PS5's Game Boost Improves Certain Backwards Compatible PS4 Games

PS5 launches around the world next month, and while there are still some lingering questions about how it works, Sony has now shared more details about the system's backwards compatibility. As with Xbox Series X, it appears a few previous-gen games will be improved when played on PS5 thanks to Game Boost, a feature that gives some PlayStation 4 games a performance boost on the newer console.

As detailed on the PlayStation support website, Game Boost allows certain PS4 titles to "run with a higher or smoother frame rate" when played on a PS5. However, Sony notes that this will only apply to "select" games; it appears the performance boost won't be applied across the board, as Xbox Series X does with Xbox One games.

The company shed a bit more light on how the feature will work in a PlayStation Blog post. "Some titles with unlocked frame rates or dynamic resolution up to 4K may see higher fidelity. Additionally, PS4 games will also take advantage of some of PS5's new UX features, but more to come on that later," the company wrote.

Although we don't know the majority of the games that will be making use of Game Boost, developer Sucker Punch confirmed that Ghost of Tsushima will take advantage of the feature. The open-world action game will get a 60 frames per second option when played on PS5. You'll also experience much faster loading times on the next-gen system.

According to Sony, the "vast majority" of the PS4 library will be playable on PS5, although there are a few titles that won't be compatible with the new system. Sony has also explained how to upgrade some PS4 games to their PS5 versions, and the process sounds fairly straightforward.

However, it appears there are a few quirks when playing backwards-compatible games on PS5, particularly with relation to the Share button. Since PS5's DualSense controller replaces feature that with the new Create button, the Share menu can't be displayed when playing a PS4 game on a PS5, but you will still be able to take screenshots. A few other PS4 features also won't work on PS5, like PS4 tournaments and the PS4 Second Screen app.

Additionally, Sony warns that "some PS4 games may exhibit errors or unexpected behavior when played on PS5 consoles." Again, no specifics are provided, but it does encourage you "to see if you are happy with the play experience" of a PS4 game on PS5 before buying any DLC for it. You can read more on PlayStation's support website.

The PS5 launches on November 12 and will be available in two editions. The standard version retails for $500 USD, while the disc-free digital edition is $400 USD. Preorders have been selling out immediately, but you can learn more about where to snag yours in our PS5 preorder guide.