Look, I get it. You've spent hundreds of hours on your PS4. You’ve built an empire of silage, navigated the narrow roads of Erlengrat, and you aren't exactly ready to drop five hundred bucks on a new console just to plant some virtual rice. So, the question of the hour—the one hitting every forum from Reddit to the Giants Software discord—is a simple one: is Farming Simulator 25 on PS4?
The short answer? No. It isn't.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, honestly. Since the release of Farming Simulator 14, console players have been used to a certain rhythm. You wait a few years, Giants Software drops a trailer with some crisp cinematic CGI, and you get to work. But this time around, the developers have officially cut the cord on the previous generation of hardware. If you’re still rocking the PlayStation 4 or the Xbox One, you’re officially at the end of the dirt road for the mainline series.
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Why Giants Software Left the PS4 Behind
Technology moves fast. Sometimes too fast.
The core reason why is Farming Simulator 25 on PS4 a "no" comes down to the engine. Giants Software uses their own proprietary tech—aptly named the Giants Engine—and for FS25, they’ve bumped it up to version 10. This isn't just a minor patch or a fresh coat of paint. We’re talking about a fundamental shift in how the game handles physics, lighting, and data.
The PS4 launched in 2013. That is over a decade ago. In tech years, that’s practically the Stone Age.
Farming Simulator 25 introduces some pretty heavy lifting for hardware. There is a new ground deformation system where your tires actually sink into the mud and leave realistic ruts. There’s a sophisticated fog and weather system. Then you have the sheer density of the new Asian-inspired maps and the high-fidelity models for over 400 machines. Trying to run all that on a PS4's aging Jaguar CPU would likely result in a frame rate that looks more like a slideshow than a video game.
Giants Software’s CEO, Christian Ammann, has been vocal in interviews about wanting to push the boundaries of simulation. You can't really do that when you're tethered to a console that struggles to maintain 30 frames per second at 1080p. By dropping the PS4, the developers can finally utilize the SSD speeds and the processing power of the PS5 and modern PCs.
What This Means for Your Save Games and Mods
If you were hoping for a cross-gen save transfer, that’s also off the table.
Since FS25 isn't touching the older consoles, there’s no bridge between your FS22 progress on PS4 and the new world of FS25. You are starting from scratch. For many, that’s the draw of the game—the "zero to hero" grind—but for those with massive, multi-year farm builds, it’s a bit of a bummer.
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Then there’s the modding situation.
Modding is the lifeblood of this community. On PS4, players were always limited by "slots." Every tractor, every shed, and every decorative gnome took up a specific amount of memory. Because the PS4 has very limited RAM compared to modern machines, console players often hit a wall where they couldn't add anything else to their farm. By moving exclusively to current-gen hardware, the "slot" limit has been significantly increased. It’s a trade-off: you lose the old console, but you gain a much larger, more complex world on the new one.
The Realistic Alternatives for PS4 Players
So, you’re stuck on PS4. What now?
First, don't delete Farming Simulator 22. Honestly, it’s still a masterpiece. With the Platinum Expansion and the hundreds of high-quality mods available on the ModHub, FS22 on PS4 is still a better farming experience than almost anything else on the market. The modding community is likely to stay active on FS22 for at least another year or two because the player base on older consoles remains massive.
You could also look at the "Switch" version or the mobile versions, but let's be real—those are scaled-down experiences. They don't have the same depth.
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If you are desperate for the new features in FS25—like the water buffalo, the rice paddies, and the improved GPS steering—you really only have three choices:
- Upgrade to a PS5: The most direct path. Your existing controllers won't work for PS5 games, but your PS4 library will carry over.
- Xbox Series S: If you’re on a budget, the Series S is often significantly cheaper than a PS5 and will run FS25 just fine, though at a lower resolution.
- PC: The "gold standard" for Farming Simulator. If you go this route, you get access to scripts and mods that Sony never allows on their platform.
The "Is Farming Simulator 25 on PS4" Verdict
It’s easy to feel like you're being forced to upgrade. And in a way, you are.
But looking at the technical leaps in FS25, it’s clear that the game simply wouldn't be the same on older hardware. The dynamic weather, the way the light hits the flooded rice fields, and the sheer complexity of the AI workers require more horsepower than the 2013-era consoles can provide.
It marks the end of an era. The PS4 had a legendary run with the Farming Simulator franchise, spanning three major releases and countless DLCs.
Next Steps for the Dedicated Virtual Farmer
If you aren't ready to buy a new console today, your best bet is to dive back into the FS22 ModHub. Search for "Production Chains" or "Precision Farming" mods to add layers of complexity that might make the wait for a new console more bearable. Check for community-made maps that push the PS4 to its absolute limit—there are some incredible creators out there making 4x maps look decent even on old tech.
For those planning to make the jump to PS5 or PC for the sake of FS25, start looking into hardware requirements now. If you're going the PC route, you'll want at least an Nvidia GTX 1660 or an AMD Radeon RX 5700 to even get your foot in the door for a decent experience. If you’re sticking with consoles, keep an eye on seasonal sales; the transition to the current generation is no longer a luxury for sim-heads—it’s a requirement.
Monitor the official Giants Software forums for any news on "Legacy" support for FS22, as they often continue to provide minor bug fixes even after a new game launches. Your PS4 farm isn't dead; it's just reached its final harvest.