How to play PS4 games on your Windows PC
- Windows users are happy to hear that they can play PlayStation 4 games without actually owning a console. The service PlayStation Now is available for PC.
- A stable Internet connection, a controller and a PlayStation Now subscription are required. The PS Now application is free to download and there's a 7-day trial available for the service.
- You can find similar articles in the PlayStation Now section of our site.
- Check out the PlayStation Gaming Hub, where we gathered articles related to this gaming platform.
PlayStation Now is a video game streaming service provided by Sony, the creator of the very popular and successful PlayStation console. This service is one of a few trying to explore video game streaming.
While people are already used to content streaming, mostly in the form of music or video, video game streaming is a recent concept that gained popularity in the last years. Now, Sony is announcing that the list of games available though the service will be constantly updated. So you need to check it out at least once a month to see what’s new.
How can I play PS4 games on PC?
- Download and install PS Now app from the official source.
- Connect the DualShock controller to PC – see this guide to connect PS controller to Windows.
- Start streaming and playing on your Windows PC.
As for requirements you will need a computer, DualShock controller, a PS Now subscription and, of course, a good Internet connection.
The PC hardware requirements are quite low with a Core i3 2.0 GHz and 2GB of RAM minimum.
PC gamers have reason to be happy
This means gamers will be able to play PlayStation 4 games directly on their PCs as long as they are using the PS Now service. For those that haven’t gotten a chance to brush up on modern gaming habits, game streaming implies that the actual games are run and processed on the service provider’s machines. The visual information is sent via internet to users, which control the game remotely. This allows people to play high-end games that won’t run on older PCs, so there’s no need to fully upgrade a computer just for playing a game.
New or old, there are hundreds of games available that were released for PS4, PS3 and even PS2 and that you can play on your Windows PC.
PS4 Exclusives on the PC
PlayStation Now service can be used to access exclusive PlayStation games such as the critically acclaimed Uncharted series, and stream and play them on your PC.
Play on PS4, continue on PC
One of the biggest attractions of the PS Now service is that you can start playing on one device and resume playing on the other device if you are signed-in to your PlayStation account on both devices.
This post was originally published in March 2017 and has been since revamped and updated in April 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In just three easy steps you will enjoy your games. The steps are highlighted in this article.
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PlayStation Now service includes not only the latest PS4 games, but also PS3 and PS2 games available for streaming on the PC.
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There are a couple of emulators available in our PS4 emulator guide. Although we do recommend buying a PS4 as a better choice. Or streaming games to PC via PS Now works even if your computer specifications are not high.
