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PS5 Game Boost guide: What is Game Boost and how does it work?

Deacon on motorcycle in Days Gone.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Playing the latest and best PS5 games is what we all bought our consoles for, but that doesn't mean we should leave older games behind. There's no doubt that when you compare the PS4 vs PS5, the latter eclipses the former in terms of power, and it can use all that extra juice to run PS4 games better than ever. Game Boost can make intense titles like racing games or shooter titles all look and run way better than before. While you wait for all the upcoming PS5 games, why not revisit some PS4 games that have benefited from Game Boost?

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Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • PS5 system

  • Copy of PS4 Game Boost-compatible title

Kratos and son in God of War.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is PS5 Game Boost?

Since the PS5 is a much more powerful device compared to its predecessors, it can run certain PS4 games much better than before. Many PS4 games perform even better on PS5 with the use of Game Boost. These are games that need to be manually updated by developers to take advantage of the improved power, but doing so will give you a higher frame rate and increased resolution. For instance, a PS4 game might be capped at 30 frames per second, but with Game Boost, it might run at 60 fps.

The other thing to consider is that many PS4 games will simply run better on PS5, even if they haven't been patched to reach a higher frame rate or resolution. Specifically, you'll have a better time reaching the targeted performance on PS5. For instance, a PS4 game might have a targeted frame rate of 60 fps, which might fluctuate due to the old hardware's lack of power. On PS5, you're more likely to achieve the max targeted frame rate thanks to the PS5's capabilities. So even if a title isn't Game Boost enabled, you'll still be able to enjoy more consistent performance across the board when playing PS4 games on PS5.

How to enable PS5 Game Boost

On PS5, you don't need to do anything to enable PS5 Game Boost. This feature automatically applies to any compatible games, so simply begin playing any Game Boost title to enjoy improved performance.

Ellie from The Last of Us Part II.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Game Boost-compatible titles

  • Assassin's Creed Odyssey — 60 fps
  • Blood & Truth — 4K, 90 fps
  • Crysis Remastered — 1880p, 60 fps
  • Days Gone — 4K, 60 fps
  • Dying Light — 4K or 60 fps
  • Firewall Zero Hour — reduced load times and improved visual fidelity
  • God of War — 4K, 60 fps
  • Ghost of Tsushima — 60 fps and reduced load times
  • Horizon Zero Dawn — 2160p, 60 fps
  • Hunt: Showdown — up to 60 fps
  • Ratchet & Clank — 60 fps
  • Remnant: From the Ashes — 4K, 60 fps
  • Rocket League — Checkerboard 4K, 60 fps
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider — 4K, 60 fps
  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — 60 fps
  • The Division 2 — 4K, 60 fps
  • The Last of Us: Part II — 1440p, 60 fps
  • Vampyr — 1440p, 60 fps
  • Warhammer: Vermintide 2 — 1440p, 60 fps
  • World War Z: Aftermath — 4K, 60 fps
  • Zombie Army 4: Dead War — 4K, 60 fps

Above is a list of Game Boost-compatible PS4 games and the features included. Keep in mind, some of the titles above have PS5 versions that are separate from their PS4 counterparts. This list is likely to grow over time.

Joseph Yaden
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joseph Yaden is a freelance journalist who covers Nintendo, shooters, and horror games. He mostly covers game guides for…
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