How to Play PS3 Games on PS4 using PlayStation Now

Do you want to play PS3 games on PS4 or PS2 games on PS4 and other compatible devices? Learn how to play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now (PS Now)

So you were having Sony PlayStation 3 gaming console but you upgraded to the new PlayStation 4 console  as it came with much powerful hardware and new games. There is always a problem with new gen consoles and that is they lack the ability to play the games which were available for old consoles.

Similar is the case with PlayStation console as few common questions which strike the mind of many people are – Can you play PS3 games on PS4? Are PS3 games compatible with PS4 console?

Now you might be looking for an answer to your query – Can PS4 play PS3 games? Or, Do PS3 games work on PS4? Well, the answer is somewhat complicated. There is not a straight way to play PS3 games on PS4 just by downloading the game. Even, there is also no official way of downloading PS3 games on your PS4 console and start playing them. However, you can use PlayStation Now (PS Now) to run all popular PS3 games on your PlayStation 4 and start playing PS3 games on PS4 console.

play ps3 games on ps4

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After knowing that PlayStation Now is the only option to play PlayStation 3 games on PlayStation 4 or to play PS2 games on PS4, the next question which strikes your mind is how to play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now?

Don’t worry, today we are going to share a full-fledged tutorial which will help you in understanding the PS4 backwards compatibility (Is PlayStation 4 backwards compatible with PS3 games?) but before that let’s find out what is PlayStation Now.

In this PlayStation Games guide, we are focusing specifically on PS4 backwards compatibility and PlayStation Now related queries like – Can you play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now? What is PlayStation Now? and How to Play PS3 Games on PS4 Using PlayStation Now? However, you can read more online gaming articles here:

What is PlayStation Now?

If you are new to PlayStation, you might not be familiar with PlayStation Now (PS Now). PlayStation Now is a video game streaming service developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment which helps you to play PS3 games on PS4 and other compatible devices using a Wi-Fi connection. In simple term, you can think of PlayStation Now as Netflix of the gaming world as you can search for any game on PlayStation Now and start playing it on your PS4, the condition being you are having a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.

how to play ps3 games on ps4 using playstation now

The main advantage of using PlayStation Now is that you don’t need to wait for the PS3 titles to update or install on your device. All the best PS3 games which are available on PlayStation Now network are available on the online cloud which means that you don’t need to download and install them on your PlayStation 4. There is only one requirement and that is downloading of the PlayStation Now application along with a good 5 Mbps internet connection.

How Much Does PlayStation Now Cost?

PlayStation Now is a premium service and you need to buy the subscription for PlayStation Now if you want to play PS3 games on PS4 or PS2 games on PS4. At present time, there are only three subscription plans available under PlayStation Now and they are:

  • Playstation Now 7-Day Free Trial
  • Playstation Now 1-Month Subscription
  • Playstation Now 3-Month Subscription

With the Playstation Now free trial plan, you will be able to enjoy all the basic features for 7 days. In case you select Playstation Now 1-Month Subscription plan then you will have to shed out $19.99 a month. Playstation Now 3-Month Subscription will cost you $44.99. The 3-Month Subscription offers you the option to play the entire PS Now catalog of over 400 PS3 games, including PlayStation exclusives, acclaimed masterpieces, greatest hits and games for the whole family.

playstation now subscription

If you opt for the monthly subscription, all the data which is stored in your PlayStation 4 will remain intact. This means if you don’t want to continue PlayStation Now subscription for a month, all your data will remain intact. If you are not sure about PlayStation Now and want to give it a test then you download the app as it will give you 7 days free subscription.

Is PlayStation Now Worth Subscribing?

There are many online gaming services available out there like Origin Access, EA Access. Using any of the gaming services available you will get full access to huge library of games for a month which is a steal deal. The question which here rises is – Is it worth to buy PlayStation Now subscription?

The simple answer to this question is that the PlayStation 4 is one of the best and top rated gaming consoles which you will find on the market as of now. If you will compare PlayStation Now with other gaming services you will find that it is the cheapest one available in the market right now. If you are a bit skeptical about PlayStation Now (PS Now), you can have a look at Pros and Cons of PS Now discussed below.

