Remember when monthly free PS Plus games sometimes meant hunting through PS4 deals? Those days are ending. Sony confirmed that starting in January 2026 the PlayStation Plus Essential tier will stop including PS4 titles in its monthly freebies and focus exclusively on PS5 games through the Monthly Games and Game Catalog benefits.
Why the shift now
Sony says player behavior drove the decision: more subscribers are redeeming PS5 titles, so the service is being aligned with that trend. It’s a logical move from a business perspective — fewer legacy builds to support, more incentive for players to upgrade hardware, and a cleaner marketing pitch for PS5-era content. Still, it’s a blunt instrument. Millions of people still play on PS4, and many have stuck with the last-gen console by choice or necessity.
A lot of the raw numbers people point to are old — Sony’s last detailed split showed a sizeable PS4 install base — but the company’s public guidance and its latest user charts (124 million monthly active consoles as of mid-2025) suggest enough momentum on PS5 to justify a policy change. Expect vocal frustration from PS4-focused communities; they won’t be cut off entirely, but the convenient monthly freebies will skew younger in tech terms.
What changes for PS4 owners
- Monthly free games on the Essential tier will be PS5-only from January 2026.
- PS4 titles will remain available in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalog and via Premium where applicable — those are higher-priced tiers.
- If you don’t own a PS5, you can still redeem PS5 freebies to your account and keep them in your library while you maintain an active subscription.
- If you own a PS4 and rely on Essential’s monthly freebies, start thinking about whether you want to upgrade, move to Extra, or simply claim PS5 games via the PlayStation App so they sit in your library.
- Watch December 31, 2025: that’s when Sony will announce the January lineup — the first made up under the new rule.
- Keep an eye on sales and bundles; seasonal deals often make upgrading less painful.
- PlayStation Portal streaming improvements PlayStation Portal can now stream your PS5 library — Major Cloud Update Arrives
- Early signs about platform ownership and parity Datamine Reveals ‘Cross‑Buy’ Icon on PS5 — Is Sony Preparing PS5‑PC Ownership?
- Watch seasonal hardware and game discounts for better upgrade deals PlayStation's November Savings Sale Drops: Thousands of PS5/PS4 Deals
That last point is important: you don’t literally need a PS5 to take advantage of the new monthly drops. Redeem the games from the PlayStation App or the web store and they stay in your library. Screen- and account-based workarounds like that soften the blow for some players, but they’re hardly the same as being able to play native PS4 builds.
Is Sony trying to force upgrades?
It looks that way on paper. Moving free monthly content to PS5 creates an upgrade incentive — if you want those freebies without fiddling with app claims, you need the newer hardware. But whether this nudges significant numbers of people into stores is another matter. Many PS4 owners are content with their library and don’t see enough value in trading that for a console purchase.
If you’re on the fence, holiday sales and hardware bundles occasionally make the math easier. Sony’s seasonal promotions and discounts can tilt a decision; you might want to track offers similar to last year’s savings and bundles before committing. And if you decide an upgrade is finally worth it, a higher-spec model like the PS5 Pro is an obvious consideration for future-proofing.
How this fits into Sony’s broader strategy
This tweak to Essential feels like one piece in a broader puzzle. There are signs Sony is rearranging platform economics and content distribution — from catalog priorities to potential cross-buy mechanics and cloud features. For example, recent signs of possible cross-buy moves on PS5 hint at experiments around ownership models and platform parity. And cloud/streaming updates, such as the PlayStation Portal’s streaming improvements, show Sony wants multiple ways to surface PS5 content beyond just the console itself.
If you’re after those wider changes, check how remote access tools have been evolving: the PlayStation Portal can now stream your PS5 library, which matters if you don’t have a PS5 in your living room but still want to play PS5 titles on other screens. Those technical shifts reduce friction — but they don’t replace having a native PS5 experience.
What you should do (if you care)
Change rarely happens smoothly, especially in ecosystems with a huge installed base. Sony’s move tightens the service around the PS5 generation and nudges the market forward — gently for some, annoyingly for others. Either way, January’s lineup will be the moment we see how ambitious Sony is prepared to be with its monthly freebies, and whether the community accepts the nudge or pushes back.
Related reading: If you want to follow how Sony’s streaming and platform experiments are evolving, the Portal’s streaming update is worth a look and the ongoing chatter about PS5 cross-buy hints at broader shifts in ownership models. You might also monitor seasonal promotions similar to last year’s PlayStation savings to time any upgrade decision.