If you have ever wondered, there is a way you can play PS5 games on PS4, which came as a surprise to many gamers. Being able to play next-gen games on a last-gen console is a relief for anyone who wants to share the experience with a friend who hasn’t yet gotten a PS5, or someone who has a PS5 setup in a different room.
Whatever the reason, it’s useful to know how to access and play PS5 games from your PS4 – and we’re here to help. Unlike the Xbox Smart Delivery program on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Sony doesn’t support backwards compatibility, so you can’t simply take a PS5 game and play it on your PS4.
However, there are two main ways to allow access to PS5 games on PS4, but don’t expect them to work as well as they do with Sony’s latest hardware. Read on to find out how to play PS5 games on PS4 via Remote Play or Share Play.
How to play PS5 games on PS4 via Remote Play
Remote Play is a great way to play PS5 games on your PS4 with relative ease – although there are limitations (explained below). Remote Play streams your PS5 to your PS4, essentially allowing you to control your PS5 from your PS4.
Remote Play is a great way to play PS5 games on PS4 but there are a few things to note. First, you need both the PS5 and PS4 connected to the same wi-fi. The broadcast is technically done remotely, so how well it works depends largely on your internet connection. Sony recommends a high-speed connection with upload and download speeds of at least 15 Mbps for Remote Play use.
The DualSense wireless controller isn’t compatible with the PS4, so you’ll need to use the DualShock 4 controller on the PS4 – which means you won’t be able to experience DualSense features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers when playing PS5 games that use those.
You must have a PlayStation Network account, which you will need to sign into on both consoles. When one player starts using Remote Play, others can join in as added players. A total of three players can join a multiplayer game but when the Remote Play host leaves, the session ends. You also cannot use the microphone during multiplayer games.
Some games do not support Remote Play and games that require peripherals such as PlayStation VR or PlayStation Camera (in other words, PSVR games) are not compatible with Remote Play. Also, a standard PS4 will not display PS5 games in 4K.
You cannot use Remote Play when using Share Play, Screen Share, or Broadcast Your Gameplay, or when users are using Remote Play, Share Play, Screen Share, or Broadcast their gameplay when someone is using a PS5 (Connect will be lost), when playing Blu-ray or DVD, or when using PSVR.
During Remote Play, you won’t be able to use Screen Sharing, Share Play, or broadcast your gameplay, and you can’t play Blu-ray or DVD, or play music through Spotify. Sony also warns that “depending on the game or video service, some or all of the video content may not display on your device.”
How to play PS5 games on PS4 via Remote Play
As mentioned above, to play PS5 games on your PS4 you will first need to make sure that both the PS4 and PS5 are on the same wi-fi network and are updated with the latest software. Also, make sure it hasn’t been more than 60 days since you last logged into your PS5 (log in if you’re not sure).
Then, follow these steps to use Remote Play:
- Turn on your PS5 and sign in to the account you want to access the games from
- On your PS5, go to Settings, then System, then Remote Play
- Check “Enable Remote Play” and select Turn on Remote Play (the toggle should be on the right side when enabled)
- Make sure to leave the PS5 on or in rest mode
- Go to your PS4 and select the “PS5 Remote Play” app from the home screen or from the list of apps
- Select “Connect to PS5” (on this screen you can also hit the Options menu to select the resolution you’d like to stream in)
- Your PS4 should find your PS5 and show you the PS5 home screen, where you can select the PS5 games you want to play
- To disconnect from Remote Play, press the PS button on your controller and select Disconnect, you’ll get the option to leave your PS5 on or leave it resting – with the Remote Play menu you can also switch between the PS5 and PS4 screen
It’s that easy! If you want your friends to join a game of Remote Play (cooperative play on the couch), simply ask them to turn on their controller, sign in and press the Options button on the controller.
How to play PS5 games on PS4 via Share Play
Another way to play PS5 games on PS4 is through PlayStation Share Play. Share Play lets you share your PS5 gameplay session with a friend on PS4, allowing them to see your screen and letting you physically pass your controller to them to let them play your PS5 games. It even lets them join your multiplayer games – even if they don’t have the games or a PS5 console themselves.
Like Remote Play, Share Play has its limitations (explained below).
Share Play is a great way to play PS5 games on PS4, although it’s more about doing a friend than you and there are a few key things to note first. For a start, one of you needs a PS4 and the other a PS5, and you’ll also need to be friends with a PSN. You can only invite one friend to share gameplay at a time.
Next, make sure both of your consoles are updated with the latest software update and that you both have stable internet connections—Sony recommends a minimum upload speed of 2Mbps.
Unfortunately, Share Play sessions only last for 60 minutes, so you may need to keep restarting the session. Additionally, while watching someone play through Share Play does not require a PS Plus subscription, giving the console to a visitor does – but only the host requires an active PS Plus subscription. The host only needs to own the game for both people to play, but only the host can win prizes.
Finally, only the game screen and audio are shared, so no other screens and non-game app screens will be visible to the visitor. Share Play is also not compatible with All Games and some game scenes may not be shown to the visitor.
Share a game with Share Play
Sony’s Share Play feature allows you to hand control of the PS5 game you’re playing to a friend while you’re watching the game. When you start a Share Play session, you are the host and the other person is the visitor, so, in this case, the person with the PS5 should be the one to start the session.
Here are the steps a host must take to share a PS5 game on PS4 with Share Play:
- Set up a group chat with the visitor through the Parties tab (they must be online)
- Once the party is created, press the PS button on the DualSense controller, go to Control Center and select the party’s voice chat card
- Select “Start Screen Sharing” and then “Start Share Play”
- Select the PS4 Owner (Visitor) in the voice chat, invite the player and then select Play Mode (Visitor needs to accept this invitation)
- This will link your controllers and they should be able to see your screen
- Select “play visitor while playing” mode from the party’s voice chat card and they won’t be able to control your game
- Select “Share Game Session” when you’re done
Play a game together with Share Play
If you want to share and play your PS5 game’s local multiplayer or co-op mode with a friend, follow the above but instead of selecting “Play visitor while playing” mode, select “Play a game with visitor”.
Here are the steps a host must take to play a PS5 game with a PS4 player through Share Play:
- Set up a group chat with the visitor through the Parties tab (they must be online)
- Once the party is created, press the PS button on the DualSense controller, go to Control Center and select the party’s voice chat card
- Select “Start Screen Sharing” and then “Start Share Play”
- Select the PS4 Owner (Visitor) in the voice chat, invite the player and then select Play Mode (Visitor needs to accept this invitation)
- This will link your controllers and they should be able to see your screen
- Select Play a game with the visitor game mode from the party’s voice chat card and they should be able to join you in a local co-op game
- Select “Share Game Session” when you’re done