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Short answer: a PS2 or PS3 controller cannot be paired directly with a PS5 as a supported controller. Sony states that controllers made for PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3—including DUALSHOCK 2 and DUALSHOCK 3—are not compatible with PS5. A documented workaround exists for a PS2 controller: Brook’s PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter is listed for PS3 and PS4, and Brook says a firmware update dated November 4, 2020 added support for PS4 games on PS5. That adapter is marked end of life, and the documentation does not establish a general PS3-controller solution for PS4 or PS5.
Use the guide below to separate a direct connection from an adapter connection, identify the console and game generation involved, and avoid treating an old controller as if it were a current DualSense or DUALSHOCK 4.
Compatibility at a glance
The answer depends on three separate questions: which controller generation you have, which PlayStation you want to use, and whether a PS5 game is a PS5-format or PS4-format title.
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|---|---|---|
| PS2 or PS3 controller directly on PS5 | Sony says these controller generations are not compatible with PS5. | Do not expect the PS5’s normal Bluetooth or USB pairing process to make it work. |
| PS2 controller on PS3 | Brook lists its PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter for this direction. | Use the specific converter and check its compatibility details before relying on it. |
| PS2 controller on PS4 | Brook lists the same converter for PS4. | Confirm that your controller and console match the manufacturer’s supported combinations. |
| PS2 controller on PS5 | Brook says firmware dated 2020-11-04 added support for PS4 games on PS5. The product is marked end of life. | Treat this as a limited PS4-game use case, not support for PS5-format games. |
| PS3 controller on PS4 or PS5 | No sufficiently verified route is established in the manufacturer and Sony documentation cited here. | Do not imply that the PS2 converter supports a PS3 controller. |
The table is deliberately narrow: an adapter listed for one controller generation is not evidence that every older controller, every console, or every game will work.
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Why a PS2 or PS3 controller will not pair normally with PS5
Sony’s PS5 Safety Guide says: “Controllers intended for use with PlayStation®, PlayStation®2, and PlayStation®3 consoles, such as the analog controllers (DUALSHOCK® and DUALSHOCK®2) and the DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller, are not compatible with the PS5 console.”
That statement rules out presenting a PS2 or PS3 controller as a normal PS5 accessory. Connecting a cable, turning on Bluetooth, or pressing the controller’s PS button does not change the controller’s compatibility class. Sony’s ordinary accessory instructions are written for supported current controllers, not for making DUALSHOCK 2 or DUALSHOCK 3 function as a DualSense.
The DUALSHOCK 4 exception is about software, not old-controller support
Sony separately states that the DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller works with PlayStation 4-format software on PS5, but not with PS5-format software. That distinction applies to DUALSHOCK 4; it does not extend compatibility to DUALSHOCK 2 or DUALSHOCK 3.
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Consequently, a PS5 owner should first identify the game’s format. Even a controller that Sony supports on PS5 for backward-compatible PS4 software is not automatically accepted by a native PS5 title. A game that has both a PS4 and PS5 release must be checked by the version actually installed or launched, not merely by the game’s name.
Identify your controller before buying anything
Many listings use “PlayStation controller” as a broad marketing term. That label is not enough. A DUALSHOCK 2 is a PS2-generation controller, while a DUALSHOCK 3 is a PS3-generation wireless controller. Their plugs, communication methods and compatibility claims are different. The Brook product documented here is named for PS2 input; its listing does not say that a DUALSHOCK 3 is an equivalent input device.
Check the markings on the controller and the seller’s exact model description. Do not rely only on a photograph, a listing title such as “retro PlayStation adapter,” or the fact that the controller physically fits a port. The relevant question is whether the adapter maker explicitly names your controller generation and your destination console.
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Using a PS2 controller on PS3 or PS4 with an adapter
The documented adapter route is Brook’s PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter. Brook lists it for connecting PS2 controllers to PS3 and PS4. This is a specific product-and-controller path, not a general statement that any USB converter works.
What the Brook documentation says about PS5
Brook reports that a firmware update dated November 4, 2020 added support for PS4 games on PS5. The qualification matters: the note concerns PS4 games running on PS5, not games built in PS5 format. Brook also marks the converter as end of life, so current stock, firmware access and support may be limited.
Preparation checklist
- Confirm that the controller is a PS2-generation controller, not a DUALSHOCK 3 or another USB gamepad.
- Identify the destination console: PS3, PS4 or PS5.
