Since the release of PlayStation 5, fans have wondered if their PS3 games are playable on PS5. The biggest fear that PlayStation 3 owners have is the wonderful, unique, and amazing library of games getting left behind.
The concern is valid, as the players have spent their hard-earned money on games. Gamers don’t want to lose their backlog titles because of upgrading to the next-gen system.
Today, we’ll answer the burning question of backward compatibility for PS3 games on PS5 and see if it’s possible or not. Settle in; we’re about to start now.
Is It Possible To Play PS3 Games On PS5?
Without beating around the bush, we’ll give it to you straight. The short answer is no, not directly, but there is a roundabout way to play your PlayStation 3 backlog on PS5.
To explain further, we’ll first discuss the possibility of PlayStation 3 discs and digital purchases on the system first.
Can You Play PlayStation 3 Discs On Your PlayStation 5?
Unfortunately, the physical copies of games that players purchased on PS3 aren’t going to work on PS5. The discs are only good if you’ve maintained your PlayStation 3 in good working condition or can find one in such a state.
Conversely, having a mint condition PS3 and its game discs nowadays will fetch an excellent price, so it’s not a total loss.
Are The Digital Game Purchases On PlayStation 3 Playable On PlayStation 5?
Regrettably, the fate of the digital games PS3 players have bought is the same as that of physical discs. If you’ve purchased a game on PS3 from the PlayStation Network, it won’t work on PlayStation 5.
This is a sad and, quite frankly, anti-consumer policy that’s part of Sony’s stubbornness. Even die-hard fanboys of PlayStation (Like ourselves) have felt devastated by this development.
Why Aren’t PS3 Discs & Digital Purchases Playable On PS5?
The question now comes to mind, why can’t we play our PS3 games on PS5? The answer is simple, surprisingly. The primary reason for the lack of backward compatibility between the two systems is the vast differences in their architecture.
The two consoles couldn’t be farther apart regarding physical makeup and components. Therefore to spend any resources in exploring backward compatibility is a futile endeavor.
Why Are The PS3 & PS5 Systems So Incompatible?
Here’s a history lesson for those curious to know more. At the launch of the PS3, the price point and the console’s internal design were serious issues that caused many problems. Sony, thankfully, got out of that mess thanks to a robust first-party line-up of exclusive games on the PS3.
Also, Sony learned their lesson after the fiasco. For the PS4 and PS5, Sony invited experts from many leading game developers. The feedback and insight into the console’s manufacturing helped Sony significantly overcome the flaws of the PS3. After this, Sony executives also brainstormed how to make PS3 games on PS5 work.
Is There Anyway To Get PS3 Games Working On PS5?
Thankfully, things have changed with the revamp of Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription service and the merging of it with PlayStation Now. Sony offers multiple service tiers, and the highest one, PlayStation Plus Premium, is the one you want. PS3 games on PS5 are playable with PS Plus Premium.
However, there are certain conditions and restrictions which we aren’t exactly thrilled about.
- Firstly, the PS3 games aren’t yours to keep; they’re on a rotational basis offering. If you don’t play a game before it leaves the monthly roster, you’ll miss out.
- Secondly, the games aren’t downloadable; you can only stream the games. If your internet connection isn’t stable, you’ll have the worst gaming experience.
- Third, the PlayStation Plus Premium is the only tier that offers PS3 games, and it’s pricey.
- Lastly, you’re still not using the PS3 games that you purchased. So all that money you spend on buying the games is wasted.
Despite the shortcomings we’ve listed, we are thankful there is a way to play PS3 games on PS5.
How Do We Play PS3 Games On PS5 With PS Plus Premium?
Okay, we’ve established the necessity of PS Plus Premium for playing classic PS3 games on PS5. Now let’s look at the step-by-step guide to accessing the PS3 games.
- After booting up the PS5, head over to the PS Plus section.
- From the PlayStation Plus Premium options, hover over the Collections tab, and select Classic Collection.
- Within the Classic Collection, you’ll gain the classic games for the PS Plus Premium. Modify your search for only PS3 games using the filter function if you want, or browse through the entire collection.
- Select a classic PS3 game from the Classic Catalog, and enjoy playing.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it. We hope things are clear for you now, about how you can play PS3 games on PS5. If you have any questions or comments regarding our discussion, if you feel like we’ve skipped over important information, tell us in the comments below. We’re always happy to hear from our readers.
Are you a PS Plus Premium subscriber? Do you feel like its worth getting? Is the backwards compatibility okay with the service? How do you feel about not having direct access to PS3 purchases on PS5? Tell us, as we love discussing these topics. If you want to see other PlayStation 3 related content, we have list that you can check out like All Spiderman PS3 Games Ranked, From Worst To Best.
