Sony Bringing a PS5 Game to PS4 in 2026 With Two New Challenge Modes

A surprising PS4 release is arriving on November 16, alongside Hermes and Erebus modes, giving older PlayStation owners another opportunity to experience the game.

Sony is making a rather odd move in 2026 by porting a game originally made for PS5 to PS4. That's the sort of thing you'd expect to see at the height of the current-gen console cycle, when the industry as a whole is focused on it. It's a bit odd to be doing that. It has prompted a fair bit of discussion about Sony's console strategy, what the game's commercial performance is likely to be, and whether they're actually trying to reach the audience that hasn't yet upgraded to the next gen.

The PS4 version is coming out on November 16, giving those of us still on the PS4 a chance to play the game without buying a PS5. Some people are happy with the move; others find it baffling that Sony will keep supporting the old hardware so long after the current gen has even started. One of the big questions around the release is why.  A PS5 game on PS4 in 2026 could be Sony trying to recoup development costs or make more money from a title that hasn't quite lived up to expectations.

It could also be an attempt to broaden their audience and reach customers who couldn't afford the PS5. There's another side to that, though. The PS4 still has an audience, and not every PlayStation owner has moved up to the PS5. Some people have stuck with their older hardware because of cost, the games they already own, or because they haven't found a good reason to buy a new console. 

So bringing a game previously unavailable on PS4 could create another purchase opportunity for that group. Along with the November 16th release, Sony is also dropping a patch that introduces two new gameplay modes for both PS4 and PS5 players. These are interesting because they're not PS4-exclusive, and PS5 owners will also get access to the additional challenges. That's another good reason for existing PS5 owners to revisit the game.

The first addition is Hermes Mode, which focuses on speedrunning and gives you tools to track your run. It includes a split timer and a persistent scoreboard so that you can track your progress. Instead of finishing the game, you can focus on lowering your time and beating your previous runs.

Speedrunning has become a major part of the gaming community, with people constantly looking for ways to get through a game faster.

A tiny improvement in movement, timing, or route can make a massive difference when you're trying to beat your time. Hermes Mode is clearly designed to support this kind of play by giving you a much more structured way to review your individual performance. Interestingly, you can also unlock the timer and scoreboard via a classic cheat code (so you can access them another way without going through the normal mode selection).

It's a minor thing, but it's a nice example of Sony taking a well-established gaming trick and incorporating it into the update. The second addition is Erebus Mode, which takes a completely different approach to difficulty. Rather than focusing on speed and completion times, it focuses on the sheer difficulty of the combat. In Erebus Mode, both you and the enemies take one hit and are dead.

This completely changes every encounter. You can't just rely on taking damage and making a few mistakes before you beat an enemy. One successful attack can end the encounter; one mistake and you're done. Erebus mode could appeal to those who like high-risk challenges and want to really test their understanding of the game's combat. Every move, every attack becomes significant as there's very little room for error.

It's not the same as a standard difficulty setting where you go in with tougher enemies and more damage. It's a mode that fundamentally changes combat balance by making every hit potentially the winning one. Both Hermes and Erebus have reasons to return. One is all about efficiency and consistency; the other is all about accuracy and making the right decisions. They're both available on PS4 and PS5, so there's no platform divide when it comes to going back in and trying them out.

Fan reaction to the announcement has been split.

Some players who had previously been on the 'no' side of buying a PS5 have finally welcomed the chance to play the game on their existing PS4. For them, it removes a significant barrier and gives them access to a game they've wanted to play for a while. Other fans have been questioning Sony's overall console lifecycle strategy.

The PS5 game coming out on PS4 in 2026 has raised questions about how Sony is managing the transition from one console generation to the next. There's no doubt supporting older hardware is good for customers, but it raises the question of how long developers will be expected to support the previous generation.

There's also the question of whether the PS4 version can deliver an experience on par with the original PS5 release. Older hardware has its constraints, and developers may have to make compromises to get the game to run. The announcement gives no detail as to what the potential graphical/performance differences might be between the two versions.

Ultimately, it's an odd move for 2026 to bring the game to the PS4, but it could be a good thing for players who haven't upgraded their hardware. The inclusion of Hermes and Erebus modes also gives both PS4 and PS5 owners some new content to play.

It's unclear whether the decision aims to reach a wider audience, recoup development costs, or improve the game's commercial prospects. The November 16th release certainly shows Sony isn't done with the PS4 yet. For those of us who have stuck with the PS4, that surprise release could well be the one we've been waiting for.