PlayStation Plus to Phase Out PS4 Games Starting 2026, Focusing on PS5 Content

Sony has announced a significant change to its PlayStation Plus service, revealing plans to gradually phase out PS4 games from its monthly offerings beginning January 2026. The move reflects Sony’s strategic shift toward prioritizing PS5 content as more players transition to the newer console generation.

According to Adam Michel, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s director of game services content, the change comes in response to observed user behavior, with an increasing number of subscribers primarily accessing and redeeming PS5 titles through both Monthly Games and Game Catalog benefits.

While PS4 games will no longer be a core feature of the service after January 2026, they won’t disappear entirely. Sony has indicated that PS4 titles will still be offered occasionally, particularly games that are playable across both PS4 and PS5 platforms. Importantly, subscribers will retain access to all previously redeemed PS4 games from PlayStation Plus as long as they maintain an active membership.

For Game Catalog subscribers, existing PS4 games will remain accessible until they naturally rotate out during monthly catalog refreshes. Sony emphasized its commitment to “continue to evolve” PlayStation Plus, promising to optimize member benefits over time with a focus on delivering new PS5 titles monthly.

The announcement coincides with the reveal of February’s PlayStation Plus Essential games lineup, which includes Payday 3 (PS5), High on Life (PS4, PS5), and Pac-Man World: Re-Pac (PS4, PS5). This shift marks another step in Sony’s gradual transition away from the PS4 era as it continues to build its PS5 ecosystem and service offerings for the current console generation.

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