You finally got the white monolith. The PS5 is sitting on your desk, humming quietly, and the first thing you want to do is jump back into Los Santos with the crew. But there's a problem. Half the guys are still on the old PS4. You go to send an invite, and suddenly, the "Join Game" button is greyed out. Or worse, you can't even find them in the list.
It's a mess. Honestly, the way Rockstar handled the transition between console generations is confusing as hell. You’d think a game from 2013 would just let everyone play together by now.
Basically, the short answer is: No, you cannot play the PS5 version of GTA 5 with people on PS4. They are effectively two different games running on different servers. But—and this is the part that saves your Friday night—there is a workaround that actually works. You just have to be willing to give up the 60 FPS and the pretty ray-tracing for a bit.
The Version Trap: Why It’s Not Working
Rockstar released a specific version for the "next-gen" consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S) called the Expanded & Enhanced edition. If you are running the version of GTA 5 that has the gold logo and fancy menus, you're on the PS5 version.
PS4 players are on the "Legacy" version.
The two cannot talk to each other. It’s like trying to use a Blu-ray player to read a VHS tape; the hardware and the software are just tuned to different frequencies. The PS5 version has a different graphics engine, different traffic density, and even exclusive content like Hao’s Special Works (HSW) that simply doesn't exist on the PS4. Because of these gameplay differences, Rockstar keeps the lobbies completely separate to avoid "balancing issues."
Can you play GTA 5 on PS5 with PS4 players? The workaround.
You can actually do it, but you have to play the "wrong" version of the game. Your PS5 is perfectly capable of running the PS4 version of GTA 5 through backward compatibility.
If you want to play with your friends who haven't upgraded yet, you need to have the PS4 version of GTA 5 installed on your PS5.
Here is how you actually make it happen:
- Go to your Game Library on the PS5 home screen.
- Find GTA 5 and press the Options button (the one with the three lines).
- Select Select Version.
- Choose the PS4 version and download it.
- Launch that version specifically when you want to play with the old crew.
It sucks because you’re essentially downloading the game twice and taking up a massive amount of SSD space. Plus, you lose those lightning-fast load times. But it’s the only way to get into the same lobby as a PS4 user.
The Migration Nightmare: Don't Lose Your Progress
This is the part where most people get burned. Rockstar allows a one-time "Migration" to move your character from PS4 to PS5.
Once you migrate that character to the PS5 Expanded & Enhanced version, that character is now a "PS5 character." As of 2024 and 2025 updates, Rockstar changed the rules slightly so your old character stays on the PS4, but the progress no longer syncs.
If you migrate to PS5, buy a new supercar, and then log back into the PS4 version to play with friends, that supercar won't be there. You are now managing two separate lives. One in 4K/60FPS and one stuck in the past. If you play on the PS4 version with your friends, any money you earn there stays on the PS4. It will not transfer up to your PS5 character.
Breaking Down the Crossplay Walls
Let's be real—the "crossplay" situation in GTA Online is a joke compared to games like Fortnite or Call of Duty.
👉 See also: Mac Pro for Gaming: Why You Probably Shouldn’t, But How You Actually Can
- PS5 vs. PS4: Only possible if the PS5 user plays the PS4 version.
- PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Absolutely not. Never going to happen.
- Console vs. PC: Total lockout.
The 2025 PC "Enhanced" update actually made things even more complicated by splitting the PC player base too. It seems Rockstar prefers keeping these "walled gardens" rather than building a bridge between them.
Is the PS5 Version Even Worth the Hassle?
If your friends are all on PS4, you might be wondering why you’d even bother with the PS5 upgrade. Honestly? The difference is massive. The 60 frames per second (Performance Mode) makes driving through downtown Vinewood feel like a completely different game. The haptic feedback on the DualSense controller—where you can feel the gear shifts and the rain—is a nice touch too.
But it’s a lonely experience if your squad isn't there.
If you’re the only one in your group with a PS5, I’d suggest keeping both versions installed. Use the PS5 version for your solo grinding, the career builder, and the new story content. Use the PS4 version for the nights when the whole gang is online for a heist.
👉 See also: Fires of Autumn Twilight Genshin Impact: The Unexpected Truth Behind That Viral Story
What You Should Do Right Now
Stop trying to fix the connection settings. It’s not your internet. It’s the version mismatch.
If you want to squad up tonight, go to the PlayStation Store or your library and ensure you have the version that specifically says "PS4" in the title. If you've already migrated your character, be prepared to start from wherever you left off on the old console—or start fresh if you haven't played in years.
Just remember: once you make a move in the PS5 world, your PS4 "ghost" doesn't see it. Pick a version for your serious grinding and stick to it. If the goal is just hanging out with the boys, stick to the PS4 app on your PS5 dashboard and wait for them to finally find a console at a decent price.
Check your storage space immediately. GTA 5 is a hog. Having both versions installed will eat up nearly 200GB of your SSD. If you’re low on space, you’ll have to choose between those 60 FPS frames or your friendship. Tough choice, I know. Scroll through your library, hit the three dots on the GTA icon, and see which versions are available for download before the next heist invite hits your phone.