Sony is phasing out PlayStation 4 (PS4) games from its PlayStation Plus Essentials and Games Catalog starting January 2026, focusing its efforts on PlayStation 5 (PS5) titles.

This shift was announced alongside February 2025's PlayStation Plus monthly games, detailing changes to the service's free monthly games and the Game Pass-style subscription. Sony stated that PS4 games will no longer be a core benefit, only offered occasionally. Existing downloads remain unaffected, and Games Catalog titles will be playable until their removal from the catalog's monthly refresh.

Sony assures continued evolution of PlayStation Plus, maintaining benefits like exclusive discounts, online multiplayer, and cloud saves. The company's focus on PS5 is expected to bring more new PS5 titles to the monthly offerings.

Top PS4 Games (Summer 2020 Selection)

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With the PS4's launch in 2013 and the PS5's in 2020, Sony cites a player base predominantly using PS5 and favoring PS5 titles as the reason for this change. The future of PS4 games within the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog (currently featuring PlayStation, PS2, and PS3 titles) remains unannounced. Further details are anticipated closer to the implementation date.