Safeguarding Digital Games on a PS4: Tips for Transferring to a New Console

Your PS4 seems like it’s about to call it quits, and your husband has almost 300 digital games ready to play. With so many titles, you might wonder if the PlayStation’s imminent demise will mean losing access to those games. Don’t worry; here’s how you can ensure all those games remain accessible on a new PS4 or even a PS5.

External Hard Drive for Unscheduled Transfers

While you connect to your digital account, it shouldn’t be a problem. However, you might lose your saved data if the console fails. Fret not! If your husband has an external hard drive, he can unmount that and transfer everything without redownloading the games. This is a major time-saver, as trying to reinstall 300 games would be a huge hassle.

Transfer Games Seamlessly to a New PS4 or PS5

With all his games linked to his PS account, your husband can simply log in on a new console, and the games will be accessible again. The PS5 is backwards compatible with PS4 games, making the transition easier. But, please note that some early reports suggest that a few games may not work on the PS5. Here is a list of some of the incompatible games:

While some games might not be fully compatible, most titles should work just fine on the PS5.

Preparation Before the Old Console Fails

If you’re planning to get a new console, the best time to do it is before your current one completely fails. Begin by ordering a new console and an Ethernet cable. The Ethernet is crucial for a stable connection and a seamless transfer. Once the new console arrives, connect it to the old one using the Ethernet cable and transfer everything.

If you plan to upgrade to a PS5, the process is straightforward. Copy all the games from the old PS4 to the new PS5, and the old PS4 can be used for streaming or other activities.

Are You Sure It’s Time to Switch?

Before you start shopping, you might want to verify if the PS4 is really about to fail. My PS4’s, including the PS4 Pro Destiny Edition, are both in active use today. One is about 8 years old and has only required a 4TB hard drive upgrade, while the other is the PS4 Pro Destiny Edition with a 1TB storage. Both continue to work well.

My advice is to try and fix the old console before making a purchase. A simple fixing checklist can help you identify and resolve minor issues that might be preventing your console from functioning properly.

Numerous reports also suggest that the transition to a new console should be smooth, making it a good idea to upgrade if you find the old one unreliable or outdated.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your husband’s extensive game library remains intact on the new console, whether it’s a PS4 or a PS5. Happy gaming!