How to Play PS4 Games on Windows PC: PlayStation Now vs Emulators

Want to play PS4 games on your Windows PC? You’ve got two main options: stream them with PlayStation Now or run them locally with a PS4 emulator.

One’s official and easy, the other gives you more control, and both have pros and cons. In this guide, we’ll show you how to use each and what to expect before diving in.

How can I play my PS4 games on my PC?

1. Play your PS4 games on PC with the PS Remote Play software

1. 1. Navigate to the download page for PS Remote Play.

2. 2. Tick the checkbox next to I agree to the “SIE application end user license agreement” and “Privacy policy”, and then click on the Download button.

   

3. 3. Double-click on the installation file that was downloaded to your PC to start the installation process.

4. 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.

5. 5. When the installation is complete, click the Sign in to PSN button and use your credentials to log in.

6. 6. Now you need to configure your PS4 console. To start off, turn it on and go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings.

7. 7. Tick the checkbox next to Enable Remote Play.

8. 8. Go back to Settings and navigate to Account Management.

9. 9. Lastly, connect your DualShock 4 controller to your PC via an USB cable.

The best way to play your PS4 games on a PC is via PS Remote Play. It is an official software developed by Sony that allows you to do just that. Before you can use it, you need to ensure your console is up to date with the latest updates.

Moreover, in order to run PS Remote Play on your PC, this is what you need to have:

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• 7th Generation Intel® Core™ processors or later
• At least 100 MB of disk space
• At least 2 GB of RAM
• Display resolution that is 1024 × 768 or higher
• A sound card
• An USB port & USB cable
• A high-speed internet connection
• A Playstation Network account
• A Dualshock 4 wireless controller

2. Use PS Now to play PS4 games on a PC

1. Download and install PS Now app from the official source.
2. Connect the DualShock controller to the PC – see this guide to connect the PS controller to Windows.
3. Start streaming and playing on your Windows PC.

As for requirements, you will need a computer, a DualShock controller, a PS Now subscription, and, of course, a good Internet connection.

The PC hardware requirements are pretty low, with a minimum of Core i3 2.0 GHz and 2GB of RAM.

Gamers can play PlayStation 4 games directly on their PCs if they are using the PS Now service or PS4 Remote Play.

For those who 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 the Internet to users, who 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 upgrade a computer to play a game fully.

Hundreds of new or old games were released for PS4, PS3, and even PS2 that you can play on your Windows PC.

PlayStation Now can access exclusive PlayStation games, such as the critically acclaimed Uncharted series, and stream and play them on your PC.

Also, 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 if you are signed in to your PlayStation account on both devices.

There you go! Now you know everything about playing PS4 games on a PC without a console or playing PS4 games on a PC with a keyboard and mouse.

Should I play PS4 games on a PC emulator?

As mentioned above, the software for emulating PlayStation 4 games on your PC exists, but don’t expect the same flawless experience. It can be a great alternative if you use issues like NP-31805-7.

That being said, there aren’t many of them, and they can’t emulate full games due to PS 4 being a more recent gaming system that takes a significant amount of resources.

Out of the available PS4 emulators for PC, the best ones to use would be PS4Emus, PCSX4, Orbital PS4 Emulator, or fpPS4 Emulator. There are others, but they are still pretty rudimentary or still in the early development stages.

If you’re interested in emulating other consoles, check out guides for the best PS1 emulators for PC, PS2 emulators, PS3 emulators, and even the top PS5 emulators for PC.

And if you prefer older games, we also have a guide on how to fix PSP error on PC, so don’t miss it.

Leave a comment below if this article helped you achieve your goals or if you encountered any problems while trying.