January 2026: The End of an Era for PlayStation Plus 🚫

Published: 28 June 2025

January 2026: PlayStation Plus Shifts Focus Away from PS4 Games 🎮

PlayStation Plus has gone through several transformations over the years. What began as a service offering monthly free games and discounts evolved during the PS4 era to include online multiplayer access. However, in January 2026, Sony will no longer prioritize offering PS4 games as a key benefit of PlayStation Plus.

The biggest changes to PlayStation Plus came with the PS5 era. Since its launch, Sony introduced and later removed the PS Plus Collection, a selection of PS4 games available to PS5 users, and divided the service into three distinct tiers. The first tier, PS Plus Essential, retains the original benefits of monthly free games, online multiplayer, and exclusive discounts. The PS Plus Extra tier expands on this, adding a growing library of PS4 and PS5 games. The highest tier, PS Plus Premium, offers everything from the previous two, along with retro games from older PlayStation consoles.

In January 2026, PlayStation Plus will undergo further shifts, signaling the end of the era where PS4 games played a central role in the service. This transition marks a significant evolution for PlayStation Plus, as Sony moves forward with a stronger focus on next-gen gaming experiences.

The next significant change to PlayStation Plus will occur in January 2026. While the service will continue as usual until then, it’s important to note that starting in January 2026, Sony will stop offering PS4 games as a "key benefit" of PS Plus. This means that subscribers will no longer see new PS4 games added to the PS Plus Essential monthly games or the PS Plus Extra catalog at the same frequency as they do now.

For PS5 gamers, this may be a minor disappointment as they’ll have fewer options for playing older titles. However, the news is especially discouraging for PS4 users who have yet to upgrade to the PlayStation 5. With millions of PS4 consoles still in use, a significant portion of players will be left out when this change takes effect in January. This shift marks a major turning point for PlayStation Plus and its offerings, impacting a large group of subscribers who still rely on the PS4 for their gaming needs.

When Will PS4 Games Be Phased Out on PS Plus? January 2026 🎮

The transition away from PS4 games being a central offering of PlayStation Plus will begin in January 2026. However, one detail that hasn't been clarified yet is whether this change will affect the number of free games PS Plus subscribers receive each month. When Sony phased out free PS3 games from the service, it resulted in fewer free games to claim each month. Since the launch of the PS5, PS Plus subscribers have enjoyed at least three free games every month, and there have been instances when even more titles were offered.

For example, the free PS Plus games for June 2025 included a fourth bonus game. Subscribers could claim the main free titles like the Alone in the Dark remake, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and NBA 2K25, along with a bonus game Destiny 2: The Final Shape. Combined with Destiny 2: Legacy Collection available on PS Plus Extra, players can easily dive into Bungie’s FPS and enjoy dozens of hours of content before running out of things to do.

It remains to be seen if this trend of offering multiple free games each month will continue as Sony shifts focus away from PS4 games in 2026. Regardless, PS Plus subscribers can expect significant changes in the coming years.

As PlayStation Plus evolves, so too does Sony's commitment to providing high-quality gaming experiences. Starting in 2025, Sony has committed to releasing major single-player games every year. This initiative signals a continued push toward enriching the gaming library, focusing more on exclusive, high-profile titles. As discussed in BestCrazyGames' article on Sony’s future plans, this new direction will likely shift the spotlight from older PS4 games to upcoming blockbuster releases, redefining the PlayStation experience.