Pros of PlayStation Now:

(i) Cheap Subscription Fee

If you opt for PlayStation Now, you will get better deals. There are two packages available for buying games which are $19.99 for a month and $44.99 for three months. The subscription charges are bit more as compared to what you will pay for Netflix but if you are playing more than one game on your PlayStation 4 then you are going to be benefitted with this subscription plans.

(ii) No Need to Wait for Downloads

So you have purchased a new game online but wait, you are not playing it right away. What? Why? Because you need to download the entire game on your console and wait for it to get installed and then you are allowed to press the Play button. This is not the case with PlayStation Now as it is a streaming service and all the games are stored in the online cloud. You can hit the play button as soon as you have paid for it. No need to wait for the game to get downloaded or to install updates.

(iii) Multiple Devices Support

You can use PlayStation Now on multiple devices and not only on PlayStation 4. The devices which are compatible with PlayStation Now are mentioned below:

  • PlayStation 4
  • PlayStation 3
  • PS Vita
  • PlayStation TV
  • Sony Bluray TV’s (2015 onwards)
  • Sony TV’s
  • Samsung TV’s

All you need is a good gaming controller and you will be able to play games on your TV’s with the help of PlayStation Now subscription.

Cons of PlayStation Now:

(i) Limited Games

There are limited games available on PlayStation Now. You will find all the PlayStation 3 games on PS Now and there is not a single PS4 game available on PS Now. If you want to play a PS4 game using your PS Now subscription you won’t. What a bummer!!

(ii) High Speed Internet connection

You don’t need the high-speed internet connection for online gaming only but also for story mode. As we have mentioned earlier, PS Now is a streaming service, you are going to stream games. A high-speed internet connection is needed to play the games, so if you are not having one there is no need of going for PlayStation Now subscription.

We think that now after reading all the Pros and Cons of PlayStation Now, you can decide and answer if it is worth to go for PS Now subscription or not.

How to Play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now

Does PS4 play PS3 games? Can you play PS3 games on PS4? How to play PS3 games on PS4 are some of the most widely searched terms over the internet, and that’s the main reason for us to bringing out this PS4 backwards compatibility guide.

If you have purchased PlayStation Now subscription and want to play PS3 games on PS4 or PS2 games on PS4 then you can have a look below at the steps which we have mentioned:

Setting Up PlayStation Now:

Step (1): First of all, register for free PlayStation Network account. To create a new account, go to Official PlayStation Store website (https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-us/home/main) and then select Create Account option.

Step (2): Once you have created the account successfully, you need to verify it by going to your registered e-mail address.

Step (3): Please check and see your internet connection. Make sure that you are having a high-speed internet connection.

Step (4): Next you need is a Dual Shock 3 or DualShock 4 wireless controller. With the wireless controller, you will be able to play the PS3 games on your PS4.

Step (5): Turn on your PlayStation 4 and then you need to select “Network” option.

Step (6): Next you have to select “Set Up Internet Connection” option and then choose the Internet connection type which you are having.

Step (7): Now, you will see on-screen instructions on your screen. Follow the instructions as per the connection type which you are using and you should be able to connect your PS4 to the Internet.

Connecting to PlayStation Now:

Once your PlayStation 4 is connected to the internet, now you have to follow the below-mentioned steps as they will help you to create connection with PlayStation Now:

Step (1): At first, open menu on your PlayStation 4 and then go to PlayStation Store to sign in with your PlayStation Now account details.

Step (2): Now you have to choose PS Now Subscription then you will be able to manage your games and subscription from here.

Step (3): If you have still not purchases PS Now subscription, you need to select and buy one from here.

]Step (4): Finally, you need to select Content Launcher option and choose launch PS Now option. You are now having access to more than 100 PS3 games.

Once all the above instructions to play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now are performed successfully, you can open any game which you would like to play and start playing it on your PS4 and other compatible devices.

Conclusion

So, this is how you can easily play PlayStation 3 games on your PlayStation 4 console. We hope this PlayStation 4 backwards compatibility guide perfectly answered your entire question regarding PlayStation gaming such as: Can you play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now? How to play PS3 games on PS4 using PlayStation Now? Is the PS4 backwards compatible with PS3 games? Do PS3 games work on PS4?

If you are having any doubts or questions related to PS3 games and PS4 games or PlayStation Now (PS Now), you can let us know using the comments section below.

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