Sony is phasing out PlayStation 4 games from its PlayStation Plus Essentials monthly games and Games Catalog starting January 2026, focusing exclusively on PlayStation 5 titles. This shift, announced alongside February 2025's monthly games, reflects a change in strategy. The PlayStation Blog post explains that while PS4 games will no longer be a core benefit, they may be offered occasionally. Players retain access to previously claimed monthly titles, and Games Catalog titles remain playable until their removal from the catalog during the regular monthly refresh. Sony assures subscribers that other PlayStation Plus benefits, such as exclusive discounts, online multiplayer, and cloud saves, will continue. The company's focus on PS5 reflects the growing number of players using the newer console and their preference for PS5 titles.
The Best PS4 Games (Summer 2020 Update)
26 Images
The PS4, launched in 2013, and the PS5, released in 2020, mark a significant transition in Sony's console history. Sony cites a shift in player preference towards PS5 games as the reason for this change. The future of PS4 games within the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog, currently featuring PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 titles, remains unannounced, with further details expected closer to the date.
