Sony's subscription service is facing criticism as it prepares to remove a significant number of titles from its library, including some that will become completely unavailable on modern PlayStation consoles.
PlayStation Plus Library Facing Major Reduction
PlayStation Plus subscribers are about to see their game library shrink significantly, with Sony announcing the removal of over 20 titles from the service's Extra and Premium catalogs on May 20, 2025. This substantial cut comes shortly after PlayStation implemented price increases for its subscription service in more than 20 countries worldwide, timing that has not gone unnoticed by the gaming community. The removals affect a wide range of titles, from major AAA releases to beloved indie games, spanning both current and classic PlayStation generations.
First-Party Exclusives Among Affected Titles
Perhaps most concerning for longtime PlayStation fans is the removal of first-party exclusives, particularly Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2. These PS3-era shooters are currently only playable on PS5 through the PS Plus Premium Classic catalog, and their removal effectively eliminates any legal way to experience these games on modern PlayStation hardware. Unlike many other titles leaving the service, these Resistance games are no longer available for individual purchase on the PlayStation Store, making their removal from PS Plus particularly significant. Interestingly, Resistance 3 and Resistance: Retribution will remain in the service's catalog. Another first-party title, Infamous Second Son, will also be departing the service.
Major Third-Party Titles Also Departing
The list of departing games includes several high-profile third-party titles. Grand Theft Auto V, one of the most commercially successful games of all time, will be removed alongside Batman: Arkham Knight, Payday 2: Crimewave Edition, and Ghostrunner. The catalog cuts also extend to popular indie titles like Enter the Gungeon, Before Your Eyes, and Walkabout Mini Golf. Several VR titles are also affected, including The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and its sequel, Retribution.
Timing Raises Questions About Service Value
The timing of these removals has drawn particular criticism as it follows closely behind PlayStation's decision to increase subscription prices in numerous markets including Canada, Australia, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Colombia, and Chile. While content rotation is standard practice for subscription services, the removal of exclusive first-party titles that cannot be accessed elsewhere has raised questions about the long-term value proposition of PlayStation Plus, particularly its Premium tier which emphasizes access to classic games.
Games Leaving PlayStation Plus on May 20, 2025:
- Grand Theft Auto V
- MotoGP 24
- The Sims 4: Island Living
- Resistance: Fall of Man
- Resistance 2
- Walkabout Mini Golf
- Synth Riders
- Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord
- Before Your Eyes
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
- Stranded: Alien Dawn
- The Lego Movie 2 Videogame
- Ghostrunner
- Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
- Journey to the Savage Planet
- Portal Knights
- Enter the Gungeon
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- InFamous: Second Son
Preservation Concerns Highlighted
This situation underscores ongoing concerns about game preservation in the digital era. The Resistance franchise was once considered as important to PlayStation's identity as current flagship series like Horizon or God of War. Without remasters or other modern re-releases, and with the original PS3 hardware aging, these games risk becoming inaccessible to both new players and nostalgic fans alike. The removal of these titles from PlayStation Plus Premium—the last official way to play them on current hardware—highlights the precarious nature of digital game libraries and subscription-based access models.