Can You Play PS3 Games On PS4 Does PS4 play PS3 games Guide PS3 PS4 When Was The PS3 Released

Can You Play PS3 Games On PS4?

Can You Play PS4 Games On PS4

Can I Play PS3 Games On PS4? Does PS4 play PS3 games? That’s the question which many people have been asking for a while now, and guess what, we have the answer for you right here.

Does PS4 Play PS3 Games – Can I Play PS3 Games On PS4?


The answer is, somewhat sadly, no you cannot play PS3 games on PS4.

The reason why you cannot play PS3 games on PS4 is because the PS3 was built using the Cell CPU architecture which, when taken in tandem with a raft of other custom components, meant that the PS4 could not play PS3 games straight out of the box.

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The PS4 and PS4 Pro by comparison use a lot of the off the shelf PC parts, whereas the PS3 did not, hence why PS3 games simply will not work on PS4. There is however, a workaround of sorts, just like playing online roulette for money.

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Sony has launched the PlayStation Now service which allows you to stream PS3 gameplay to your PS4.

This works by having a number of PS3s hooked up to a server and when that server streams the game to you in a video stream. You then interact with that game using your controller and the video stream returns to the server to let it know that an interaction has taken place, before firing back the response to the player.

All of this occurs extremely quickly and in a matter of milliseconds, but the quality of the stream and the responsiveness of it both entirely depend on the quality of your internet connection. The faster the better. You can catch the full list of all PS3 games on the PlayStation Now service right here.

If you’re worried about the PS5 not playing PS4 games don’t be – Sony have already confirmed that the PS5 will have backwards compatibility and play PS4 games right out of the box. You’ll be able to use your existing PS4 saves and play against PS4 players online, too.

As far as PS3 games though, nothing has been announced – but the fact that the PS5 follows the same architecture path as PS4 and PS4 Pro, means that out of the box compatibility with PS3 games will be unlikely.