Some of your PlayStation 5 (PS5) games may be PlayStation 4 (PS4) games in disguise. Here’s how to tell the difference between console versions and change these games to their next-gen versions.
The PlayStation 5, unlike its predecessor, is backward compatible with one generation, which means that you can play almost all PlayStation 4 games on it. However, one of the downsides is that some cross-gen games (games released on both Sony consoles at the same time) have the PlayStation 4 version installed by default.
It is in your best interest to make sure that the game you have installed on your PlayStation 5 is the PS5 version as there is often a graphical difference between that and the PS4 version. There are two different ways to find out which version of the game is currently installed on your PS5. We will explain both options.
The DualSense option button
The first way is only available for games with tiles in the main menu, in other words, games you have recently installed or played. So you may be limited in the number of games you can monitor. However, it is the fastest and most straightforward way to determine which version of the game you have installed.
Find the tile of the game you want to check on your PS5 home screen. Once the tile is highlighted and the game background takes up the entire screen, check the game title just below the row of tiles. If the installed version of the game is for the console of the previous generation, the title of the game will have “PS4”
If that’s not clear enough, you can also check which version of the game is installed using the Options menu while on the game’s tile. Tap the Options button on your DualSense controller. This is the small button in the top right corner of the touchpad. This will display a drop-down menu of options on the screen next to the tile.
If you are playing a multi-generation title (i.e. a title available in both the PS4 and PS5 versions), the menu will have the option ‘Check game version’.
Note: Not all PS4 games have a PS5 version that you can switch to. If you don’t see “Check game version” in the Options menu, then you don’t have more than one version to choose from.
Once you select “Check Game Version”, a submenu will appear on the screen with each version of the game listed. There is a check next to the version you have installed on your system.
Note: You can have both versions of the game installed. To make sure both are installed, select the version of the game that does not have a check mark next to it. If the “Play” button at the bottom of the screen changes to a “Download” button, it is currently not installed.
The Ellipsis menu
The second way to check if you have the PS4 version of a game installed on your PS5 is through the ellipsis menu next to the ‘Play’ button at the bottom of the home screen. The information you will find here will vary slightly.
When you open the ellipse menu, you will see a version of the game in the list. This is the version of the game you have do not have currently selected. So if you see an entry for “PS5 [Game Title]In the ellipse menu, it means you do not have installed the PS5 version of the game.
Selecting this from the ellipsis menu will switch the game to that version, and again if the “Play” button changes to a “Download” button, that version of the game will not be installed.
Unlike the drop-down menu with the Options button, you can access the ellipsis menu through the ‘Game Library’. You can find this on the right side of the top bar of the home screen. The game library shows you all the games you currently have installed or purchased, not just the games currently listed in the main menu.
If you have both versions of the game installed, you can also delete the version you don’t want. Simply select “Delete” from the drop-down menu with the Options button.
You will be taken to a screen where you can select which version of the game you want to remove. You can also delete both if you wish. Whichever version of the game has a checked box will be removed.
How to Make Sure to Download PS5 Version
What about games that are not installed yet? Fortunately, the ellipse menu gives you the option to choose which version of the game to download. First, go to the “Game Library” on the right side of the Home screen main menu.
Then select the tile of the game you want to install. If you can’t find it at first, you can select different filter options using the button at the far left of the library to narrow it down. You can also sort your games in alphabetical order to make it even easier.
Once you’ve found the deleted game in question, tap the “X” button on your DualSense controller while the tile is highlighted and you’ll be taken to a page for the game. Select the ellipse next to the “Download” button and open the menu again.
You will see which versions of the game are currently not selected, which means that the one you don’t see in this menu is the one you are downloading.
So if you want to install the PS5 version of the game, make sure this version is not in the ellipsis menu. If so, select it. To make sure there is a PS5 version to install, try selecting a different version and checking the ellipsis menu again.
One of the PlayStation 5’s weaknesses is the obscuring of necessary information like this in menus. But once you know where to look, you can find out what version of the game you have installed and switch if necessary.
