Ever since PS4 stormed the market in 2013, there have been few games that meets up to its elegance and entertainment. It is one of the most popular consoles in the market till today and still maintains the upper hand over most games thanks to its impressive build and wide variety of games.
The only problem most gamers have with PS4 is its backward compatibility. The PS4 console cannot play PS2 and PS3 games. At least not by inserting the disk into the console of the PS4. This is because the PS4 and PS4 pro were built using lots of off the shelf PC parts whereas the older versions are built from different components.
But happily, Sony PlayStation has come up with a solution. At least one that solves the problems to some extent. The said solution is the Sony PlayStation Now game streaming which allows you to stream and download your older versions of games and play with better quality on the PS4.
The PlayStation now contains over 800 game titles from the PS2, PS3 and PS4 games. Though you’ll have to subscribe and pay monthly or yearly subscription as it pleases you. Even if there are some restrictions but it still serves the purpose and it’s still better than not being able to play at all.
How To Play PS2 Games On PS4 Console
It is widely agreed that while the PS4 has the best quality games, PS2 boasts some of the best and most iconic games ever played on PlayStation. With the PlayStation Now, you can have access to popular games like Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rogue galaxy, Dark cloud and many more.
Though some of the PS2 classic games are still not available on PlayStation Now, but there’s still a wide variety of games to select from.
How to sign up for PlayStation Now and start playing PS2 games on PS4
Below is the step by step guide on how to sign up on PlayStation Now and get playing your PS2 games on PS4.
Step 1
Get your PS4 connected to a sound internet connection. If you’ve been using PS4 with disk only without connecting to the internet, this is the perfect time to change that habit. A strong internet connection is a prerequisite for using PlayStation Now.
Step 2
Create a PlayStation Network account. In case you don’t have a PlayStation Network account, now is the time to do so. You can easily do this on your PS4 or on the PlayStation Store website.
Step 3
Choose the PlayStation Store icon. This is the icon that looks like a shopping pack. It is the first icon from the right on the menu list.
Step 4
Select the PS Now option amongst the options displayed on the sidebar menu.
Step 5
Choose the 7-day free trial option. With this you will have access to the games on the Playstation Now library. After the initial 7-day free trial, you’ll have to pay $19.99 plus tax per month to be able to continue enjoying your games.
Step 6
Choose the subscribe button just below the 7-day free trial to get going. If it returns “not available for purchase”, it means you might have exhausted your Playstation Now free trial.
Step 7
Select the first button from the right which is the confirm purchase button. Before it, is the connection test button, which you can use to confirm if your internet connection is good enough for PlayStation Now.
Step 8
You need to supply your PlayStation Network password to confirm your purchase. You can do this by using your controller to control the on-screen keyboard. After entering your password, select the “ok button” to begin your 7-days free trial.
To discontinue your subscription after the free trial, you need to deactivate the auto-renew before the end of the trial period by following these steps:
- Navigate to settings.
- Choose account management.
- Select account information after which you select PlayStation subscription
- Click on the PlayStation Now subscription and finally select turn off auto-renew.
Step 9
Now that you’re ready to play PS2 games on your PS4 console, you need to select the PS button on your controller. This is the button that carries the PlayStation logo located at the center of the dual shock on your controller. It displays the PS4 menu.
Step 10
Select the PlayStation Now app on the dynamic menu, it’s the PlayStation logo on it. If you can’t find the app on the main menu, go to the far right of the dynamic menu and select library. Choose the “Applications” option in the sidebar and proceed to select the PlayStation Now option in the Applications menu.
Step 11
To launch the PlayStation Now app, select the start button just below the PS Now icon.
Step 12
In order to select a game to play, choose the browse option which will bring the different varieties games available to you at ones. Alternatively, you can also search for the game you want by selecting the search button instead of the browse button.
Step 13
Amongst the options displayed, you will find the PS2 Games option at the far right at the top. Select the PS2 Games option which will in-turn bring the list of all available PS2 games for you.
Step 14
To get going, select the stream now button. This makes the game available for playing in as much as your internet connection is available.
Now, that’s long list of steps, but the joy is, if you get it once, it will be easier the next time.
How to Play PS3 Games on PS4 Console
As earlier stated, PS3 games just like the PS2 games cannot be played on a PS4 console. Atleast not by using a disc. The PlayStation Now is the most effective and reliable option to get you playing your PS3 games on PS4.
Just like with the PS2 games, you need to sign up to the Playstation Network account and get a PlayStation Now subscription. That means you will repeat step 1 through to step 8 on the “how to play PS2 games on PS4” to sign up on the PlayStation Network account and get a subscription. That is if you’ve not done that at all before.
How to sign up for PlayStation Now and start playing PS3 games on PS4
Below is the step by step guide on how to sign up on PlayStation Now and get playing your PS3 games on PS4.
Step 1
Just like with the PS2 games, you need to select the PlayStation button on your controller.
Step 2
Launch the PlayStation app on the dynamic menu by pressing X on your controller. If the option is not available on the main menu, you can select via the library button on the far right of the menu.
Step 3
To open the PS Now application, choose the start button which is below the PS Now icon. With this you can have access to everything in the PS Now app.
Step 4
To dive into the pool of PS3 games available, select the browse option using the direction keys on your controller or the left stick. In the case where you know the title of the game you want to play, it is preferable you use the search option in place of the browse option.
With this you can directly search for the game and skip browsing over the lots of games available.
Step 5
To play PS3 games, you should select the PS3 games option. This will display all of the PS3 Games that are available for selection.
Step 6
Amongst the list of games available, you are free to select anyone that suits you within the 7-day free trial after which you will have to pay before playing in subsequent times.
To select game, you are to use the navigation features of your controller to navigate your way to a game of your choice. Then you press X to start the game.
Step 7
You have the option of streaming the game or adding it to your list of possible games you want to download. For instant playing, you should select the stream now button. With this the game starts after a few moment of loading.
To add to list of potential downloads, select the “add to your list” option.
So easy and straightforward.
Conclusion
After going through the rigors of how you can play your PS2 and PS3 games on PS4, it has become evident that is impossible to play PS2 and PS3 games on PS4 using disc due to the lack of backward compatibility in PS4. Now with PlayStation Now app, you can enjoy your old games on the PS4 via streaming and downloads.
Though there are other unreliable options like the use of emulator and other claims that the console of PS4 have been hacked. These methods are not advisable for the sake of the safety and durability of your PS4.
The only reliable option is the one provided by the manufacturers which is the PlayStation Now app.
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