Can You Play PS3 Games On PS4 | Top 4 Workarounds You Must Try

Are you also looking for quick workarounds to play PS3 games on PS4? Well, you are not alone in this. Every gamer wishes to play their favorite PS3 games on their PS4 consoles. But is it possible? Can you play PS3 games on PS4? That’s what I will tell you today in this article. So, just head on!

Backward compatibility is the gateway to playing PS3 games on PS4. We call it backward compatibility when a console allows playing games from a prior generation of consoles. Instead of switching back and forth between consoles to play specific games, what if a system allows this? That’s what will be discussed today in detail.

Earlier PS3 devices were backward compatible with PS2, and the PS2 did this for PS1 games. But will PS4 do it for PS3 games? So without further ado, let’s begin with the main topic can you play PS3 games on PS4? Join me in this article to level up your gaming experience! Let’s dig in!

Can You Play PS3 Games on PS4? Know Your Answer

No, you cannot play PS3 games on PS4 as PS4 fails to recognize a PS3 disc when you insert it. PS4 devices, including small PS4 and PS4 pro, do not allow you to download any digital copies of PS3 titles. Trying to play PS3 games on PS4 is a simple case of backward compatibility.

The PS4 doesn’t have the same hardware as the PS3. Therefore it can’t run previous games natively. Sony also determined that creating a software emulator to handle the older games would be pointless, so the PS4 is now limited to playing PS4 games only. Original PlayStation and PS2 discs cannot be played on the PS4. 

Fortunately, even without native backward compatibility on the PS4, there are still ways to play PS3 games on your console, which I will discuss below.

What Happens If You Insert A PS3 Disc Into A PS4?

If you put a PS3 disc into a PS4 device, literally nothing will happen. The PS3 and PS4 have different system designs, so their compatibility is extremely unlikely. Furthermore, due to the PS4’s hardware limitations, there is no direct way to play PS3 games. 

Additionally, Sony believed creating an emulator to play the older games was unnecessary. In other words, PS4 will not recognize physical PS3 media.

Popular Ways To Play PS3 Games In PS4 | 4 Methods

There are a few ways through which you can try to play PS3 games on PS4 consoles. Let’s see what they are –

1. PlayStation Plus Premium 

PlayStation Plus Premium is the first way you can play PS3 on PS4. Midway through 2022, Sony discontinued the cloud gaming platform PlayStation Now and rolled out three updated PlayStation Plus tiers. Instead, the business includes the PlayStation Plus Premium with the former PS Now game streaming capability. 

A large collection of games may be streamed on your PS5, PS4, and Windows if you subscribe to PS Plus Premium. With the subscription, you may play some of the greatest games of the PlayStation family without downloading anything. PS4, PS3, and PS2 games are all available for streaming. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to install PS3 games and use them locally due to the compatibility difficulties mentioned above.

If you want to play PS3 games on PS4 for the lowest price, signing up for PS Plus Premium is the best option. But you need to have a reliable network connection. Though the exact number fluctuates as games are added and removed, more than 350 PS3 games are currently on the service.

2. Play Remasters & Remakes of PS3 Games 

Remastered and remake versions are a way you can play PS3 games on PS4. You can frequently play games designed for older systems with a new look on a modern console. These can occasionally be found in compilations, where you can purchase several rounds from a single series. 

You can play the remastered versions of the following PS3 games on PS4:

• Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a remaster of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, along with lots of DLC. 
• The Last of Us Remastered is an improved version of the monumental PS3 title. 
• BioShock: The Collection bundles in remasters of BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite. ​​​​​​

These titles are essentially the same, with a few minor improvements. 

3. Use Cross-Buy & Cross-Gen Offers 

Cross-buy promotions are the sole additional method to play PS3 games on PS4. By purchasing a game on one of these platforms, you gain access to it across several platforms. Doki-Doki Universe, for instance, is instantly available on PS4 without further charge if you purchased it for the PS3. 

Some cross-generational titles can update the PS4 generation for a modest cost. For example, if you purchased Battlefield 4 for the PS3 system, you could upgrade to the PS4 system for an additional $10. While digital purchases automatically deducted the next-gen editions, physical copies of the games required a code to redeem the deal.

4. PlayStation Now Subscription

Even though the PS4 lacks backward compatibility, a workaround exists to play PS3 games on PS4. Hundreds of titles are available for download through the PlayStation Now service. PlayStation Now is a cloud gaming service. 

The game footage will be streamed to your system as a video when you download it, install it, and play it using a PS3 console. The cost of PlayStation Now is now $9.99 in the US and $8.99 in the UK. You must pay a membership fee to use it.

This is it. PS3 games cannot be played directly on a PS4, but some workarounds allow you to play PS3 games on a PS4. You’ll be able to play many of the most excellent PS3 titles on your PS4, whether you sign up for PS Plus Premium or look into the numerous remasters that are readily accessible. 

Thankfully, practically all PS4 games are playable on the PS5. However, it is still unable to play native PS3 games.

Wrapping Up

That was all about if you could play PS3 games on PS4. In conclusion, physical PlayStation 3 games cannot be played directly on a PlayStation 4. To make this work, you’ll need to have your PS3 nearby. You can, however, stream these titles remotely through PlayStation Now or PS Plus Premium if you choose to play these games on a digital platform. 

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