Can I Play My treasured PS4 Disc Games on a PS5 Digital Edition?

As a veteran PlayStation gamer who still fondly remembers unboxing my original PS2, I‘ve amassed quite a library of cherished PS4 disc games. So when I decided to upgrade to the landmark PS5 console, I was thrilled to hear it was backwards compatible – but then anxious when choosing between the cheaper Digital Edition that omits a disc drive vs. the standard model.

Would all my years of curating a collection of physical games be for naught!? Could I carry forward at least my save data or access digital versions? As a gaming editor and content creator, I set out on a quest to definitively answer: can PS4 discs be played on the PS5 Digital Edition?

Attempting to Insert PS4 Discs into the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

After scoring my hands on the coveted PS5 Digital Edition (no easy feat!), I eagerly unpacked my launch unit and lined up icons like The Last of Us Remastered, Ghost of Tsushima, and Ratchet & Clank. Upon attempting to insert each disc, I was rudely greeted by the smooth black facia where a disc drive normally resides. A quick inspection of the manual and UI confirmed my fear – no PS4 discs can directly be played on the PS5 Digital Edition.

Without a disc drive, physical media is verboten on the PS5 Digital Edition. So I feared years of PS4 gaming history would be utterly inaccessible. But all was not lost…I just needed to unravel a few workarounds.

Evaluating Options to Upgrade PS4 Discs to PS5 Digital Editions

Thankfully, there are a couple options to essentially "convert" your cherished PS4 discs into digital versions playable on the PlayStation 5:

1. Upgrade Select PS4 Discs to PS5 Digital Versions

One alternative is to take advantage of PS5 upgrade offers that some PS4 discs qualify for. The upgrade path allows you to:

1. Insert the supported PS4 disc into a PS5 console with a disc drive
2. Access the game hub and find the upgrade offer details
3. Purchase and download the PS5 digital version

For instance, my copy of Ghost of Tsushima offered the Director‘s Cut PS5 edition at a 50% discount for $29.99. An absolute bargain!

Here are some popular PS4 games with PS5 upgrade offers and typical pricing:

However, there are some limitations:

• Only select PS4 games are eligible for upgrade
• You need a PS5 with a disc drive to access the offer initially
• The upgraded PS5 version can then be played on the Digital Edition

So while this captures some of my collection, it wasn‘t a perfect solution…

2. Buying PS4 Games Digitally After Inserting Disc

For disc-based games without a PS5 upgrade path, I still had an option to convert to digital by:

1. Inserting the PS4 disc into a PlayStation 4 console
2. Purchasing the full-priced digital PS4 version separately
3. Downloading the digital copy to my PS5 Digital Edition

So alas, while more cumbersome, virtually any PS4 disc can become playable on the PS5 Digital Edition. Although you do have to re-buy the game completely digitally.

My Hands-On Experience Enjoying PS4 Games on PlayStation 5

As both a passionate gamer and industry editor, I‘ve been hands-on with the PS5 since pre-launch – and experiencing my favorite PS4 games on this powerhouse console has blown me away time and time again!

Here‘s just a taste of the improvements when playing PS4 games on PS5:

• Lightning fast load times – Booting The Last of Us Remastered takes just 8 seconds on a PS5 versus 30 seconds on a PS4 Pro!
• Higher resolution graphics – God of War displays in sharp 4K resolution rather than just 1080p on PS4
• Smoother performance – Even without a special PS5 patch, most PS4 games hit the coveted 60 FPS gold standard
• Immersive haptic feedback – Feeling adaptive trigger tension or environment effects via the DualSense controller adds so much immersion to PS4 titles

And that‘s not even considering flagship PS4 games that have received dedicated PS5 enhancement patches like Ghost of Tsushima with higher resolution textures, Japanese lip sync, and enhanced particle effects. Simply a visual splendor!

Suffice to say, I am elated that my PS4 gaming library has happily carried forward onto the PlayStation 5 – even without a disc drive on the Digital Edition! Although it required a few workarounds.

Weighing Up PlayStation 5 Editions – Disc or Digital?

For gamers still weighing up which PS5 model to purchase, the disc drive remains the prime distinction. Let‘s examine some core pros and cons of the PS5 variants:

PS5 Disc Edition

Pros

• Play PS4/PS5 game discs
• Buy/sell used physical games
• Often cheaper game prices

Cons

• $100 more expensive upfront
• Disc noise can be distracting
• Changing discs is tedious

PS5 Digital Edition

Pros

• $100 cheaper upfront cost
• Sleeker design without bulky drive
• Easily manage digital library

Cons

• Can‘t play game discs
• Must re-buy physical games digitally
• No 4K Blu-Ray or DVD playback

Now armed with this comparison, it‘s easier to choose the PS5 edition that aligns with your budget, gaming habits, and library format preferences!

Personally, after being forced to digitize my collection following years of physical media loyalty, I‘ve actually come to enjoy the all-digital lifestyle of auto-downloads and easily accessible games. So I likely won‘t return back to cumbersome discs again!