Can you still play PS Plus extra games after subscription ends?

No. Once your PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium subscription expires, you lose access to all games that are part of the huge 400+ title PS4 & PS5 game catalog. Unfortunately, this means that even if you‘ve already downloaded Extra tier games to your console, you cannot play them again without an active PS Plus Extra or Premium membership.

However, there is some good news if you allow your Extra or Premium tier subscription to lapse:

• You keep any monthly PlayStation Plus Essential tier games you redeemed
• Content you purchased at a PS Plus discount also remains accessible

So all is not lost game-wise if you downgrade tiers later on. But it does mean careful management of your Extra subscription is vital to maximize its value.

PlayStation Plus Extra Adoption and Retention

Since launching in June 2022, the adoption rates for the higher PlayStation Plus tiers have been impressive:

However, there hasn‘t been much data revealed yet around retention rates or how many subscribers actually stay signed up long-term versus trying it out for a few months.

According to games industry analyst group DFC Intelligence, the sticks rate for services like PlayStation Plus Extra or Xbox Game Pass is around 30% after 6 months. Meaning almost 70% of new subscribers cancel within half a year.

The revolving door effect is something Sony still needs to tackle to provide ongoing value. But the initial adoption definitely shows gamers have interest in access to a Netflix-style catalog of titles.

The Value of the Extra and Premium Game Catalogs

A key selling point of the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers is instant access to a library of 400+ games spanning PS4 and PS5. That‘s certainly an eye-catching number for someone considering the service!

But how does this catalog of games maintain and grow its value over time?

<td$0.025 per game at current catalog size

The projections estimate strong ongoing growth for the Extra and Premium catalogs over 2023 and beyond. combined with the tier‘s affordable $15 per month pricing, provides fantastic value from a dollars to games ratio.

"When you tally up the monthly cost and Divide it by all the titles subscribers instantly get access to, PlayStation Plus Extra offers immense value," explains games industry analyst George J. Georgallidis.

The counterpoint is that the catalog is missing brand new blockbuster titles, which Xbox Game Pass has an edge with. But as the classic and evergreen selections grow, PlayStation Plus Extra becomes tough to beat on its niche.

How Does PlayStation Plus Game Access Compare to Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox Game Pass, which also starts at $9.99 a month for a basic tier focused on downloadable games, is probably the most apt comparison to PlayStation‘s Game Catalog subscriptions.

Both provide players instant access to a vault spanning 100s of titles across past and current Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

The main differentiation comes down to major release debuts. Xbox Game Pass frequently sees brand new titles like Starfield launch on its service the same day they release for purchase. This is something Sony doesn‘t plan to match to avoid cutting into lucrative software sales on new releases.

So while PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium trail behind Xbox Game Pass in big crowdpleaser access, the value derived from its Classics Catalog and sheer number of top-tier PlayStation exclusives helps close this gap.

"I give a slight edge still to Xbox Game Pass, but PlayStation Plus Extra itself offers more than enough games content to satisfy players," writes Forbes gaming contributor Paul Tassi. "While Microsoft is doing better luring in new players to its platform with Game Pass, Sony isn’t losing the loyalty of its preexisting fans."

Loyalty does remain strong in PlayStation‘s installed base. And the games Sony provides to Plus Extra and Premium subscribers gives little reason for this group to depart, even if Xbox Game Pass pulls in those without existing console preference.

Weighing PlayStation Plus Extra Pros and Cons

Here‘s a high-level breakdown of key pros and cons based on the research and analysis above regarding PlayStation Plus Extra‘s value:

The final con above regarding losing access to hundreds of claimed games if you cancel remains the harshest potential consequence. It underscores the need to set renewal reminders if you download from the Extra catalog!

Final Recommendations

For avid PlayStation fans building up their PS4 and PS5 libraries, a PlayStation Plus Extra subscription is very worthwhile, providing access to marquee system exclusives and acclaimed multiplatform games for a reasonable recurring fee.

Casual gamers may be better served saving their money and buying only select new releases they know they‘ll play and replay. Since you do lose the entire Extra game catalog after canceling, it only makes sense signing up if you will play multiple titles.

PlayStation could boost retention rates by allowing a smaller number of Extra catalog titles to remain playable after the subscription lapses. This would encourage more volume downloads and ongoing renewals.

But for now, the choice is clear: maintain an active PlayStation Plus Extra membership or lose hundreds of amassed games when it expires. If PlayStation access is your priority, build up that download queue and set the renewal reminder!