play the game.
How to Upgrade a Digital PS4 Game to a PS5 Game
Just as with upgrading a physical game, to upgrade a digital PS4 game, navigate to its hub. While there, select the upgrade option and then select “Download.” From here the PS5 version of your PS4 game should begin to download.
It is important to note that even if your PS4 game has a PS5 version, it may not have a free upgrade option. Certain games only offer a discount on the PS5 version if you owned its PS4 counterpart, and sometimes other games don’t offer anything at all.
If you don’t see a free upgrade option on the game’s game hub, you may have to do a little research to see if the game offers anything for users who’ve switched to the latest generation.