- If the destination is PS5, identify whether the game is PS4-format or PS5-format.
- Locate the exact Brook model and read its current compatibility and firmware information. The manufacturer’s page identifies the product as end of life.
- Keep the console, adapter, controller and game within the combination documented by the manufacturer. Do not infer support for a different controller generation.
Connection procedure for the documented adapter path
- Verify the combination before connecting anything. Match the PS2 controller and target console to Brook’s listing. For PS5, continue only if you are using a PS4-format game and the adapter has the required firmware support described by Brook.
- Check the adapter’s firmware status. Brook’s PS5 note refers to the November 4, 2020 firmware update. Because the product is end of life, confirm that the firmware file, update method and support information are still available before buying or relying on the unit.
- Follow the adapter’s port and startup instructions. Use the controller connection and console connection identified in the Brook documentation. Do not substitute a random USB hub, Bluetooth receiver or similarly named converter and assume it has the same compatibility.
- Start with a supported PS3 or PS4 game. On PS3 or PS4, test the controller with software appropriate to that console. This establishes whether the adapter sees the controller before you troubleshoot a separate game-generation issue.
- On PS5, test a PS4-format title. Brook’s documented PS5 support is limited to PS4 games. If the controller works in that situation but not in a native PS5 game, that result is consistent with the stated limitation rather than proof that the adapter is defective.
- Document the working combination. Note the controller model, adapter model, firmware version, console and game format. This makes it possible to reproduce the setup after a console change or adapter replacement.
These steps describe how to stay inside the documented compatibility boundary. They are not a promise that every PS2 controller revision, game or console software version will behave identically.
End-of-life status and buying precautions
Brook marks the PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter as end of life. That status affects more than whether a reseller has a box on a shelf. A used or old-stock unit may be missing the firmware needed for the PS5 PS4-game note, and the manufacturer may no longer provide the same update files, instructions or troubleshooting assistance.
If you find a listing, compare the exact product name and model rather than assuming a newer-looking “replacement” has identical behavior. Confirm the seller’s return policy, inspect whether the adapter is the model Brook documented, and verify how firmware updates are obtained. A reseller’s claim that a converter is “for PlayStation” is not a substitute for a manufacturer compatibility list. No universal price or current stock level is established, so availability should be checked at the time of purchase.
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The Sony and manufacturer material cited here does not establish a sufficiently verified adapter route for a PS3 controller on PS4 or PS5. The PS2-to-PS3/PS4 converter’s name and documentation identify a PS2 controller input; they do not show that a DUALSHOCK 3 is supported.
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For that reason, do not follow generic advice that says to plug a PS3 controller into USB and press the PS button on a newer console. Sony’s PS5 documentation explicitly excludes DUALSHOCK 3, and no verified source here confirms a PS3-to-PS4 or PS3-to-PS5 setup. A converter advertised for “legacy” or “PlayStation” controllers is not enough evidence: check that its compatibility list names your exact controller generation and destination console.
What to check if you already own a third-party converter
- Read the maker’s compatibility list for “PS3 controller” specifically, rather than relying on a general “PS2/PS3” label.
- Check whether the list names PS4 and PS5 separately.
- For PS5, check whether support is restricted to PS4-format software.
- Look for a current firmware file and a support page that is still maintained.
- Do not treat a controller being detected by the console as proof that every game will accept its input.
Direct connection versus adapter connection
A direct connection means the console itself recognizes the controller as a supported accessory. Sony’s PS5 statement says a PS2 or PS3 controller is not in that category. An adapter connection adds hardware that translates the older controller’s signals into a form the target console may accept. The adapter therefore becomes part of the compatibility chain: controller model, adapter firmware, console and game software all matter.
This is why the same physical controller can appear to work in one combination and fail in another. A PS2 controller through Brook’s converter may be listed for PS3 and PS4, while the PS3-controller route remains unverified. On PS5, the Brook note is additionally bounded by the PS4-format software requirement.
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Why ordinary pairing instructions can mislead
PlayStation support pages describe normal pairing for supported controllers such as DualSense and DUALSHOCK 4. Those instructions assume the console already recognizes the controller family. They are useful for current accessories, but they do not override Sony’s explicit PS5 compatibility statement for PS2- and PS3-generation controllers.
