# Do I Have to Rebuy PS4 Games for PS5? Mostly Not, But Upgrades Are Available - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/do-i-have-to-rebuy-ps4-games-for-ps5-mostly-not-but-upgrades-are-available/ - Published: 2023-11-04 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Business & Worth](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/worth/) --- The short answer is no, you do not need to repurchase most PS4 games to play them on the PlayStation 5. The PS5 is backwards compatible with over 99% of PS4 games, whether digital or physical disc. An existing PS4 game library can easily move with you onto the new console. But upgraded, remastered versions of select PS4 games for PS5 provide a compelling experience showcasing the new hardware‘s capabilities. Let‘s explore how your PS4 library transfers to PS5, when PS5 upgrades are worthwhile, and tips for managing your game collection across console generations. ## Backwards Compatibility Saves You Money Popping PS4 discs into PS5 or downloading previously purchased digital PS4 titles provides out-of-the-box compatibility for the vast majority of games. Sony designed PS5 specifically for seamless PS4 backwards compatibility according to system architect Mark Cerny. Any game running on a PS4 Pro should work on PS5, with tests showing [over 99% compatibility](https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ps5-backwards-compatibility-ps4-compatible-playstation-6300) based on Sony‘s extensive testing of the top 100 most played PS4 titles. This means you can immediately enjoy your existing library on PS5 without repurchasing games. Your PS4 game saves even transfer over to PS5 whether stored locally or in the cloud. Backwards compatibility removes the past generation library rebuild typically associated with new consoles. ![PS4 and PS5 game discs](https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/articles/01bdC1k5cfBf69McHEqCvfH-1.fit_lim.size_1050x.jpg) _PS4 discs work on the PS5 just like they did on PS4. Credit: PCMag_ ## Free Upgrades Unlock PS5 Enhancements Select PS4 games you already own are eligible for free upgrades to enhanced, remastered versions optimized for PS5. These versions add PS5-exclusive features like: - Higher resolution graphics up to native 4K - Higher & smoother framerates up to 60 FPS - Ray tracing for realistic lighting & reflections - 3D spatial audio for directional sound - DualSense controller advanced haptics & adaptive triggers - Faster loading with the PS5‘s SSD Upgrading is easy. Find the game in the PlayStation Store and download the PS5 version. Sony also provides tools for transferring PS4 save data to PS5 during upgrade. The result is a next-gen experience rivaling brand new PS5 games. Here are examples of popular PS4 games with **free** PS5 upgrades: - Death Stranding - Ghost of Tsushima - God of War - Marvel‘s Spider-Man Remastered - No Man‘s Sky ## Paid Upgrades Available For First Party Games A controversial trend has seen Sony charge $10 USD for PS5 upgrades on select first-party games like Horizon Forbidden West and Marvel‘s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Just over [25 PS4 games have paid next-gen upgrades](https://www.pushsquare.com/guides/all-ps4-to-ps5-upgrades-and-cross-gen-games) according to PushSquare. However, Horizon Forbidden West will now offer a [free upgrade after backlash](https://blog.playstation.com/2022/01/25/horizon-forbidden-west-new-details-revealed-in-state-of-play/). The upgrade process remains the same – pay the fee then download the PS5 version. While pricier, these upgrades can add substantial improvements. Consider if the cost justifies features like: - Marvel‘s Spider-Man loading in **under 1 second** on PS5 - 60 FPS performance mode for smoother swinging and combat - Spatial audio and DualSense integration Assessing each upgrade‘s benefits and judging the value provided makes sense. Not all players will feel the added cost is worthwhile. ## PS4 Digital Library Transfers to PS5 Digital Edition For players purchasing the discless PS5 Digital Edition, lack of a disc drive rules out physical media. But digital purchases are readily accessible. Simply sign into your PSN account on PS5 and re-download any owned digital PS4 games. Cloud saves sync over too. The only limitation versus the disc drive model is inability to play physical PS4 discs. If you already embraced the digital future with a library of digital PS4 games, the PS5 Digital Edition will provide full access and backwards compatibility. ## PS4 Discs Work on PS5 with Disc Drive The standard PS5 model includes a 4K Blu-ray disc drive, just like PS4. This allows physical PS4 discs to be inserted and run on PS5 identically to PS4. It‘s a huge benefit for players with large physical PS4 collections. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan: > _"All 100 of the top 100 PS4 titles will be fully compatible at launch on PS5."