Can the PS5 play the PS3 game discs?

Can You Play PS3 Games on PS5? (2024 Guide)

Unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 is incompatible with PS3 discs, so it cannot physically play PS3 games. However, the good news is that the PS5 can play the PS3 games digitally.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to play your favorite PS3 titles on PS5, discuss some limitations to be aware of, and recommend some of the popular titles we enjoy. Let’s get started.

How to play PS3 games on PS5?

Cloud Streaming is the only way to play PS3 games on the PS5. To make this possible, you need a PS Plus subscription. The service allows you to play PS2, PS3, and PS4 games on your PS5 from the cloud or download them depending on your membership plan.

If you have a PS Plus Premium membership, follow these steps to access the PS3 library and play your favorite games on your PS5.

From the homepage, click on the PS Plus premium app. It’s the app with the golden D-pad icon on it.
Once you open the app, you will see four sections on the top navigation menu: Latest, Benefits, Collections, and Games. Click on Collections.
Scroll down to the Classics catalog.
In the Classics section, Select PS3 from the options.
Select the game you wish to play from the selection.
Select Stream.

That’s it. You should have access to play your favorite PS3 title now.

Limitations when playing PS3 games on PS5

Here are some limitations of playing PS3 game titles on your PS5:

First, you can only play PS3 games on a PS5 via cloud streaming due to the technical difficulties and costs associated with porting the PS3 architecture to the PS5. Thus, Sony didn’t bother with it. However, you can play PS4 games directly on the PS5.
Some games on the PS Plus expire after a year, while others stay in the library for extended periods. Hence, you may not be able to play the game at the time you want to.

Popular PS3 games for PS5

Most PS3 games have been ported to run on the PS4 and PS5 consoles. With a PS Plus premium account, these games become accessible in the library. Let’s look at some popular PS3 games we can play on PS5.

Diablo 2: Resurrected
Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Control: Ultimate Edition
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
The Grand Theft Auto Trilogy
Nier Replicant
Nioh 2 Remastered: The Complete Edition
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Remastered Collection
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
Death Stranding Director’s Cut
The Last of Us 2 Remastered
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Final Fantasy VII: Remake Intergrade
Judgment
Dark Souls Remastered
Kingdom of Hearts
Bully
Twisted Metal: Black

FAQs

Unfortunately, the PS5 game console cannot play the PS3 discs. The PS5 doesn’t support backward compatibility with physical disc versions of PS3 games.

Final thoughts

The PS5 is not backward compatible with PS3 game discs.

However, you can play PS3 games without purchasing the older console through cloud streaming. All you need is a PS Plus Premium subscription, and you will get access to a whole library of PS3 games.

While not all the PS3 titles are available on the PS5, you can enjoy your favorite PS3 titles and play the games on the new console. Pick a title from the list of popular PS3 game titles available on PS5 and enjoy gaming today.