From January 2026 onward, PlayStation Plus will no longer guarantee PS4 games in its monthly offerings, marking a permanent shift to a PS5-focused service and closing the chapter on PS4-centric subscriptions.
TL;DR
PlayStation Plus Is Moving Away from PS4 in 2026
Starting January 2026, PlayStation Plus will no longer guarantee PS4 games in its monthly lineup, marking a clear shift toward a PS5-first subscription model.
- From January 2026, PS4 games are no longer guaranteed in PlayStation Plus monthly offerings.
- PlayStation Plus becomes PS5-focused, though occasional cross-gen titles may still appear.
- PS4-only players keep online multiplayer, but the value of monthly games may decrease over time.
- The three-tier system stays the same: Essential, Extra, and Premium.
- Extra and Premium will increasingly highlight PS5-native games and newer content.
- This follows Sony’s long-term strategy as PS4 nears the end of its lifecycle.
- The January 2026 lineup reveal is expected in late December 2025.
Bottom line: PlayStation Plus is officially entering a PS5-only era. PS4 users can still play online, but upgrading to PS5 may soon be necessary to get full value from the service.
What exactly is changing, and what does it mean for the service? Let’s take a closer look.
PlayStation Plus changes – January 2026
PlayStation Plus January 2026 change means that PS4 titles will no longer be prioritized in the monthly free games lineup, a core feature of the service. As a result, PS4-only players who want full access to PlayStation Plus offerings will need to upgrade to a PS5. That said, some cross-generation titles may still appear from time to time.
How PS Plus Works Now
A couple years ago, Sony Interactive Entertainment merged PlayStation Plus with PlayStation Now, resulting in the current three-tier system: PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Extra, and PS Plus Premium.
The Essential tier retains the original benefits of the service, including access to online multiplayer and monthly free games. PS Plus Extra offers subscribers access to an extensive catalog of PS4 and PS5 games, while the Premium tier builds on that by adding a selection of classic titles from earlier PlayStation generations.
While the core benefits of the service remain unchanged, the ongoing console generation shift may indirectly affect the monthly games offered through PlayStation Plus Essential. At the same time, the Extra and Premium tiers are expected to place increasing emphasis on PS5-native and cross-generation content.
As for the monthly free game lineup, nothing has been officially confirmed. However, based on previous phase-outs, it is possible that the number of monthly titles could be reduced from three to two.
Why Sony is making that move?
The decision reflects Sony’s long-term platform strategy. With PS5 adoption steadily increasing and PS4 hardware approaching the end of its lifecycle, the transition appears natural. New games and services are increasingly targeting PS5 capabilities, making Sony subscription update more of a generational shift than a sudden policy change.
As mentioned above, for PS4-only subscribers, core features such as online multiplayer will remain available. However, the overall value of the service may gradually decline as monthly games and catalog additions become more PS5-focused.
How PS Plus Has Evolved
PlayStation Plus has undergone several major transformations since its launch. Originally a service offering free monthly games, it later became mandatory for online multiplayer access. The platform evolved further when it merged with PlayStation Now, expanding its library and streaming options. These shifts demonstrate that change has always been part of PS Plus, with the service continuously adapting to new hardware generations and player expectations.
The next major changes to PlayStation Plus could come with the eventual launch of PlayStation 6, expected in 2027–2028. Based on the PS5 launch, the service may expand to include games from the new console. At the PS5 launch, subscribers gained access to the PlayStation Plus Collection – a selection of top PS4 games that could be permanently added to their libraries if claimed before the program ended. The PS6 launch could follow a similar pattern, although this remains speculative.
PlayStation Plus January 2026 lineup reveal is expected at the end of December 2025, which should clarify how the transition will be held in practice.
Conclusion
January 2026 marks a turning point for PlayStation Plus, signaling a clear shift toward a PS5-focused service and PS Plus PS4 support ending. PS4-only players may want to consider whether upgrading to a PS5 aligns with their gaming needs. For ongoing coverage, including monthly lineup updates and detailed breakdowns, follow G2A.com to stay informed.