Do You Need the Internet to Install PS4, PS5 Disc Games?
What To Know
- You do not need an internet connection to install games from PS4 or PS5 discs onto your console.
- Internet is necessary for downloading games from the PlayStation Store, as well as for game updates and patches.
This guide simplifies whether an internet connection is essential for installing or playing disc-based games on your PlayStation 4 or 5.
We’ll give you straightforward tips on using your PS4 and PS5 games across both consoles.
Let’s clarify the process and set you up for seamless gaming, no matter your internet situation.
Quick Navigation
Do You Need the Internet to Install PS4, PS5 Disc Game?
No, the internet is not necessary to install PS4, PS5 disc games. The gaming console installs the game automatically once it detects the disc.
You, however, need the internet to install entire games from the PlayStation Store. When you try downloading an online game, your console will prompt you, “Connect to the Internet and view the latest information for this application.”
The internet is also needed to log onto the PlayStation Store and download games from there. Downloading essential extras, such as bug fixes, also requires going online.
Is Installing a PS4/PS5 Disc Game Necessary?
Yes, you must install games from a PS4/PS5 disc. The disc must stay in the console after the installation and during gameplay.
The disc remains in the console as it serves as authentication or validates the license linked with the particular game. It prevents the unauthorized sharing of games or gameplay.
Games such as Hogwarts Legacy, Spider-Man, and Resident Evil don’t require the internet to play as they are single-player games with offline game modes and don’t require co-op or online gameplay.
The gameplay mechanics, challenges, and levels come built-in with the game and don’t need the internet to access or activate. However, you’ll need the internet to download updates and patches.
Games such as Genshin Impact and Fortnite require the internet to play as they use a web server-based architecture to manage the game’s key elements, such as player data, game logic, and matchmaking.
In other words, a significant portion of the game’s files must be fetched online. The internet lets these games connect to their servers, enabling seamless player interactions, etc.
Some games may let you play the game while its primary content files are downloaded in the background. The functionality is called “play as you download.”
Upon downloading a portion of the game, you can play the first level or the first few minutes.
For example, if the game’s total size on disk is 75 GB, you must have downloaded somewhere around 15 GB to trial the game. The remaining 60 GB will get downloaded as you play, making the entire game accessible after the download.
How to Install a Game on PS4 from Disc?
Here are the steps to install a game on PS4 from a disc:
- Insert the game disc into the console.
- The console will download the game onto its hard drive when it detects the disc.
When the download and installation are in progress, you’ll hear a spinning sound or whir, which indicates the disc drive is doing its job.
The disc drive will stay active for a few minutes after you launch the installed game. Post a couple of minutes, the disc shall stop spinning while you continue to play.
How to Safely Remove the Disc from a PS4 or PS5?
To remove the disc from your PlayStation after the download and installation, press the “Eject” button next to the disc insertion slot. The button is marked with a sign consisting of a triangle and a vertical line under it.
Turn off the game but keep the console powered on for the eject mechanism to work. Press the “Eject” button and wait for the disc to come out. You’ll hear a click when that happens. Put your finger inside the circular hole punch to take the disc out.
Ensure you do not touch the readable side of the disc to avoid scratching. Hold the disc at its edges and put it in its protective case when not using it.
You can also eject the disc without pressing the Eject button.
- Press the controller’s PS button to go to the primary menu.
- Highlight the game whose disc you’d like to remove from the list.
- Press your controller’s Options button.
- Choose Remove Disc from the list of actions.
After a few seconds, your gaming console will push out the disc. You may take it out manually then.
Can You Use PS4 Discs with a PS5?
Yes, you can play quite a few PS4 discs on a PS5, except for in the case of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition . The compatibility status also varies with the particular game.
For example, Hitman Go: Definitive Edition, Robinson: The Journey, We Sing, Shadwen, Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One, and Just Deal With It! are incompatible with the PS5.
A few other games could show errors or behave unexpectedly. They could be buggy or exhibit minor graphical glitches. Call of Duty, Crossout, Clan N, Daylight, and Dino Frontier are some of the multiple PS4 games that could turn out buggy when paired with a PS5.
The PS4 games that work without an issue could benefit from improved loading times, better graphical fidelity, higher frame rates, and specific other enhancements based on the title and whether it’s been patched or updated for the PS5.
PS5 incorporates “Game Boost,” a feature that enhances the performance of PS4 games on the PlayStation 5. It leverages PS5’s increased horsepower and must be manually enabled.
For example, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Origins, Hunt Showdown, Ratchet & Clank, etc., run at 60 fps on a PS5 and not 30 fps they support on a PS4. The Firewall Zero Hour game benefits from enhanced visual fidelity.
Not all games will benefit from or can tap into the Game Boost feature as they may not be compatible.
What is the PS5 Digital Edition?
The PS5 Digital Edition is a disc-free, marginally slimmer variant of the standard PS5. It is the same device as the regular PS5 otherwise.
It uses the same components, hardware, game library, etc. The processor, graphical performance, storage options, ports, etc., are identical.
The absence of the 4K UHD Blu-ray player on the Digital Edition makes the console slightly cheaper.
If you have a collection of old PS4 discs and looking to buy the latest PlayStation, get the standard PlayStation 5 . The regular PS5 is also a sensible choice if you foresee buying PS4/PS5 discs for a bargain.
Can You Use PS5 Discs with a PS4?
PS5 games don’t usually work on a PS4 as the games require more advanced hardware that boasts 4K resolutions, new controller upgrades, greater SSD speeds, graphical enhancements, etc.
Some games, however, are launched for the PS4 and PS5 simultaneously—for instance, Horizon Forbidden West, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
CyberPunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and The Last of Us Part II are compatible with both the PS5 and PS4. It’s expected that more gaming titles shall follow suit.
Conclusion
Although the internet is critical to gaming, it’s not mandatory. The fact that PS4 and PS5 games can be availed of a disc without the internet is proof.
But the disc doesn’t provide all support a game needs throughout its lifetime. When an update is pending or patches are required, it must be downloaded from the game’s official websites. Developers do not issue new discs to provide bug fixes or enhance a current game.
Besides being complementary, the internet can also provide the games and the accompaniments they need. The PS5 Digital Edition is proof.
In summary, Sony PlayStation lets you choose between physical discs or digital games, treating both mediums equally. The online-only games are definitely not the “lite” versions of the more traditional physical discs.
Catherine Tramell has been covering technology as a freelance writer for over a decade. She has been writing for Pointer Clicker for over a year, further expanding her expertise as a tech columnist. Catherine likes spending time with her family and friends and her pastimes are reading books and news articles.