Sony To Phase Out PS4 Games From PlayStation Plus In 2026

Well, PlayStation 4, it’s been a good run. But Sony has decided it’s time to start packing your bags. Starting in 2026, PS4 games will no longer be a major part of the PlayStation Plus monthly line-up, as the company shifts its focus entirely to the shinier, faster, and more expensive PS5.

Adam Michel, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s director of game services – content, put it rather diplomatically in PlayStation’s latest PS Plus blog post:

“As many of our players are currently playing on PS5 and have shifted toward redeeming and accessing PS5 titles from the Monthly Games and Game Catalog benefit, PlayStation Plus is also evolving with this trend and will focus on offering PS5 titles through the Monthly Games and Game Catalog benefit starting January 2026”

Translation: It’s time to get with the times—or at least, get yourself a PS5.

From January 2026, PS4 games will only make rare appearances in PlayStation Plus Monthly Games and the Game Catalog, though Sony reassures us that some cross-gen titles will still be in the mix. So, if you’re clinging onto your trusty PS4, don’t panic just yet—you won’t be completely abandoned.

If you’re worried about losing the PS4 titles you’ve already claimed through PlayStation Plus, don’t. As long as you remain subscribed, they’re yours to keep. And those PS4 games already in the Game Catalog? They’ll still be playable until Sony decides to rotate them out, as usual.

Meanwhile, in more immediate news, Sony has unveiled the PlayStation Plus Essential line-up for February 2025. Players can look forward to Payday 3 (PS5), High on Life (PS4, PS5), and Pac-Man World Re-Pac (PS4, PS5). A solid mix of crime, chaos, and chomping.

Oh, and in a surprising twist, Sony also announced that PC players will soon no longer need a PlayStation Network account to access its first-party titles. But if they do link an account, they’ll unlock exclusive in-game content—because, of course, there’s always a catch.

So, for those still holding onto their PS4s like a beloved family pet, you’ve got until 2026 before Sony starts nudging you towards an upgrade. The clock is ticking.