The PS5 is a powerful bit of kit, capable of outputting impressive visuals at up to 4K 120 FPS. It’s truly a remarkable machine, which explains why some users are confused by how it seemingly can’t download and play PS3 games. With a PS Plus Premium subscription, members can stream PS3 games but they can’t download and play them. Here’s the need-to-know info about why users can’t download PS3 games on PS5.
Why can’t PS3 games be downloaded on PS5?
PS3 games can’t be downloaded on PS5 due to a lack of compatibility.
Unlike PS1, PS2, and PS4 games, which can all be downloaded and played on PS5, PS3 games remain limited to streaming, with Sony themselves seemingly incapable of emulating PlayStation 3 hardware in a stable-enough state.
To play PS3 games on PS5, users have to leverage the power of actual PS3 hardware with the system’s video feed being sent back to the PS5 over the cloud.
At the time of writing, the only way to play PS3 games on PS5 is via streaming, either by streaming your own PS3 to the PS5 or using a PS Plus Premium membership to access the PS3 catalog of games.
For other PlayStation guides, check out this rundown on whether the PS5 beta firmwares are safe to download and install. Also, should you buy PSVR or wait for PSVR 2? Here’s our recommendation.
