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It depends on how you got the game. Monthly games claimed through PlayStation Plus are playable only while your membership is active. Extra and Premium catalog games also require the right tier and may disappear when Sony removes them from the catalog. A game you bought separately remains a separate purchase, though most paid games require PS Plus for online multiplayer.
What happens to each kind of PS Plus game?
| How you got the game | What happens when membership ends |
|---|---|
| Monthly game claimed through PS Plus | Access is suspended while your membership is inactive. PlayStation says you can access claimed games again if you resubscribe, while they remain eligible under the service terms. PlayStation support |
| Game Catalog or Classics Catalog title | You need an active membership at the tier that includes the title. The game can also become unavailable if Sony removes it from the catalog, even if your membership remains active. PlayStation catalog FAQ |
| Separately purchased digital game or disc | The game is a purchase, not a PS Plus subscription entitlement. Most paid games still require PS Plus for online multiplayer. PlayStation Plus |
If your membership expires, what can you play?
PlayStation’s official US FAQ answers “Are PlayStation Plus games mine to keep?” with: “Yes, for as long as you remain an active subscriber.” That applies to games provided through the membership, not games you bought separately. PlayStation Plus FAQ
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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|
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| 2 |
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|
$10 -PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code] | $10.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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|
$50 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code] | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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|
$100 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code] | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
When a membership lapses, claimed monthly games are suspended rather than converted into permanent purchases. Resubscribing can restore access to eligible claimed games. The US plans are Essential, Extra, and Premium: Essential includes monthly games, Extra adds the Game Catalog, and Premium includes the Game Catalog and Classics Catalog. Benefits and catalog availability vary by tier and region, so check your local PlayStation Plus page for the applicable terms. US plan details
Catalog games can leave even while you subscribe
Extra and Premium catalog access is not a permanent claim. Sony publishes removals and end dates for some Game Catalog and Classics Catalog titles. Once a title leaves, an active subscription alone does not keep it playable through the catalog. Check the title’s availability and any announced end date on the PlayStation game catalog page.
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- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
What happens to DLC for a catalog game?
DLC and add-ons tied to a catalog game also become inaccessible if your membership ends or the base game leaves the service. Access may return if you resubscribe while the title remains eligible, or if you purchase the base game. PlayStation catalog FAQ
How to check which games you may lose access to
- Identify how you got each game. Separate monthly games claimed through PS Plus and catalog downloads from games purchased outright.
- Check your plan and region. Confirm whether the title is included with your current tier on your local PlayStation Plus page; the US tiers are Essential, Extra, and Premium. PlayStation Plus plans
- Check catalog status. For an Extra or Premium title, look for its current listing and any announced removal date in the game catalog.
- Decide whether to renew or buy. Resubscribing may restore eligible monthly games and catalog access, but it cannot restore a title Sony has removed from the catalog. Buying the game separately is another way to keep access to that title; for a disc, you need a compatible console with a disc drive.
Does ending PS Plus affect online multiplayer?
A separately purchased game does not become a subscription game when you play online. However, PlayStation says most paid games require PS Plus for online multiplayer, so losing membership may remove online access even when you still own the game. Check the individual game’s requirements, since “most” does not mean every paid game. PlayStation Plus
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Rank #3
- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Rank #2
- Redeem for anything on PlayStationStore: games, add-ons, PlayStationPlus and more.
- Everything you want to play. Choose from the largest library of PlayStation content.
- Use gift card funds to contribute towards PlayStationPlus memberships.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
