No, PS Plus Extra Games Are Not Permanent
To be clear upfront – no, PlayStation Plus Extra games are NOT permanent additions to your library. If your PS Plus membership expires, you lose access to the entire Extra game catalog. This includes any individual game downloads from the service.
However, there is nuance around PS Plus Extra‘s rotating game library that is important to understand.
The PS Plus Extra Game Catalog
PS Plus Extra grants access to a catalog of 400+ downloadable PS4 and PS5 games. This acts similar to Netflix for games – you can download and play anything in the catalog at no additional cost.
The catch is that Sony rotates games in and out of this catalog over time.
When a game gets removed from the Extra catalog, you can no longer play it – even if you had previously downloaded it to your console. It will lock until you resubscribe or purchase the title.
Upcoming Additions and Removals
PlayStation announces monthly updates around upcoming PS Plus Extra game additions and removals via the official PlayStation Blog and social media channels.
Some key dates gamers should be aware of:
Major Additions Coming to Extra in February 2023:
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Scarlet Nexus
- Tekken 7
Big Removals in December 2022 and February 2023:
| Game | Last Access Date |
|---|---|
| Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla | Dec 20, 2022 |
| Metro Exodus | Feb 21, 2023 |
I recommend downloading any games you want to play from the Extra catalog before they get removed. Otherwise, you‘ll miss out on access.
What Happens if You Lose Membership
An active PS Plus Extra membership is required to maintain access to downloaded games from the catalog.
If you download a game, then let your membership lapse, that game will lock until you resubscribe. So consistent membership is key for ongoing access.
The Value of PS Plus Extra
While the rotating library makes the games not permanent, PS Plus Extra still provides outstanding value for PlayStation gamers.
Access to 400+ games for the cost of membership fees means tons of titles to experience that you may not otherwise get to play.
Even with the rotating catalog, there will always be new, high-quality experiences to enjoy with each month thanks to Sony‘s updates.
As a passionate gamer, I think PS Plus Extra offers a lot for your money despite the games not being permanent additions. The catalog delivers variety and discovery – trying new franchises and genres you may overlook if you just play owned games.
The Last Word
I hope this detailed breakdown gives PS gamers total clarity around if PlayStation Plus Extra games are permanent (they are not). While it is disappointing Sony rotates titles, the service still unlocks an enormous breadth of gaming for a reasonable subscription cost.
Even with removals, between the 400+ catalog and new monthly additions of top first-party games like February‘s Horizon Forbidden West, there are always exciting experiences to dive into with an active PS Plus Extra membership.
