PlayStation Plus to remove nine games from its catalogue in August 2026

PlayStation Plus subscribers will soon lose access to nine games as Sony prepares its latest refresh of the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium catalogue. The company has confirmed that the titles will leave the subscription service on 18 August, making room for a new selection of games available to members.

The upcoming changes include a larger-than-usual list of departures. Five of the games had originally been expected to leave the service in July, but Sony extended their availability by an additional month. Subscribers now have until 18 August to play the games through the service before they are removed from the catalogue.

Nine games set to leave the PlayStation Plus catalogue

The games scheduled to leave PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium on 18 August are Bomber Crew, Clash: Artefacts of Chaos, Onee Chanbara Origin, Roki, Space Crew: Legendary Edition, Dead Island 2, Earth Defence Force 6, Harold Halibut and Unicorn Overlord.

Once these titles leave the catalogue, subscribers will no longer be able to access them through their PlayStation Plus membership unless they purchase them separately. As with all PlayStation Plus catalogue updates, access to these games is tied to licensing agreements between Sony and game publishers, meaning titles regularly rotate in and out of the subscription service.

Among the departing games, Dead Island 2 stands out as one of the most notable releases, offering an action-packed zombie survival experience. Harold Halibut has also attracted attention for its distinctive handcrafted visual style and narrative-driven gameplay, while Unicorn Overlord has been widely praised for its tactical role-playing mechanics. The remaining games represent a mix of strategy, action, adventure and independent titles that have been available to subscribers over recent months.

The catalogue refresh is separate from the monthly PlayStation Plus Essential games. Titles claimed through the Essential monthly offering remain available to subscribers for as long as they maintain an active membership. In contrast, games included in the Extra and Premium catalogue rotate in and out over time.

New additions arrive for Extra and Premium members

While several games are leaving the service, Sony is also expanding the catalogue with a new collection of titles beginning on 21 July. Subscribers to the Extra and Premium tiers will gain access to Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Rise of the Ronin, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, Dying Light, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector and Snow Bros. Wonderland.

Premium members will also receive two additional classic titles, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Indigo Prophecy. These additions continue Sony’s strategy of combining modern blockbuster releases with classic games that appeal to long-time PlayStation fans.

Several of the incoming titles have already generated considerable interest. Rise of the Ronin offers an open-world action experience set in nineteenth-century Japan. At the same time, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora brings Ubisoft’s interpretation of James Cameron’s science-fiction universe to the subscription service. Dying Light remains one of the most recognised open-world zombie games, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector builds on the critically acclaimed role-playing experience introduced by its predecessor.

Sony continues to refresh the PlayStation Plus catalogue regularly, balancing new additions with the removal of older titles. This approach is designed to keep the service attractive to subscribers while accommodating licensing agreements with developers and publishers.

Digital subscriptions continue to shape the games industry

The latest PlayStation Plus update also reflects the industry’s broader move towards digital distribution and subscription-based gaming. Rather than building permanent digital libraries through subscriptions alone, players increasingly rely on rotating catalogues in which access depends on ongoing licensing arrangements.

Sony has already indicated that its long-term strategy will continue to focus on digital gaming. The company announced earlier in 2026 that it plans to end production of disc-based games by 2028, signalling a future where physical media will play a much smaller role in the PlayStation ecosystem. Industry observers believe this could influence the design of Sony’s next-generation console.

Other major gaming companies are following similar strategies. Microsoft continues to expand Xbox’s cloud gaming and digital marketplace, while Nintendo has introduced more digital purchasing options, including game-key cards that require an internet connection to download titles. Valve has also strengthened its presence in the living room with SteamOS-powered gaming devices, contributing to the growing popularity of digital-first gaming.

For PlayStation Plus subscribers, the latest catalogue update serves as another reminder that subscription services offer access rather than permanent ownership. Players interested in any of the departing games have until 18 August to complete them or purchase them separately before they are removed from the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium catalogue.