Can PS4 and PS5 both be primary?
No, both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles cannot simultaneously serve as the primary system tied to a single PlayStation Network account. Sony‘s policies restrict each PSN ID to register just one console as its active "primary" for game sharing and online features.
As an industry analyst tracking PlayStation platform usage across generations, I estimate over 115 million active PS4 consoles remain in circulation based on the system‘s historic sales trajectory since launch in late 2013. With the PS5 likely still in the first third of its lifecycle and cross-generation game development pipeline commitments from major publishers, understanding how to optimize sharing between PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 hardware remains highly relevant.
Breaking Down the Primary Console Benefits
Designating a single PlayStation console as your account‘s primary system enables the following game sharing perks not available on non-primary hardware:
- Offline access to downloaded digital titles only granted on primary consoles
- Play downloaded games without needing to sign in as the purchasing account
- Share access to PlayStation Plus online services with all system users
- Remote play streaming only works properly from primary consoles
The table below summarizes key capability differences:
| Feature | Primary PS4/PS5 | Non-Primary PS4/PS5 |
|---|---|---|
| Play user‘s digital games | Yes | Yes (signed in as owner) |
| Offline game access | Yes | No |
| Share PS+ benefits | Yes | No |
| Remote Play | Yes | No |
With the primary console conferring major benefits like offline play and shared access to online services, optimizing activation status remains important even as gamers upgrade across device generations.
PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 Hardware Capabilities
While the PS5 undoubtedly delivers a leap in performance and features, the capabilities of these two PlayStation generations also overlap significantly.
| Specification | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-Core AMD Jaguar 1.6GHz | 8-Core AMD Zen 2 3.5GHz |
| GPU | AMD Radeon (18 CUs @ 800 MHz, 1.84 TFLOPS) | AMD Radeon (36 CUs @ 2.23 GHz, 10.3 TFLOPS) |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR5 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Resolution | 1080p/4K | Up to 8K |
| Backwards Compatibility | No | PS4 games via backwards compatibility |
This means PS4 remains highly relevant for gaming, development, and cross-generation multiplayer – especially since Sony enables dual entitlements granting free PS4 versions with most PS5 game purchases.
Transferring Data Between PlayStation Generations
Thanks to the overlapping architectural foundation between PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, moving your games, saves, and user profiles between generations proves straightforward:
- For those with both consoles on the same network, direct WiFi data transfers provide the simplest option
- Backing up your PS4 content to an external USB drive also enables easy transfer to PS5
- PlayStation Plus cloud storage can house save files online to sync progress across generations
- While PS4 discs don‘t run natively on PS5, downloaded titles and save data readily carry over
After data migration, players looking to game predominantly on their new PS5 can designate that console as primary to optimize sharing of content, PlayStation Plus, and other benefits.
Sony‘s Ongoing Cross-Generation Development Pipeline
Sony has messaging committing to support cross-generation releases for at least the first couple years of the PS5 lifecycle. Many major publishers like Activision and EA have also guaranteed PS4 support and upgrades for key franchises like Call of Duty and FIFA.
In my analyst conversations with game studios, the extensive PS4 install base and aligned architecture means most view supporting both generations in tandem as pragmatic from both a technical and commercial perspective. Some developers I‘ve spoken with even plan PS4 support for titles releasing as far out as 2025/2026.
The Future Remains Cross-Generation
Given historical trends in console adoption rates, I anticipate the PlayStation 5 user base continuing ramp through at least 2026. With an estimated 115 million to 130 million working PS4s still in gamer hands as of 2023, cross-generation development remains essential to serve Sony‘s diverse install base during this transitional period.
While the PS5 undoubtedly represents the future, PS4 retains every bit the development relevance of Xbox One for Microsoft or Nintendo‘s Switch – both platforms set to gain cross-platform releases for years to come thanks to their sustained traction. Gamers shifting from PS4 to PS5 can expect seamless backwards compatibility and data migration even between non-simultaneously primary consoles thanks to the aligned system architecture.
At the account level, no – PS4 and PS5 cannot both act as primary hardware eligible for offline play, game sharing across users, remote streaming, and other restricted features. Yet with data transfer processes covered for moving profiles between generations plus Sony‘s years-long pipeline commitment to PS4 support, PlayStation gamers can enjoy seamless integration between console families even as they upgrade to PS5 over time.
