Sony has announced plans to phase out PlayStation 4 games from its PlayStation Plus Essentials monthly games and the Games Catalog, beginning in January 2026. The company will concentrate exclusively on PlayStation 5 content moving forward.

This news came via a PlayStation Blog post revealing the February 2025 monthly titles. The update outlined changes to the free monthly games available to subscribers and the Game Pass-style service. As stated by Sony, "PS4 games will no longer be a key benefit and will only be occasionally offered for PlayStation Plus Monthly Games and Game Catalog." Existing Games Catalog titles will remain playable until they are removed during regular updates.

Sony emphasized its commitment to enhancing the PlayStation Plus experience, promising ongoing improvements such as exclusive discounts, online multiplayer access, and cloud storage for game saves. The company expressed enthusiasm for introducing new PlayStation 5 titles to the subscription service regularly.

The transition comes as a significant portion of players have migrated to the PS5 platform, released in 2020. While details about potential PS4 game placements in the Classics Catalog remain unclear, Sony is expected to provide further clarification closer to the implementation date.

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Launched in 2013, the PS4 has seen over a decade of popularity, while the PS5 launched in 2020, marking more than four years since its release. Sony noted that many users are now enjoying their gaming experience on the PS5 platform and prefer redeeming PS5 titles.