Sony confirmed that starting January 2026, PlayStation 4 games will only be occasionally offered through PlayStation Plus Monthly Games. This shift represents a significant change for the seventy million PS4 owners who have not yet upgraded to PlayStation 5. The policy does not eliminate PS4 content entirely, but it signals that Sony now prioritizes PS5 software in its subscription offerings. For PS4-only players, this creates a clear decision point about subscription value, upgrade timing, and how to build a game library moving forward.
What Changed in January
PlayStation Plus Monthly Games historically included titles playable on PS4 alongside PS5-exclusive offerings. The January 2026 lineup demonstrates the new approach. Need for Speed Unbound is available only on PlayStation 5. Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed and Core Keeper support both platforms, giving PS4 owners access to two of the three titles. This two-out-of-three ratio may represent the new normal, though Sony's language suggests some months could see even fewer or potentially no PS4-compatible games.
Your Options as a PS4 Owner Right Now
PS4 players face three practical paths forward, each serving different priorities and financial situations.
Continue with Essential tier if you need online multiplayer access and accept that Monthly Games will occasionally offer nothing playable on your hardware. This makes sense if online access alone justifies the cost and you do not rely on monthly additions as a primary game source. You maintain the lowest subscription tier while acknowledging reduced monthly value compared to previous years.
Upgrade to Extra or Premium tier to access the PS4 catalog library that Sony continues supporting. This path costs more monthly but delivers guaranteed PS4-compatible content and removes the uncertainty of whether each month's lineup will work on your console. The value equation here depends on whether you will actively use the catalog or simply pay more for access you ignore.
Cancel your subscription and build your PS4 library through direct game purchases during sales. This eliminates recurring costs entirely and shifts you toward permanent ownership of titles you select intentionally. The approach works best for players who do not need online multiplayer or who primarily play single-player experiences. Your total annual gaming cost likely decreases, though you lose the discovery element that subscriptions provide.
The Bottom Line
The PS Plus policy shift starting January 2026 creates real value reduction for PS4-only players who relied on Monthly Games as a primary content source. Sony is not eliminating PS4 support entirely, but occasional PS4 offerings represent a meaningful change from guaranteed monthly compatibility. This shift serves Sony's business interests in accelerating the PS5 transition while creating genuine subscriber dissatisfaction among players not yet ready to upgrade.
For PS4 owners, the optimal response depends on your actual subscription usage rather than abstract value calculations. If you need online multiplayer and rarely claimed Monthly Games previously, continue your Essential subscription and treat any playable monthly additions as bonuses rather than core value. If Monthly Games represented significant value and January demonstrates an unacceptable reduction, cancel your subscription and redirect that budget toward direct game purchases that you own permanently.
The upgrade question remains separate from the subscription question. Buy a PS5 when you want PS5-exclusive games and can afford the hardware investment, not because subscription policy changes pressure you into premature purchases. Your PS4 remains a capable gaming device regardless of what Sony includes in Monthly Games, and your existing library delivers value for years regardless of subscription status.