One of the biggest perks of a PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) subscription is access to a range of free games each month. This service allows members to download and play select games on their PS4 or PS5, including blockbuster titles, indie games, and PS Plus Collection games for PS5 owners. However, a common question arises among players: what happens to these games if your PS Plus subscription expires? Do you get to keep them, or do they become inaccessible?
Here’s everything you need to know about what happens to your PS Plus games if your subscription ends and how you can keep your digital library intact.
How PS Plus Works with Free Games
When you’re a PS Plus subscriber, you can download and play a collection of free games provided each month by Sony. These “free” games are part of your membership benefits and are available to you as long as your subscription remains active. Here’s the breakdown of how it works:
– Monthly Free Games: Sony releases a lineup of free games each month, available to download for subscribers.
– Access for Subscribers Only: You can download and play these games as long as your PS Plus membership is active.
– Save Data: Your progress and save data for each game remain stored on your console or in the cloud, depending on your settings.
Once you claim these games by adding them to your library or downloading them, they’re linked to your PS Plus account. They don’t require an additional purchase, but there are restrictions if your subscription lapses.
Do You Keep Your PS Plus Games without a Subscription?
The short answer is no, you cannot keep playing your PS Plus games if your subscription expires. When your PS Plus subscription ends, you lose access to the games you’ve downloaded through the service, though they still remain in your library. Here’s what happens:
1. Games Become Locked: Games you acquired through PS Plus will appear in your library but will show a lock symbol. This indicates that they’re inaccessible without an active PS Plus subscription.
2. Content Stays Linked to Your Account: Even though you can’t play the games, they remain associated with your account. If you decide to renew your PS Plus subscription later, you regain access to all previously claimed PS Plus games.
3. Save Data Is Preserved: Your saved progress, including game saves stored in the cloud or on your console, remains safe. This data can be used once you regain access to the game through a renewed subscription.
In short, you don’t lose your games permanently, but they’re inaccessible without an active membership.
Exceptions to the Rule: Purchased Games and Add-Ons
Any games you’ve directly purchased from the PlayStation Store are yours to keep indefinitely, regardless of your PS Plus status. However, if a game you purchased was also available as a PS Plus free title, only your purchased license will remain active without a PS Plus subscription.
– Add-On Content: If you have purchased downloadable content (DLC) or expansions for PS Plus games, those add-ons will remain in your account, but you won’t be able to access them until you renew your PS Plus subscription or buy the full game.
What about PS Plus Collection Games on PS5?
For PS5 owners, the PS Plus Collection offers an added benefit: a curated library of popular PS4 titles, like God of War, Uncharted 4, and Bloodborne. Like monthly PS Plus free games, these collection titles are only accessible with an active PS Plus subscription. Once your subscription expires, these games become locked, and access resumes upon renewing the subscription.
How to Regain Access to Your PS Plus Games
If you decide to resubscribe to PS Plus at any time, you’ll instantly regain access to all previously claimed games, including those from the monthly lineup and the PS Plus Collection. Simply renew your subscription, go to your library, and download or start playing your favorite games again.
If you want uninterrupted access to your PS Plus games, it’s essential to maintain an active subscription. Many users find the annual or monthly PS Plus fee worth it, considering the free games, exclusive discounts, and additional perks like online multiplayer access. However, if you cancel, rest assured that your games and save data will still be waiting for you should you choose to return to PS Plus in the future.
Ultimately, while you don’t permanently “own” PS Plus games without an active subscription, they’re not lost forever. You can always come back and pick up where you left off.