Note (October 2026): PlayStation Now was merged into PlayStation Plus Premium in June 2022, and no PS4 model plays PS2 or PS3 discs; this guide has been updated to reflect both facts.
No, a PS4 cannot play PS3 games from a disc or a PS3 download, because the PlayStation 4 is not backward compatible with PS3 software. The only official way to play PS3 games on a PS4 is cloud streaming through the PlayStation Plus Premium tier, which replaced PlayStation Now in June 2022 and needs at least a 5 Mbps internet connection.
Key Takeaways
- No PS4 model plays PS3 or PS2 discs.
- PS3 games reach the PS4 only by cloud streaming from the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog; they cannot be downloaded.
- PlayStation Now no longer exists as a separate service: it became part of PlayStation Plus Premium in June 2022.
- Some PS2 games run on the PS4 as emulated PS2 Classics bought from the PlayStation Store.
- Sony sets a minimum of 5 Mbps for cloud streaming and 15 Mbps for 1080p, as of October 2026.
Video games have been popular for decades. Earlier people used to prefer going to video parlors or gaming arcades to play their favorite video games. The thrill of winning over your friend or competition in one of your chosen games was and is still simply unsurpassable.
Can You Play PS2 and PS3 Games on a PS4?
However, slowly these video game arcades gave way to gaming consoles, with people preferring to play the same games and many new ones from the comfort of their homes.
Many games are played online with multiplayer pitted against each other. All of this has been possible thanks to the increasing popularity of Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, Nintendo etc.
Some of the most popular gaming consoles of all times include PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy & Game Boy Color. However, with each upgrade in the gaming consoles, there is a disadvantage attached. More often than not video games that are played on one format are often incompatible with the latest version.
This is quite disheartening as it means either you won’t be able to play your favorite game or you will have to upgrade your gaming console. Since PlayStation is extremely popular, upgrading to PS4 means giving up on a lot of your PS2 and PS3 games or not?
What is Backward Compatibility?
A hard-core gaming enthusiast knows the worth of the multiple consoles and the ever-increasing volume of the game library. Since a majority of upgrades means that the former video games can no longer be played on your latest console, the stack of video games keeps on increasing.
Backward compatibility is the only way to ensure that you are able to play your old video games on your latest gaming console. Backward compatibility refers to the property which allows interoperations with an older system.
In other words, hardware or software systems which allow compatibility of interface or data from a previous system with a new one.
Backward compatibility is easier if the previous versions are designed with built-in features allowing it to be extensible. These features include a plug-in, Application program interface (API), etc.
A new model is backward compatible if it allows the user to read, write or view older formats. Since the PS2 is one of the most popular gaming consoles ever, losing access to its games is frustrating: only some PS3 models can play PS2 games, and the PS4 cannot play PS2 discs at all.
PS3 games cannot be played on a PS4 from a disc or as a PS3 download. The only official way is cloud streaming, which Sony first sold as PlayStation Now and, since June 2022, includes in the PlayStation Plus Premium tier.
What is PlayStation Now?
A lot of users have enjoyed playing games on PS2 and PS3. However, with technological advances being made, upgrading to PS4 is the next logical step. The PS2 remains the best-selling video game console of all time, with about 160 million units sold and a large library of classic games. The PS3, launched in November 2006 with the wireless Sixaxis as its standard controller, went on to sell about 87.4 million units by March 2017.
The PS3 library includes classic and popular series such as Need for Speed, the Batman: Arkham games, Killzone, God of War (GOW) and The Last of Us, and many of their sequels were released on the PS4. That left PS3 disc owners without a direct way to play the originals on the newer console.
Since its 2013 launch, the PS4 has been well received by critics and players, and by October 2019 it had sold 102.8 million units, second only to the PS2 among PlayStation consoles. Built around a custom AMD APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) and able to integrate with other devices and services, the PS4 supports game streaming and remote control of gameplay from another device.
PlayStation Now was the service that first let players run PS3 games on a PS4 console. The cloud gaming subscription streamed selected PS2, PS3 and PS4 games to the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows PCs until Sony folded it into PlayStation Plus Premium in June 2022.
Today, a PlayStation Plus Premium member with a fast, stable connection can stream any PS3 game in the Classics Catalog, but only the titles Sony has added to that catalog.
Can You Play PS2 and PS3 games on PS4?
The PS2 is the best-selling gaming console ever, but newer hardware eventually replaced it. Several of the most popular PS2 games were later re-released in HD versions on the PS3.
The arrival of the PS4 left many owners of PS2 and PS3 consoles wondering what to do with their large game collections. No PS4 model is backward compatible with older PlayStation discs, so PS2 and PS3 disc-based games cannot be played on any version of the PS4.
That never changed during the PS4’s life. Instead, Sony offers two official routes: emulated PS2 Classics sold digitally on the PlayStation Store, and cloud streaming of PS3 games through PlayStation Plus Premium, the successor to PlayStation Now.
With cloud streaming, titles exclusive to the PS2 or PS3 can be played on a PS4, a PS5 or a PC. Having access to the PlayStation Now library reduces the time considerably as you no longer have to wait for games to install or update.
Because the games run on Sony’s servers, Sony requires a minimum connection of 5 Mbps for cloud streaming (15 Mbps for 1080p), as of October 2026. PlayStation Now no longer exists as a separate subscription; on a PS4 the streamable PS3 games are listed under PlayStation Plus, in the Classics Catalog.
