PlayStation 4 Games That Were Held Back By The Hardware

The PlayStation 4 came out in 2013 and was a significant improvement over the PS3, which had a rocky start for Sony. It was replaced by the PS5 in 2020, but surprisingly, new games are still being released for the PS4 – even after more than ten years. This shows just how popular the console remains, and developers continue to support it despite the fact that some games may not be ideally suited for the older hardware.

This article focuses on how some PlayStation 4 games might have been better suited for other consoles. Issues like poor performance and lengthy loading times sometimes make you wonder if these games would have run more smoothly elsewhere. However, this doesn’t mean the games are necessarily bad on the PS4 – just that they could have potentially been better on a different system.

Cyberpunk 2077

Thank Goodness For The PS5

When Cyberpunk 2077 came out on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, the PC version had a few problems, but the console versions were much worse. They were riddled with bugs and looked unfinished, with blurry graphics that made the game difficult to play.

When the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S were first released, players who managed to get their hands on the new consoles could play a somewhat functional version of the game. However, even on the PS5, players frequently experienced crashes. While numerous updates eventually improved the experience on PS5, the game remained largely unplayable for anyone with only a PS4.

Bloodborne

Still Trapped In 30 FPS

Bloodborne is widely considered one of the best PlayStation 4 games ever made, and it remains exclusive to the console. Despite being a fantastic action RPG with a dark, gothic setting, the game wasn’t perfect – but its strengths were so significant that fans happily overlooked its flaws.

Like other challenging action games, this one was very difficult, and players died frequently, forcing them to restart often. Unfortunately, each restart took a frustratingly long two minutes. Adding to the issues, the game ran at a capped 30 frames per second, which might have been improved with more development time or if it hadn’t been limited to the PlayStation 4.

Control

Brilliant But Glitchy

Remedy Entertainment’s game, Control, came out near the end of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One’s lifespan, and was also released on PC. Similar to Cyberpunk 2077, the PC version offered a much better experience, as the PS4 version suffered from performance problems, including noticeable frame rate drops that made the game appear choppy during action sequences.

The game initially suffered from performance problems, including slow loading times and audio glitches. While updates improved the experience on the PS4, the PS5 version released in 2021 was significantly better, leading some to question whether Remedy Entertainment should have delayed the original release to focus on the next-gen version.

Monster Hunter: World

Not Quite The Wilds

In 2018, Monster Hunter: World significantly improved the Monster Hunter series. It added features that made the game much easier to enjoy, like more responsive controls, helpful in-game guides, and larger, more open areas to explore. Previous games were divided into smaller, separate areas, forcing players to wait for loading screens frequently.

Although called Monster Hunter: World, the game didn’t actually have a fully open world. Players still had to go through loading screens—often as long as those in Bloodborne—to access each area before hunting. This continued in the sequel, Monster Hunter Rise. It wasn’t until Monster Hunter Wilds in 2025 that the series finally offered a truly seamless open world without lengthy loading times, a change made possible by the more powerful PlayStation 5 hardware.

Destiny 2

Waiting Would Have Been More Impactful

Destiny, launched in 2014, quickly became a hit as an online game that was constantly updated, building on the legacy of the Halo series. Bungie continued to support the original Destiny until 2017, when they released Destiny 2. Some believe releasing the sequel so soon wasn’t the best decision.

It’s been a while since the original Destiny, and the constant updates to Destiny 2 eventually made the game incredibly slow to load on the PS4. The PS5 version fixed these performance issues starting in 2020. Looking back, it might have been better to release the sequel alongside the new consoles, and continue supporting the first Destiny with expansions.

No Man’s Sky

Held Back By Hardware Or Time?

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what caused the issues with No Man’s Sky when it first came out in 2016. While the game technically worked without glitches, players quickly discovered there wasn’t much actual gameplay within its vast, expansive universe.

Over time, the game received several updates that expanded gameplay, most notably the 2018 Next update and the release of console versions in 2020. These improvements made the game feel much more complete, suggesting the original 2016 release on PS4 may have been limited by the hardware’s capabilities compared to Hello Games’ vision.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remaster

The GameCube Was Better

Released in North America in 2004 only for the GameCube, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles had a unique local multiplayer requirement: each player needed a link cable and a Game Boy Advance to join the game.

Although the original game was pricey, it offered a fantastic multiplayer experience on the GameCube. The updated version looked great and played smoothly on consoles like the PS4, and it even let players team up online. However, the removal of local multiplayer was a significant drawback, making this version less appealing than the original.

Dreams

Could Have Used A Touchpad

Media Molecule first gained recognition in 2008 with LittleBigPlanet, a creative platform game where players could design and share their own levels. They continued to expand on this idea with each new game, culminating in Dreams, their most expansive and ambitious project yet.

Originally launched in 2020 for the PS4, before the PS5 was available, Dreams let players create all sorts of games, ranging from action-packed shooters to strategic RPGs. Although the game worked well on the PS4, it’s fun to imagine if it had been released on PC or Switch instead. The game could have benefited from the precision of mouse controls or the convenience of a touchscreen interface.

Tearaway Unfolded

Better On Vita

Tearaway Unfolded was more than just an updated version of the PlayStation Vita game, Tearaway – it felt like a new game altogether. While it was good that more people could play it on a console since fewer people owned a PS Vita, some of the original game’s interactive elements were lost in the transition.

The PS Vita version of the game was innovative, letting players use the camera as the sun, tap to bounce, and even rub the back of the device to open things. These special controls really enhanced the experience. The PS4 version, using a standard controller, didn’t feel quite as unique.

Starlink: Battle For Atlas

Star Fox Says Hello

Starlink: Battle for Atlas was Ubisoft’s attempt to create a popular ‘toys-to-life’ game. What made it unique was that you used physical spaceship models – which connected to your controller – as your characters in the game. It was a fun space shooter with RPG elements, and the game generally received positive feedback across all platforms.

The game was only worth buying on the Nintendo Switch, as the exclusive connection to Star Fox was the only real draw. Plus, this campaign was far superior to anything that’s come out in the Star Fox series recently.

2025-12-28 11:36