PS4 players being able to play with PS5 players will allow friends to game together as some upgrade and others don’t. Given the backwards compatibility of the PS5, it seems simple enough, but that doesn’t mean it will work. And what about PS4 players and PS5 players using the same voice chat parties? Here’s the need-to-know.
Can PS4 players play online with PS5 players?
Cross-gen online multiplayer between the PS4 and PS5 consoles and next-gen versions of pre-existing PS4 games can get a little complicated.
PS4 players can play with PS5 players through cross-gen online multiplayer. Not every game will support the feature, though. Cross-gen online multiplayer on PS5 with PS4 players is on a game-by-game basis. Look out for official announcements from the development teams and publishers.
There are a lot of cross-gen games already announced. This includes titles such as Destiny 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Apex Legends among many others. While some games feature cross-gen online multiplayer, others won’t and not all games feature cross-gen progression and saves. Cross-gen voice chat and parties are another concern.
Is there PS4 and PS5 cross-gen party chat?
Yes. PS4 and PS5 players can speak together in cross-gen voice chat parties.
This has been confirmed by Sony on the official PlayStation Blog. It is simply explained that “PS5 users will be able to chat with PS4 users.” This means that when PS4 players are playing with PS5 players, they can open and share voice chat parties.
So can PS4 players play with PS5 players? Yes, but it depends on the game. Developers and publishers will confirm when a game features cross-gen online multiplayer or not. Voice chat and parties can be shared across the PS4 and PS5, too. Unfortunately, there is no backward compatibility with PS3, PS3, and PS1 on PS5.