PS5 vs PS4 Game Rentals — What's the Difference?

Does Platform Matter When Renting?

Yes and no. The rental process is identical for both platforms, but the gameplay experience differs. Here's the breakdown.

Visual Quality

PS5

• Native 4K resolution (or dynamic 4K)
• 60fps performance modes available
• Ray tracing on supported titles
• Faster texture streaming

PS4

• 1080p (some titles upscale to 1440p on PS4 Pro)
• Usually locked to 30fps
• No ray tracing
• Occasional texture pop-in

Loading Times

This is the biggest difference.

• PS5: Games load in 2-5 seconds thanks to the custom SSD
• PS4: Same games take 30-60 seconds from a mechanical HDD

For open-world games like Elden Ring or Hogwarts Legacy, PS5 loading is transformative.

DualSense Features (PS5 Only)

• Haptic feedback (feel rain, terrain, combat impacts)
• Adaptive triggers (resistance changes with actions)
• Built-in microphone and speaker

Games like Astro Bot and Returnal are designed around these features.

Game Availability

• PS5 exclusives: Some titles only exist on PS5 (Stellar Blade, Returnal, Demon's Souls)
• Cross-gen: Most AAA games release on both (God of War, Spider-Man 2)
• PS4 only: Older catalog titles that never got a PS5 version

On Swaps Gaming, each game listing clearly shows which platforms are available.

Rental Price

Prices are identical for PS4 and PS5 versions on Swaps Gaming. The platform choice is purely about your hardware and preference.

Which Should You Choose?

Pick PS5 if:

• You own a PS5
• You want 60fps and fast loading
• The game has PS5-exclusive features (DualSense, Activities)

Pick PS4 if:

• You only have a PS4 or PS4 Pro
• The game is PS4-only
• You prefer stability over visual upgrades

How Platform Selection Works

Open any game page

If the game supports both platforms, you'll see PS4 and PS5 buttons

Click your platform — rental options and stock update for that version

Complete your rental as normal

It's that simple. Browse Games