Yes, the PlayStation 5 is capable of more than just ray tracing and running next-gen gaming titles. It may even come as a surprise to some owners that their PlayStation 5 has a web browser. It’s a gaming console, not a computer, so you may not assume it, even though certain models from the previous-gen have browser capabilities. This time around on the PS5, Sony didn’t make this feature as accessible. The fact that there isn’t a dedicated button to access the dedicated browser on the system, makes it increasingly more complicated to open, let alone know it exists.
If you’ve been too busy playing the latest titles to have had time to figure out how to find Google, let alone try to play online poker on your PlayStation 5, no worries. Read on as we figure this out together.
ALT: A magnifying glass enhancing the Google search bar.
How to open this mysterious browser
In short, Twitter is your key. You don’t need to create a Twitter account, you simply have to go the long way. Navigate to your settings tab on the PlayStation, making your way to the “users and accounts” settings. From there, choose the option “link with other services”. You will then be prompted to link your Twitter, which will bring up a browser front. Click on the Twitter logo in the top corner, and you are now on Twitter. Unfortunately, you cannot search specific URLs, which makes it hard to navigate. You are now on the internet and any links you find on Twitter will lead you to your next destination. Admittedly, this is not the most ideal way to find PC browser games, but it is a start. Especially if you did not know your PlayStation could do this.
Using the method you have just learned, PC browser games are not out of reach just yet. If you have a friend who can send you a message on the PSN networks messaging service, you would be able to open the link and arrive at the URL. You can type a message in your Twitter direct message tab and do the same. Also, you could tweet the link and click it from there.
To make this entire process faster, it’s recommended that you use a keyboard and mouse, which will automatically calibrate once plugged into your console with a USB. This will speed up the typing and navigating process, and will definitely come in handy later when you get to the browser games.
ALT: The Google search page featured on a laptop on a table outside.
You may have once seen the browser as trying to view the on-console device manual and you will be redirected to Sony’s online user guide. You would have noticed navigating off Sony’s webpage is impossible; however, you now have the backdoor necessary.
Can you really play browser games?
Yes and no. It’s a little hit and miss, because in theory, you can. You’ll be able to play some browser games, but you won’t be able to access YouTube, for instance. Also, there are a lot of bugs within the browser. Content does not always load up, so your best bet is sites with a lot of writing, like Twitter. Pictures and videos often do not work as they should, making for a very inconsistent experience.
The bottom line is you can play browser games, but it might not be the exact experience you’re looking for. Be sure to invest in a keyboard and mouse set-up if you’re aiming to have a PC browsing experience with the limited access Sony’s browser offers.
If the browser isn’t optimised, what’s the point?
If Sony’s browser is not best suited for playing PC browser games, viewing videos and pictures, or content that isn’t text-based, why even add it? The answer is simply: they never anticipated us to find a backdoor. Their sole purpose was to offer a user guide which can be quickly updated and changed as patches and updates are released, and to link social accounts, which, at face value, are all just text-based processes. Considering they have on console applications for things like Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch, amongst other platforms which are fully optimized to run perfectly with the system, Sony would not try to make extended support on their browsers.
ALT: “Analytics” search page on Google on a mobile phone.
Browsers take a lot of processing power, and the bigger the browser the more processing power it requires. The stripped-down version that lacks even the ability to change the link in the navigation bar, makes for the perfect lightweight browser that can complete simple tasks.
Sony did’nt anticipate that with all the new innovations inside, that you would also want to play PC browser games. You now know that it’s not completely impossible, it’s just not ideal or easy. The experience will be tainted by the lack of full-screen support, and an inability to navigate, despite being able to see the URL at the top of the screen. After all, do you really need to play browser games meant for mostly PC gamers, especially without the necessary level of hardware on your PlayStation 5? Probably not, as there are many optimized PS5 games to choose from.