As a result, a cable that carries power or data is not automatically a compatibility solution. A controller light turning on, appearing briefly in a device list or responding to a button does not establish that the console will accept its input in every game. When an adapter is involved, use the adapter maker’s procedure and compatibility list instead of combining steps from unrelated controllers.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The PS5 does not detect the controller
First determine whether you attempted a direct connection. If so, the failure is expected under Sony’s compatibility statement; repeating the normal pairing process will not turn a PS2 or PS3 controller into a supported PS5 controller. If an adapter is present, verify the exact model, firmware and controller generation before changing cables or settings.
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The adapter works on PS4 but not on PS5
Check the game format. Brook’s PS5 statement concerns PS4 games, not PS5-format games. Then verify that the adapter has the firmware update dated November 4, 2020 or the corresponding current firmware information supplied by Brook. If the product is no longer supported or the firmware cannot be obtained, availability and support—not the controller itself—may be the limiting factor.
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Do not conclude that the adapter is broken. The documented converter is a PS2-to-PS3/PS4 product, and the sources do not establish PS3-controller input. The different result may simply reflect an unsupported controller generation.
One game accepts input and another does not
Record whether each game is PS4-format or PS5-format when testing on PS5. A successful test with a PS4-format title does not establish support for a native PS5 title. Also recheck the adapter’s own compatibility list; console recognition alone does not expand the list of supported games.
The listed adapter is difficult to find
Brook marks the PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter end of life. Treat listings from resellers as availability claims, not as proof of current manufacturer support. Before purchasing, confirm the exact model, firmware path and return policy, and avoid assuming that a similarly named replacement has identical behavior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical decision path
- You have a PS2 controller and want to play on PS3: investigate the Brook PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter and verify the exact controller and console combination.
- You have a PS2 controller and want to play on PS4: the same Brook listing covers PS4, subject to its compatibility details and end-of-life status.
- You have a PS2 controller and want to play a PS4 game on PS5: the Brook page documents this only after the November 4, 2020 firmware update; confirm firmware and availability before relying on it.
- You have a PS2 controller and want to play a PS5-format game: the documented adapter note does not cover that use case.
- You have a PS3 controller and want to use it on PS4 or PS5: no verified route is established here, so do not buy a PS2 adapter on the assumption that it will work.
- You need dependable PS5 support: use a controller that Sony identifies as compatible with the game’s format, rather than treating an old controller or an unverified converter as a guaranteed substitute.
Official references
- Sony PS5 Safety Guide — legacy-controller incompatibility and the DUALSHOCK 4 distinction between PS4-format and PS5-format software.
- Brook PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter — PS3 and PS4 target support, the PS5 PS4-game firmware note, and end-of-life status.
- PlayStation Controllers Support — Sony’s current pairing guidance for supported DualSense and DUALSHOCK 4 controllers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect a PS2 controller directly to a PS5?
No. Sony says controllers intended for PlayStation, PS2 and PS3, including DUALSHOCK 2, are not compatible with PS5. A normal USB or Bluetooth pairing attempt is not a supported setup.
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No. Sony explicitly includes the DUALSHOCK 3 among controller generations that are not compatible with PS5.
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Does the Brook PS2 converter support PS5 games?
Brook documents a firmware update dated November 4, 2020 for PS4 games on PS5. That note does not establish support for PS5-format games.
Does the Brook PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter support a PS3 controller?
Its documented input is a PS2 controller. The cited material does not verify DUALSHOCK 3 support, so do not assume the adapter works with a PS3 controller.
Why does a DUALSHOCK 4 work with some PS5 games but not others?
Sony says DUALSHOCK 4 works with PS4-format software on PS5, but not PS5-format software. That exception does not apply to PS2 or PS3 controllers.
Is the Brook adapter still fully supported?
Brook marks the PS2 to PS3/PS4 Super Converter end of life. Check current stock, firmware access, support information and the seller’s return policy before relying on one.
Will any PlayStation USB converter work?
No general converter claim is established. Compatibility depends on the exact controller generation, adapter model, firmware, console and, on PS5, game format.
What should I buy for guaranteed PS5 compatibility?
Use a controller Sony identifies as compatible with the format of the game you intend to play. An old controller or an unverified converter should not be treated as a guaranteed substitute.
The Bottom Line
PS2 and PS3 controllers are not supported as direct PS5 controllers. A PS2 controller has one documented adapter path through Brook for PS3 and PS4, with a firmware note covering PS4-format games on PS5; the converter is end of life. No verified PS3-controller route to PS4 or PS5 is established here, so check the exact controller, adapter, firmware, console and game format before spending money.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
