With the release of the latest gaming console, PlayStation 5, it’s quite understandable that gamers are excited and eager to know everything they can about the device. One of the questions that have arisen is whether or not the PS5 is backward compatible with previous console games. Here is everything you need to know in detail.

First things first, let’s define backward compatibility. Gaming console backward compatibility refers to being able to play games of the previous generation on your current console. The PS5 is backward compatible, and this means that you can play most games that were initially made for the PS4 on the PlayStation 5. However, not every single game will work, and how the games perform may vary.

It’s important to note that not all games from the PS4 library will be available for the PS5 immediately. Sony has clarified that the PS5 will support over “99% of the PS4 Libraries,” but that doesn’t mean all games will work. Some titles will require an update to work, while others might not ever be supported.

Sony made some crucial changes to the hardware to achieve backward compatibility. Using an AMD Zen 2 and Radeon RDNA 2 architecture processor, it creates a custom compatibility layer for running PS4 games on the PS5 hardware. This means that each game from the PS4 library will have access to increased performance and hardware features, such as faster load times and smoother frame rates. These features will vary from game to game, and how far the game can go with the available hardware will depend on the resources that the developer put into the original PS4 game.

One other thing that’s worth mentioning is that the Pro and Original versions of PS4 games may not perform the same on the PS5 console. Some titles may have an enhanced mode or may be entirely new versions for the PS5, like remastered games. For example, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a PS5-exclusive game, but it also features a PS4 version with different gameplay and graphics.

Another interesting thing to note is that backward compatibility means you can use your old PS4 game controller with the PS5. This controller will only work for PS4 games played on the new console, and for PS5 games, you will need to use the DualSense controller.