With less than a month to go before the PlayStation 5 hits retail shelves, we’ve gotten a steady drip of information from Sony regarding the console. We’ve seen the internals care of a teardown and just recently, also seen the revamped UI that will be greeting all PS5 owners come November.

We also know about backwards compatibility but seeing as it is quite a confusing topic for a lot, we’re breaking it down for you in an easy, one-stop guide!

What games are playable on the PlayStation 5?

Sony has revealed a while ago that the PlayStation 5 will have backwards compatibility with 99% of the PlayStation 4 games. That’s… almost everything!

Even then, there are a few games that won’t make the cut, 10 to be exact, and these are:

• DWVR
• Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
• TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2
• Just Deal With It!
• Shadow Complex Remastered
• Robinson: The Journey
• We Sing
• Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
• Shadwen
• Joe’s Diner

Keep in mind that in addition to the vast majority of playable PS4 games on the PS5, PS Plus subscribers will also have the PS Plus Collection, which is a curated list of titles that will be free to play, ready and waiting on day 1 of your brand new PlayStation 5. Peep the title list below:

• God of War
• Final Fantasy XV
• Bloodborne
• The Last of Us Remastered
• Days Gone
• Persona 5
• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
• Ratchet & Clank
• Until Dawn
• Infamous: Second Son
• The Last Guardian
• Resident Evil 7
• Detroit: Become Human
• Monster Hunter World
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• Battlefield 1
• Mortal Kombat X
• Fallout 4

If you’re ever in doubt, you can always check out the PlayStation store and see the “Playable on” tag to find out which games can be played on what console.

Some of these PS4 titles will benefit from faster loading times and better frame rates in what Sony calls as “Game Boost”, so expect an overall better playing experience when the next-gen arrives!

How do you play your PlayStation 4 games on your PlayStation 5?

In a nutshell, if you have a physical disc of an eligible PS4 game, you’ll need the Standard Edition PlayStation 5 with the disc drive, for obvious reasons.

There are some PS4 games that will feature next-gen upgrades like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and you’ll need to do the following steps to get these upgrades:

• Sign in to your existing account on your PS5 console (or create an account).
• Insert the eligible PS4 game disc.
• Go to the game hub for the PS4 game.
• Select the upgrade offer on the game hub and review the upgrade offer.
• Select Download (or purchase with the discount price) to download/purchase content.
• After the download is complete, you can play the PS5 digital game by inserting the PS4 game disc. You will need to keep the disc inserted each time to play the game.

If your game is a digital copy, you’ll simply have to:

• Sign in to your existing account on your PS5 console.
• Find the PS5 game in PlayStation Store, or by Search, and go to the game hub for the PS5 game.
• Select the upgrade offer on the game hub and review the upgrade offer.
• Select Download (or purchase with the discount price) to download/purchase content.
• After the download is complete, you can play the PS5 game.

In addition, you can also transfer your current-gen games AND saved data from your PS4 to your PS5 via WiFi data transfer, external USB storage device, or cloud storage (for PS Plus members).

What PlayStation 4 accessories are compatible with your PlayStation 5?

So you’re coming from the PS4 and have a ton of accessories like limited edition controllers, headsets, and even a PSVR. Will you be able to bring everything along to the PlayStation 5?

Here’s a quick look at what accessories WILL be compatible with your new next-gen console:

• The DualSense wireless controller, DUALSHOCK4 wireless controller and PlayStation officially licensed third-party gamepad controllers will work on PS5 consoles with supported PS4 games. 
• Specialty peripherals, such as officially licensed racing wheels, arcade sticks, and flight sticks, will work with PS5 games and supported PS4 games.
• Both the PS Move Motion Controller and the PlayStation VR Aim Controller will work with supported PS VR games on PS5 consoles.
• The HD Camera is not compatible with PS4 games – please connect a PlayStation Camera via a PlayStation Camera adaptor.
• The Platinum and Gold Wireless Headsets, as well as third-party headsets that connect via USB port or audio jack, will work on PS5 consoles (the headset companion app is not compatible with PS5 consoles).

An additional note, using a DUALSHOCK4 when playing PS4 games will still offer the best experience, so it would be advisable to keep a PS4 controller handy if you plan on playing your existing library on the PS5. It also has to be said that you cannot play PS5 games with your PS4 controller.