The PlayStation 5 is one of the most powerful gaming consoles ever released, but it’s also a very versatile home entertainment system. Whether you’re watching movies on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, streaming the latest shows, or playing older PlayStation games, the PS5 can support a wide variety of media formats.
In this guide, we’ll break down every media type the PS5 supports, from discs and USB drives to streaming apps and legacy game compatibility.
Disc Playback on PS5
Only the standard PS5 model comes with a built-in disc drive, giving it the ability to handle a variety of physical media. The PS5 Digital Edition does not have a disc slot, meaning it relies entirely on downloads and streaming.
Supported Disc Formats
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVDs are fully supported on the disc-equipped PS5. You can enjoy high-quality visuals up to 4K resolution with HDR10. Push Square confirms this capability.
Most 4K Ultra HD discs are region-free, but standard Blu-rays and DVDs may still have region locks.
The PS5 does not support CDs or 3D Blu-rays, so if you have a collection of those, you’ll need a separate player.
Backward Compatibility with Game Discs
One of the PS5’s biggest strengths is its ability to play most previous-generation games.
The PS5 supports 99% of PS4 game discs, allowing you to revisit your entire library without repurchasing digital copies. Load times are significantly faster thanks to the PS5’s SSD.
Older discs from PS3, PS2, and PS1 consoles are not directly compatible, but some titles are available through PlayStation Plus Premium cloud streaming. Sony details backward compatibility here.
Playing Media from USB Drives
The PS5 also doubles as a versatile media player via USB, supporting video, music, and photos.
Supported USB File Systems
FAT32 and exFAT drives are fully compatible for media playback.
NTFS drives are supported only when used for game storage.
Supported Video Formats
MP4 (H.264/AVC)
MKV (H.264/AVC)
WEBM (VP9 codec)
Maximum resolution: 4K Ultra HD
Supported Audio Formats
FLAC (lossless)
MP3
AAC (including M4A containers)
Photos and Personal Media
JPEG, PNG, and standard image formats are supported, and content can be viewed via the Media Gallery app. Files must be stored in a folder within the root directory of your USB drive for the PS5 to detect them.
Streaming Apps and Network Media
Your PS5 also functions as a streaming powerhouse. From blockbuster movies to live sports, the console supports all major services available in Australia:
Netflix
Disney+
YouTube
Stan
Prime Video
Sony Pictures Core
You can also stream directly from your PC or phone using the PS Remote Play app or set up a home media server using Plex for your personal collection.
External Storage Support
The PS5 allows you to store and play PS4 games directly from an externalUSB drive. This is a great way to save space on the internal SSD.
However, PS5 games cannot run directly from external storage. You can store them there, but they must be transferred back to the internal SSD to play. You also must format the USB drive to run these games, which is an easy process that the PS5 will do automatically when you first plug in your external storage. All you have to do is click yes to the pop-up.
PS5 Media Support at a Glance
| Media Type | Supported on Standard PS5 | Supported on PS5 Digital Edition |
| 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray / Blu-ray / DVD | Yes | No |
| PS4 Game Discs | Yes | No |
| Older PlayStation Discs | No (streaming only) | No |
| USB Video | MP4, MKV, WEBM (up to 4K) | Same |
| USB Audio | FLAC, MP3, AAC | Same |
| USB Photos | JPEG, PNG, and others | Same |
| Streaming Apps | Yes | Yes |
| External PS4 Game Playback | Yes | Yes |
| External PS5 Game Playback | No | No |
Final Verdict: PS5 as an Entertainment Hub
The PS5 is definitely more than a gaming console and works well as an entertainment hub.
If you choose the standard model, you’ll get 4K Blu-ray playback, full USB media support, and seamless streaming integration.
If you go for the Digital Edition, you’ll still have access to streaming and USB media playback but lose all physical disc capabilities.
For anyone looking to combine gaming with a premium 4K home entertainment experience, the standard PS5 is the better option.
