I enjoy the PS2.
The second-generation PlayStation from Sony was crammed with incredible, genre-defining titles. The PS2’s library of games has yet to be surpassed, with titles like Gran Tourismo 3 and Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty dating back to JRPG giants like Final Fantasy 10.
But as it often does, time marches on and stops for no one: two decades have flown by since the PS2’s debut. But even after all this time, the PS2 and its games occupy a large part of our hearts.
So, when I purchased my PS5, my first thought was whether or not I would finally be able to play my PS2 games on it. Would Sony have adopted backward compatibility like Microsoft, its American rival?
I grabbed my laptop to launch a research campaign since I was curious. I discovered what follows:
Can PS5 games be played on PS2? Because PS2 disk-based games are incompatible with the Playstation 5, you cannot play them on the PS5. You may play a variety of digital PlayStation 2 titles on your PS5 if you purchase a PlayStation Now subscription.
Read on to learn about select PlayStation 2 games that may be played on the PS5 and if PS3 and PS4 games are compatible with the PS5. Right now, you can only play downloadable PS2 games on PS5.
What PS2 games are compatible with PS5?
As I have already stated, you cannot play physical PS2 games on the PS5.
The notice “This disc isn’t supported by the PS5” will appear on your gaming screen if you put a PS2 game disc in the PS5 disc drive.
There has yet to be an announcement from PlayStation regarding whether or not the PS5’s backward compatibility feature would be expanded to support PS2 game discs.
I hope they implement and improve upon the Xbox Series X backward compatibility function, which enables you to play original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One game discs.
As a result, PlayStation Now is the only way to play PS2 games on a PS5.
What exactly is PS Now?
Like Netflix, PlayStation Now (PS Now) is a cloud-based service that offers access to over 700 PlayStation titles for your PS5.
It is a subscription service with three monthly, quarterly, and yearly billing options.
In the US, a monthly subscription costs $9.99, whereas, in the UK, it costs £8.99.
You could choose an annual or quarterly subscription to save money.
The annual fee is £49.99 and $59.99, while the quarterly subscription costs £22.99 in the UK and $24.99 in the US.
PS Now offers a 7-day free trial if you want to try it out before paying. If you continue using the service, you can decide which plan to subscribe to for a fee.
On your PS5, visit the PlayStation Store to register for the service.
All PS2 titles accessible on the platform will be accessible to you to play on your PS5 once you sign up for PlayStation Now.
You can play the PS2 game on your PS5 without downloading it, much like you can with a Netflix movie or TV show.
Online gaming is possible, but you’ll need a reliable internet connection.
PlayStation advises using a wired broadband connection of at least 5Mbps instead of a wireless one.
I can play some of my PS2 favorites on the PlayStation 5 thanks to PlayStation Now, including:
Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and the wildly popular Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas make up the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy.
Black twisted metal
Veronica X in Resident Evil Code
Bully
Jedi Starfighter from Star Wars
Compared to playing on the PS2, these games on the PS5 featured more excellent performance and higher resolution images, which made the gaming experience much more enjoyable.
Browse the complete list of PS2 games compatible with your next-generation platform on the PlayStation Now website to find out if your favorite PS2 title is playable on the PS5.
Although the PS4 is not backward compatible with other PS games, you can still use PS Now to play older PS2 games.
But remember that 19 nations presently provide PS Now, including the US, UK, Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, and France.
Are PS3 and PS4 games compatible with PS5?
One of the main selling aspects of any new console is its ability to play games from earlier console generations.
The backward compatibility capabilities give potential next-gen console customers more value for their money because new consoles are virtually never inexpensive.
Due to this, many PlayStation gamers have inquired whether PS5 games are compatible with PS3 and PS4 titles.
To respond, the PS5 does not accept PS3 game discs, much like the PS2, so you can only play digital PS3 games on the PS5.
On PlayStation Now, digital PS3 games are also accessible.
Sony did a far better job making PlayStation 4 games compatible with the PS5.
Sony has worked with PS game developers and publishers to make most PS4 games playable on the PS5.
Currently, the PS5 can play over 4,000 PS4 game discs and digital titles without issues.
Only a few PS4-only video games are featured on Sony’s website. These are the titles:
Just handle it!
Shadwen
In Song
Diner Joe’s
Revenge of Kuma Volume One: Afro Samurai 2
A Journey with Robinson
Ride on the Edge 2 at the Isle of Man TT
Hitman: The Complete Edition
Since it has been posted on the website for a while and hasn’t increased,
Therefore, we can assume that the PS5 will support the PS4’s remaining games.
If so, getting a PS5 now allows you to play virtually all of your previous favorite physical and digital PS4 games, as well as some older titles you may not have had time to play on your new next-gen console.
Due to the PS5’s superior technology, PS3 and PS4 titles will run at faster frame rates and higher resolutions when played on the next-generation console.