_ This applies to discs or PlayStation Hits budget re-releases. As long as you have the disc drive model, physical PS4 media works day one on PS5. ## Resolution and Framerate Boosts Higher resolutions enable crisper image quality and clarity. Many PS4 titles run at 1080p HD or below, while PS5 upgrades render up to 4K Ultra HD bringing added sharpness to textures and details. Higher framerates make motion smoother, controls more responsive, and gameplay feel more fluid. PS4 games typically ran at 30 FPS, but can hit 60 FPS on PS5. The impact of increased resolution and FPS depends on the game. Fast response games like shooters and racers benefit most from faster FPS. Photorealistic games get the biggest resolution boosts. ## Ray Tracing Revolutionizes Lighting & Reflections Ray tracing accurately simulates how light behaves in the real world. Light sources cast realistic shadows and reflections across the environment. PS5 hardware ray tracing takes these effects to the next level. PS4 could only approximate lighting and reflections via "baked in" techniques. Ray traced games look dramatically more lifelike with environmental interactions that match real life. For example, Marvel‘s Spider-Man on PS4 relied on pre-set reflection maps. But on PS5, ray tracing enables actual dynamic time-of-day reflections visible across windows and puddles. ## 3D Spatial Audio is Game Changing Sony‘s Tempest 3D audio tech on PS5 revolutionizes sound design and immersion. By tracing audio sources in a 3D space, sounds come from accurate directions and distances – including above and behind you. On stereo PS4, audio was limited to left/right panning. With PS5 you can hear raindrops land all around you, enemies creeping up from behind, or dialog matching character positions. It dramatically boosts immersion in PS5 versions. ## DualSense Haptic Feedback & Adaptive Triggers The PS5‘s DualSense controller introduces advanced haptic feedback replicating sensations like texture and resistance. Adaptive triggers dynamically adjust tension reflecting in-game actions like drawing a bow. Upgraded games tune these effects to match gameplay, like feeling the strike of different baseball bats. It connects you to the experience for a whole new tactile dimension that gamepads couldn‘t previously match. ## PS5 SSD Massively Reduces Load Times The PS5 solid state drive outputs data over 5GB/s with custom decompression hardware, versus 100MB/s on PS4‘s hard drive. This translates to lighting fast game boot and near instantaneous fast travel and respawns. Loading that took over a minute on PS4 now completes in under 5 seconds on PS5. Quick resume from suspend states bypasses loading altogether. The speed adds up to more time actually playing. ## Evaluate Upgrade Value Per Game With these technical improvements covered, should you pay to upgrade? Unfortunately there‘s no definitive answer fitting every gamer and title. It depends how much you value features like higher fidelity visuals, faster performance, advanced audio and haptics per game. Upgrades range from nice-to-have enhancements to transformative experiences. Consider your favorite genres and titles. Story focused single-player adventures may play fine via back compat. But fast paced online shooters and cinematic masterpieces benefit most from PS5 upgrades. Identify the games where you want to maximize next-gen impact. ## Managing PS4 and PS5 Game Storage PS5 comes with an 825 GB internal SSD, but only 667 GB is usable. A Call of Duty game already consumes over 100 GB, so storage management is key. Here are tips: - Delete old PS4 games you don‘t play anymore or back up saves first - Store lesser played PS4 games on a high capacity external HDD - Upgrade PS5‘s internal SSD for more fast SSD space - Back up saves to the cloud or USB drive as needed Juggling storage between internal, external, and cloud requires forethought. But replaying PS4 games while keeping PS5 titles SSD optimized is worth the planning. ## Verify PS4 Game PS5 Compatibility Sony‘s compatibility testing covers the vast majority of PS4 games working on PS5. But occasionally games have issues. Verify a PS4 title you intend to replay works properly on PS5 using resources like [Backwards Compatible](https://www.backwards-compatible.com/). Sites like this [track reports](https://www.pushsquare.com/guides/ps4-games-not-playable-on-ps5) of games not functioning correctly on PS5. Fortunately over 99% of PS4 games run flawlessly on PS5. But for a 100+ hour epic like Persona 5 Royal, verifying compatibility protects you from nasty surprises. ## Conclusion Sony designed PS5 with the entire PS4 library in mind. For over 99% of games, popping in a disc or downloading your existing digital purchases provides backwards compatible play straight away. This lets you jump into PS5 while continuing to enjoy the games you own. Select titles receive optional upgrades unlocking PS5-exclusive features for a more cutting edge experience. Evaluate upgraded versions against your personal budget and desire for enhanced performance and immersion. Storage management between generations will require some effort. But the ability to carry forward your PS4 library while embracing the future with PS5 offers players the best of both worlds. --- Source: [Do I Have to Rebuy PS4 Games for PS5? Mostly Not, But Upgrades Are Available](https://33rdsquare.com/do-i-have-to-rebuy-ps4-games-for-ps5-mostly-not-but-upgrades-are-available/)