Which games of PS3 can be played on PS4?
Thanks to PlayStation Now, fans of PS3 games are relieved and can enjoy the familiar play of their favorite games. PlayStation Now was a popular option for PS3 fans, although it cost extra. Its successor, PlayStation Plus Premium, is listed by Sony in the US at $19.99 for one month, $54.99 for three months or $159.99 for twelve months, as of October 2026; prices vary by region.
PS3 discs and PS3 digital purchases cannot be played on a PS4, because the PS4 is not backward compatible with them. Owning a PS3 game also does not unlock it for streaming; access comes only from the subscription. The entire PS3 gaming catalog is not available on PlayStation Now but only a few selected games are. Popular PS3 games that were offered on PlayStation Now included the titles below. The catalog changes over time, so check the current Classics Catalog before subscribing for a specific game.
- E.A.R
- God of War Ascension.
- Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Origins.
- Killzone 2, Killzone 3.
- The Last of Us
- Lost Planet 2
- Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition.
- NBA 2K14
- The Lego Movie Videogame.
- Dead Island, Dead Island Riptide.
Ways to Play Older PlayStation Games on a PS4
PlayStation 4 owners have a small number of official options for older games. The table below summarizes them as of October 2026.
| What you want to play | Works on PS4? | How |
|---|---|---|
| PS3 game on disc | No | The PS4 cannot read PS3 discs. |
| PS3 game bought digitally for the PS3 | No | PS3 purchases do not carry over to the PS4. |
| PS3 game in the Classics Catalog | Yes, streaming only | PlayStation Plus Premium cloud streaming. |
| PS2 game on disc | No | The PS4 cannot read PS2 discs. |
| PS2 Classics from the PlayStation Store | Yes | Emulated, upscaled re-releases bought digitally. |
| PS4 game | Yes | Disc, download or Game Catalog. |
How to Stream PS3 Games on a PS4
Streaming PS3 games on a PS4 requires a PlayStation Plus Premium membership and a broadband connection of at least 5 Mbps, according to Sony’s support pages. The steps on a PS4 are:
- Subscribe to the PlayStation Plus Premium tier on your PlayStation Network account.
- From the PS4 function screen, scroll right and select PlayStation Plus.
- Scroll down and select Classics Catalog.
- Choose a PS3 game and select Stream.
Before streaming, it helps to test your internet connection speed, because a slow or unstable link causes lag and lower picture quality. If the result is low, these ways to increase your internet speed may help.
Limits of Cloud Streaming on PS4
Cloud streaming on PS4 has several limits listed by Sony: broadcasting, Share Play, Share Screen and Remote Play are not available while streaming, and players may have to wait in a queue for a stream. PS3 games in the Classics Catalog are streaming-only and cannot be downloaded.
Cloud streaming is also offered only in some regions. In markets without cloud streaming, Sony sells a version called PlayStation Plus Deluxe, which includes classic games but no cloud streaming and no PS3 games.
What Is PlayStation Plus Premium?
PlayStation Plus Premium is the highest of the three PlayStation Plus tiers (Essential, Extra and Premium) that Sony launched in June 2022. Premium includes everything in Extra, plus the Classics Catalog of games from the original PlayStation, PS2, PS3 and PSP, game trials, and cloud streaming in supported regions. PS1, PS2 and PSP classics can be downloaded, while PS3 titles are available by streaming only.
Sony lists the US price of Premium at $19.99 for one month, $54.99 for three months and $159.99 for twelve months, as of October 2026. Prices differ by country, so check the PlayStation Store in your region.
Is the PS2 Still the Best-Selling Console?
Yes. The PlayStation 2 remains the best-selling video game console of all time at about 160 million units. The original Nintendo Switch is the closest challenger, at 155.17 million units as of June 30, 2026, according to Nintendo’s figures as reported by VGChartz.
Other Ways to Enjoy Older Games
Players who still own a PS3 can keep using it for their disc collection, since the PS4 cannot read those discs. For other platforms, see this guide on how to play retro console games on any device. If you are still shopping for a console, read these things to know before buying a PlayStation 4, and PC players can learn how to use a PS4 controller on PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a PS4 play PS3 discs?
No. No PS4 model can read PS3 discs, because the PS4 is not backward compatible with PS3 software. PS3 games can only be streamed to a PS4 through PlayStation Plus Premium.
Can you play PS2 games on a PS4?
Yes, but only selected PS2 games re-released as digital PS2 Classics on the PlayStation Store, or included in the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog. PS2 discs do not work on a PS4.
Does PlayStation Now still exist?
No. PlayStation Now was shut down as a standalone subscription in June 2022, and its cloud streaming and game library became part of the PlayStation Plus Premium tier.
What internet speed do you need to stream PS3 games?
Sony requires a minimum internet speed of 5 Mbps for PlayStation Plus cloud streaming, and 15 Mbps for 1080p, as of October 2026. A faster, stable connection gives smoother play.
Can a PS5 play PS3 games?
A PS5 can play PS3 games only by cloud streaming from the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog, the same way as a PS4. PS3 games can also be streamed to a Windows PC.
Do my old PS3 purchases unlock games on PlayStation Plus?
No. Owning a PS3 game, on disc or digitally, does not give access to it on a PS4; streaming access comes only from a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription.
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