Unfortunately for PlayStation Plus subscribers that have yet to upgrade to PS5 from PlayStation 4, Sony has announced that it will no longer be offering PS4 games as a “key benefit” of the service beginning January 2026. PlayStation Plus has gone through many evolutions since the service was first introduced during the PS3 era.
The original version of PS Plus gave subscribers exclusive game discounts and access to a selection of monthly free games. With the introduction of the PS4, PS Plus added online multiplayer as one of its benefits – a controversial move since online was free on PS3. PS Plus remained mostly the same when the PS5 first launched, though it was eventually revamped to include multiple tiers. PS Plus Essential is PS Plus as it’s always been with the monthly free games being the main benefit, while PS Plus Extra gives gamers access to a large library of PS4 and PS5 titles. Finally, PS Plus Premium includes everything that the lower tiers bring to the table, plus access to retro games.
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PS Plus: A Comprehensive List Of Every Monthly Game It’s Added
Since relaunching the subscription service in June 2022, Sony has added a host of games per month to PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium.
As PS Plus has changed over the years, it’s left aging Sony consoles behind. PS3, PSP, and PS Vita benefits have all been left in the past, and eventually, the same will be true for the PS4. Sony has confirmed that starting in January 2026, it will no longer be focused on offering PS4 games as a “key benefit” of the service for both the monthly free PS Plus games and the games added to the Game Catalog through PS Plus Extra. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any PS4 games available through PS Plus after that date, but fans shouldn’t expect them on a monthly basis like they can now.
When Will PS4 Games No Longer Be a Key Benefit of PS Plus?
We’re coming up on five years since the PS5 first hit the market, so it does make sense that Sony is starting to pull back on its support for the PS4. Still, the PS4 has a huge install base, including millions of people that have yet to upgrade to the new console, and so those individuals may not be happy to learn that their PS Plus benefits are being downgraded in January 2026. On the bright side, they have nearly a full year to get their hands on a PS5 before the PS Plus changes go into effect.
Sony’s announcement about the PS Plus PS4 changes was accompanied by the reveal of the free games for February 2025. For those that may have missed the announcement, the free PS Plus games for February 2025 are Payday 3, High on Life, and Pac-Man World: Re-Pac.
