Sony confirms you can’t play PS5 games with your PS4 controller
Sony #Sony
If you were holding out hope that you might be able to play local multiplayer games on your PS5 without having to buy at least one extra DualSense controller, Sony has some bad news for you. On Monday, Sony shared a Q&A about the compatibility of PS4 peripherals and accessories on PS5 on the PlayStation Blog, and though most will still work with the next-generation console, there are some exceptions, the most notable of which is the DualShock 4.
Here’s the official answer to the question about whether or not the PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 controller will work with PS5 games: “No, we believe that PS5 games should take advantage of the new capabilities and features we’re bringing to the platform, including the features of DualSense wireless controller.”
If you’ve seen a picture of the DualSense, you probably understand why you would need one to play PS5 games. The DualSense represents arguably the most significant shift in design for a Sony controller since Sony added joysticks to the PS1 controller. Aside from the new look and feel, the DualSense adds a number of new features, including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone. Some PS5 games will apparently lean heavily on these new features, which is why you won’t be able to play them with a DualShock 4.
The good news is that your DualShock 4 controller won’t be completely useless if and when you decide to upgrade to a PS5. Here’s how all of your current accessories and peripherals will work with the new console:
We still don’t know much about backwards compatibility of PS4 games on PS5, but it seems like you’ll be able to use your DualShock 4 with most, if not all, supported games. Your PlayStation VR accessories will still be usable as well, and in a separate section, Sony confirms that “PlayStation Camera will work with PS5 for playing supported PS VR games.” You’ll need an adaptor to make it work, but Sony says it will provide one for free.
Jacob started covering video games and technology in college as a hobby, but it quickly became clear to him that this was what he wanted to do for a living. He currently resides in New York writing for BGR. His previously published work can be found on TechHive, VentureBeat and Game Rant.